Huawei Nova 2i (left) and OPPO F5 (right).
The mid-range smartphone market in the Philippines is getting very competitive. Let’s compare and contrast the recently launched OPPO F5 against the wildly successful Huawei Nova 2i.
Both smartphones boast an impressive set of specs and features but at surprisingly reasonable official prices.
| Features | OPPO F5 | Huawei Nova 2i |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6-inch FHD+ IPS Display w/ 18:9 Aspect Ratio, Curved Corners & Narrow Bezels | 5.9-inch FHD+ IPS Display w/ 18:9 Aspect Ratio & Narrow Bezels |
| Front Camera | 20 Megapixels w/ AI Beautification | 13 + 2 Megapixels (Dual Camera) with Soft LED Flash |
| Rear Camera | 16 Megapixels w/ f/1.8 Aperture | 16 + 2 Megapixels (Dual Camera) |
| Processor | 2.5GHz Octa Core MediaTek MT6763 | 2.36GHz Octa Core Kirin 659 |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| OS | Android 7.1.1 Nougat w/ ColorOS 3.2 | Android 7.0 Nougat w/ EMUI 5.1 |
| Storage | 32GB | 64GB |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 w/ USB OTG | microUSB 2.0 w/ USB OTG |
| Security | Fingerprint & Face Unlock | Fingerprint |
| Battery | 3200mAh | 3340mAh |
| Official Price | ₱15,990.00 | ₱14,990.00 |
Both the Huawei Nova 2i and OPPO F5 flaunt a Full HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio. This means these are taller than usual for more screen real estate while remaining comfortable to use.
However, none of the two opted for a USB Type-C port. Something that even the very affordable Cherry Mobile Flare S6 managed to do!
The display of the OPPO F5 is slightly bigger than that of the Huawei Nova 2i. It also has curved corners where the latter preferred to stick with the right angles.
Both come in gorgeous looking designs with premium feel. Under the hood, the OPPO F5 runs on a MediaTek MT6763 chip with 4GB of RAM while the Huawei Nova 2i uses its own Kirin 659 with the same amount of RAM.
Perhaps the biggest difference between these two devices is in the cameras. The Huawei Nova 2i has a quad camera setup – 16 + 2 Megapixel dual camera at the back and 13 + 2 Megapixel duals selfie camera on the front. Meanwhile, the OPPO F5 only has a single 16 Megapixel rear camera and a single AI-powered 20 Megapixel selfie camera.
Related: Huawei Nova 2i Review
If the budget is strictly under ₱15,000.00, the Huawei Nova 2i is an excellent pick. However, the heavy focus on selfies of the OPPO F5 might persuade consumers despite the slightly higher ₱15,990.00 price tag.
I’ll leave you to decide.