Huawei has just launched two new handsets locally, the Nova Y60 and Nova 8. Aimed at two different markets, the Nova Y60 and Nova 8 plan to bring some value to the budget smartphone range. Here’s what you can expect from each of them.

Huawei Nova Y60

With the Nova Y60, you’ll spend your time looking at a 6.6in 720×1600 LCD display, which is a little low on the resolution side of things but still fine. Underneath the screen, you’ll find a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which isn’t all that much but you can expand it with a microSD card up to 512GB. The one area where the Nova Y60 doesn’t skimp out on is the battery: it’ll hold 5,000mAh of power, which should last you at least a full day. Fast charging is, unfortunately, missing here.

Around the back, you’re greeted by a triple camera array. Heading the lot is a 13MP main sensor, accompanied by a 5MP ultrawide and a 2MP depth sensor. In the teardrop notch around the front, you’ll have to make do with an 8MP selfie camera. You have the option of two colours to choose from, black or green. Black phones tend to be fingerprint magnets so think about getting it in green.

All that tech for R3,100? Sure. If you get it from the Huawei store now you can get a free wireless speaker and headset, which we’d say is Huawei making up for some of the more lackluster elements of the budget phone. If cash is tight and you need a smartphone ASAP, you might want to consider this one, if you’re fine without Google services, apps or access to the Play Store.

Huawei Nova 8

The Nova 8 steps it up from the Nova Y60 in certain places while losing features in others. Here you’re getting a 6.57in OLED panel with a 1080×2340 resolution which will make all the difference. On top of that, you’ll get a 90Hz refresh rate which is always welcome. Your eyes will thank you.

Inside, a Kirin 820E chip is powering this device with 8GB of RAM and 128GB. No 5G capabilities though, and only WiFi 5. An area where the Nova 8 takes a step backwards is in battery capacity. The Nova 8 will only come with a 3,800mAh battery. With the increased resolution and refresh rate, you’ll be lucky to get a full day of usage out of it without needing a charge before the end. Luckily, it supports 66W fast charging so when it does run out on you it won’t take long to get back online. You can charge up 60% in 15 minutes, or so Huawei claims.

The camera array is somewhat impressive at this price point, on paper at least. You’ll be using the 64MP sensor most of the time and when you switch to the ultrawide or macro lens, you’ll be using an 8MP and 2MP sensor respectively.

You’ll get fewer choices for the colour of your device, down to one, which isn’t much of a choice. But the blush gold it comes in doesn’t look too bad, if you like sparkly things. Huawei will also throw in some wireless earbuds, gosh isn’t that nice?

While neither of these devices can hold a candle to the P50, you shouldn’t expect them to. These new handhelds come with a few extras: a 2-year warranty (we’d be upset if they didn’t), a one-time free screen guard service and 50 days of screen insurance for those of you who like to eat butter with your hands.