Huawei‘s first foldable smartphone under the nova series is now official. The company has announced the Huawei nova Flip, which is essentially a more affordable clamshell phone for consumers.

The nova Flip also arrives positioned with a fashion-forward approach, as evidenced by its bold color options, which includes pink and green. The announcement comes hot on the heels of the Huawei Pocket 2 that debuted earlier this year. Huawei has yet to announce a global release date for the device, leaving fans in markets such as the Philippines awaiting further updates.

The Huawei nova Flip comes in three storage configurations. The base model with 256GB of storage is priced at ¥5,288 (around P42,604 or $744). For those needing more space, a 512GB variant is available for ¥5,688 (P45,827 or $798). The top-of-the-line kit boasts a generous 1TB of storage and carries a price tag of ¥6,488 (P52,272 or $911). Consumers in China can get their hands on the nova Flip starting August 10.

Curiously, Huawei did not disclose the chipset or amount of RAM on the nova Flip, but a previous Geekbench listing suggests the phone is running on an octa-core Kirin 8000 processor alongside 12GB of RAM. On the software side, Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.2 powers the device, bringing AI-driven features like subject removal, text extraction from images, and image generation.

The Huawei nova Flip showcases a slim, minimalist form factor, measuring a mere 6.88mm in thickness when unfolded and weighing only 195 grams. The brand says its innovative waterdrop hinge mechanism is engineered to endure at least 1.2 million cycles, demonstrating exceptional build quality.

The device features a 6.94-inch LTPO OLED foldable display with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, promising smooth visuals and efficient power consumption. To complement the main screen, Huawei has included a 2.14-inch OLED cover display, smaller than competitors but still functional for notifications, basic interactions, and some first-party apps like weather and music.

The nova Flip’s rear camera setup includes a 50-megapixel main camera with a large 1/1.56-inch RYYB image sensor for improved low-light performance and dynamic range. An 8-megapixel ultrawide lens adds versatility to the system, while a 32-megapixel front-facing camera handles selfies, vlogs, and video calls.

To keep the nova Flip running, Huawei has equipped it with a 4,400mAh battery, which is relatively large for a clamshell foldable. Meanwhile, the inclusion of 66-watt fast wired charging ensures quick top-ups when needed.

The Huawei nova Flip positions itself as a potentially compelling entry into the foldable space. Its blend of stylish aesthetics and accessible price point could broaden the appeal of foldable devices to a consumer base seeking premium features without the premium price tag. Hopefully, Huawei brings its latest smartphone offering outside China. A global launch of the nova Flip, particularly in price-conscious markets like the Philippines, would significantly increase its potential reach and impact.

Huawei nova Flip specs

• 6.94-inch LTPO OLED foldable display, FHD+ resolution, 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
• 2.14-inch LTPO OLED cover display, 480p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
• Kirin 8000 chipset (rumored)
• 12GB RAM (rumored)
• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage
• Dual 50-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
• 32-megapixel front camera
• Side fingerprint reader
• 4,400mAh battery with 66-watt wired charging
• HarmonyOS 4.2
• Colors: New Green, Sakura Pink, Zero White, Starry Black

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