IFA 2016: Huawei launches new Nova smartphones and MediaPad M3 tablet

At the Velodrom in Berlin, during IFA, Huawei unveiled an all-new range of phones, called Nova, plus a new high-performance tablet.

The Nova and Nova Plus (5.2 and 5.5-inch screens respectively) are pitched as handsets aimed at females, with a great deal of emphasis on the selfie-mode with various beauty functions.

But ultimately, the phones are really for everyone and they will sit below the flagship P-series models that currently comprise the P9 and P9 Plus.

Prices start at €399 for the Nova and €429 for the Nova Plus – each a dual-SIM 32GB storage model, with 3GB of RAM.

Inspired by the design seen recently on the P9 and P9 Plus, the Nova handsets come with 12 and 16-megapixel cameras respectively, and optical image stabilisation on the Plus model.

The phones also include most of the new features in the latest Huawei and Honor handsets, including the Eye care mode first introduced on the Honor 8. A fast fingerprint sensor and decent batteries promise around 1,000 camera photos before charging.

Perhaps surprising given Huawei’s own chipset manufacturing, both Nova phones use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 SoC. Sadly, this means each Nova phone lacks 5GHz Wi-Fi and fast charging.

Talking of the P9, Huawei also launched two new colours for the Leica co-branded smartphones: red and blue. Each will sell for €549.

The new MediaPad M3 is an 8.4 inch tablet with optional 4G LTE, 2K screen (2560 x 1600 pixels), Kirin 950 SoC, fingerprint sensor, and large capacity battery.

Available in a range of configurations, including 4G LTE enabled models, the tablet is a higher-spec tablet and makes a change from the usual low budget, low spec, tablets being released by other manufacturers.

Prices will range from €349 to €449.

The MediaPad also includes Harmon Kardon stereo speakers and will come with the option of high-end headphones, giving an excellent visual and audible experience.

I’ll be writing more on all of these new devices in the coming days, including a more in-depth look at the Nova Plus, but in the meantime please keep checking my updates on Twitter.