Huawei Nova 12 Ultra specifications and in-depth review

Huawei Nova 12 Ultra

Manufacturer: Huawei

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra is a feature-rich smartphone built around a large 6.76″ OLED/AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 1224×2776 pixels and a pixel density of 449 ppi. Running at a 120 Hz refresh rate with Always-On Display support, the screen is suited for fluid everyday interaction. The device is slim at 7.7 mm thick and weighs 198 g, giving it a relatively light profile for its screen size. It ships with 12 GB of RAM and 1 TB of internal storage, leaving ample room for apps, media, and files.

Under the hood, the Nova 12 Ultra runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 9000S chipset built on a 5 nm process, with an 8-thread CPU using big.LITTLE architecture and a turbo clock speed of 3.3 GHz. On the camera side, the rear system pairs a 50 MP and an 8 MP lens, while the dual front camera reaches 60 MP, supported by phase-detection autofocus, laser autofocus, HDR, and continuous autofocus during video. Main camera video tops out at 4K at 30 fps. Battery capacity sits at 4,600 mAh with 100W wired fast charging included, though wireless charging is absent. Connectivity covers 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, and dual SIM support, along with satellite emergency SOS.

Pros
  • 100W wired fast charging with a charger included in the box enables rapid battery replenishment for a 4,600 mAh cell
  • The dual front camera system reaches 60 MP, offering substantial resolution for selfies and video calls
  • Emergency SOS via satellite adds a meaningful safety option when cellular coverage is unavailable
  • A 6.76″ OLED display running at 120 Hz with Always-On Display support provides smooth, responsive visuals for daily use
  • 1 TB of internal storage gives users extensive space for apps, media, and files without relying on expandable memory
  • The slim 7.7 mm chassis and 198 g weight keep the device reasonably light and pocket-friendly for its screen size
Cons
  • No wireless charging support limits flexibility when a cable is not readily available
  • The USB Type-C port runs at USB 2.0 speeds, which restricts wired data transfer rates
  • No optical image stabilization on the rear camera may affect image clarity during handheld video recording
  • HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision are all absent from the display, reducing compatibility with HDR content
  • No water resistance rating means the device offers no certified protection against moisture or splashes
  • None of the high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs — including aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, and aptX Adaptive — are supported, limiting wireless audio quality
Who is this for?

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra is well suited to users who prioritize camera versatility and display quality in a slim, everyday smartphone. The dual front camera system reaching 60 MP makes it a strong option for those who frequently shoot selfies or participate in video calls, while the 120 Hz OLED panel with Always-On Display caters to users who value a fluid, visually engaging screen experience. The 1 TB of internal storage and 12 GB of RAM make it practical for users who store large volumes of media locally, and the 100W fast charging suits people with busy schedules who need quick top-ups throughout the day. The inclusion of satellite emergency SOS also makes it a reasonable fit for users who occasionally travel to areas with limited cellular infrastructure.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely on wireless charging as part of their daily routine will find its absence a meaningful limitation, and those who transfer large files between their phone and a computer frequently will be frustrated by the USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. The lack of any water or splash resistance rating makes this device a poor match for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone regularly exposed to wet conditions. Audiophiles who stream music wirelessly will also find the experience lacking, as none of the high-quality Bluetooth codecs — including LDAC and aptX — are supported. Additionally, users who consume a significant amount of HDR video content through streaming services may find the absence of HDR10 and Dolby Vision support a notable gap in the viewing experience.

Design:

water resistance None
weight 198 g
thickness 7.7 mm
width 75 mm
height 163.1 mm
volume 94.19025 cm³
has a rugged build
can be folded

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra has a conventional candy-bar form factor — it does not fold and lacks a rugged build. It measures 163.1 mm tall, 75 mm wide, and 7.7 mm thick, resulting in a total volume of approximately 94.19 cm³. The device weighs 198 g, keeping it manageable for a smartphone of its screen size. There is no water resistance rating on this model, so it offers no certified protection against moisture or splashes.

