A number of leaked images and videos that emerged online earlier today are said to be showcasing the Nova 3e, Huawei’s upcoming Android mid-ranger which is believed to be a rebranded version of the unannounced P20 Lite. The handset is likely to be launched as part of the Nova product family exclusively in China, with the newly uncovered materials revealing what appears to be a retail unit of the device. The latest leak suggests the handset will be equipped with a USB Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, and a single bottom-facing speaker, in addition to providing even more credence to recent rumors that Huawei’s upcoming mid-ranger will use an 18:9 screen with a display notch housing its loudspeaker and front-facing sensor array.
Android Oreo-based EMUI also appears to be part of the package, though it’s presently unclear whether Huawei will debut a new version of its Android implementation with the Nova 3e, i.e. the P20 lineup. According to previous reports, the device will boast a 5.84-inch FHD+ panel and be powered by the Kirin 659 chip from Huawei’s HiSilicon, as well as 4GB of RAM. The Nova 3e should also sport 64GB of storage space expandable via a microSD card by up to 256GB, with that same slot doubling as a second Nano SIM tray. A dual-camera setup entailing a 16-megapixel sensor and a 2-megapixel one is expected to be found on the back of the device, with the low-resolution module likely being used solely for depth mapping, i.e. supporting portrait photography. The Nova 3e is rumored to sport a 3,000mAh non-removable battery and be priced at under $500, depending on the market.
While the P20 Lite is scheduled to be announced on March 27 together with the other members of the P20 series, the Nova 3e has previously been teased for a March 20 launch in the Far Eastern country. No markets besides China are expected to receive this particular version of the device, though Huawei’s subsidiary Honor may end up releasing its own rebranded P20 Lite model later this year. Unlike the P20 Lite, the regular P20 and P20 Pro are both believed to be full-fledged flagships with on-device AI capabilities and other premium features. The P20 Pro is also likely to debut with a triple-camera setup designed by Leica.