Display:

Display type OLED/AMOLED
screen size 6.76"
pixel density 449 ppi
resolution 1224 x 2776 px
refresh rate 120Hz
has branded damage-resistant glass
supports HDR10
supports HDR10+
Always-On Display
supports Dolby Vision
Has a secondary screen
has a touch screen

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra uses an OLED/AMOLED touchscreen measuring 6.76″ with a resolution of 1224×2776 pixels and a pixel density of 449 ppi, delivering a sharp and detailed image across the panel. The display operates at a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and interaction, and Always-On Display is supported, allowing basic information to remain visible without fully waking the screen. HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision are not supported, and the panel does not feature branded damage-resistant glass. There is no secondary screen on this device.

Performance:

internal storage 1024GB
RAM 12GB
Chipset (SoC) name HiSilicon Kirin 9000S
GPU name Mali-G57
CPU speed 1 x 2.62 & 3 x 2.15 & 4 x 1.53 GHz
Has integrated LTE
RAM speed 2750 MHz
semiconductor size 5 nm
Supports 64-bit
DirectX version DirectX 12
Has integrated graphics
OpenGL ES version 3.2
Uses big.LITTLE technology
CPU threads 8 threads
Has TrustZone
maximum memory bandwidth 44 GB/s
OpenCL version 2
L2 cache 0.512 MB
Supports ECC memory
L1 cache 64 KB
L2 core 0.256 MB/core
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 6W
L3 core 2 MB/core
turbo clock speed 3.3GHz
L3 cache 4 MB

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra is powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 9000S chipset, built on a 5 nm process with a 6W TDP and an 8-thread CPU using big.LITTLE architecture. Clock speeds are distributed across one core at 2.62 GHz, three cores at 2.15 GHz, and four cores at 1.53 GHz, with a turbo frequency reaching 3.3 GHz. The chip includes integrated LTE, TrustZone security, and a Mali-G57 GPU supporting DirectX 12, OpenGL ES 3.2, and OpenCL 2. Cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1, 0.512 MB of L2 (0.256 MB per core), and 4 MB of L3 (2 MB per core), with a maximum memory bandwidth of 44 GB/s. The device carries 12 GB of RAM at 2,750 MHz alongside 1,024 GB of internal storage, is fully 64-bit compatible, and does not support ECC memory.

Cameras:

megapixels (main camera) 50 & 8 MP
wide aperture (main camera) 2.2 & 1.4f
Has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) main camera
megapixels (front camera) 60 & 8MP
has built-in optical image stabilization
video recording (main camera) 2160 x 30 fps
Has a dual-tone LED flash
number of flash LEDs 1
has a BSI sensor
has a CMOS sensor
has continuous autofocus when recording movies
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
supports slow-motion video recording
has a built-in HDR mode
has manual exposure
has a flash
optical zoom 0x
has manual ISO
has a serial shot mode
has manual focus
has a front camera
Has laser autofocus
Shoots 360° panorama
has manual white balance
shoots raw
has touch autofocus
has manual shutter speed
can create panoramas in-camera
wide aperture (front camera) 2.2 & 2.4f
Has timelapse function
Has a front-facing LED flash
has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) front camera
has a front-facing camera under the display
Has a RGB LED flash
has 3D photo/video recording capabilities

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra features a dual-lens rear camera system combining a 50 MP sensor at f/2.2 and an 8 MP sensor at f/1.4, using a CMOS sensor without back-side illumination. Autofocus options include phase-detection, laser, and touch autofocus, along with continuous autofocus during video recording, though optical image stabilization is not present. Main camera video recording reaches 4K at 30 fps, and slow-motion video is also supported. A single LED flash is included, with no dual-tone or RGB flash option. Manual controls cover exposure, ISO, focus, and white balance, while manual shutter speed and RAW capture are not available; burst mode, HDR, panorama, and timelapse round out the shooting modes. On the front, a dual-lens selfie camera pairs a 60 MP sensor at f/2.2 with an 8 MP sensor at f/2.4, though there is no front-facing flash and the camera is not positioned under the display.

Operating system:

has camera/microphone privacy options
has dark mode
has battery health check
Has customizable notifications
supports split screen
gets direct OS updates
Can be used as a PC
Has sharing intents
has a child lock
Supports widgets
has voice commands
Tracks the current position of a mobile device
is a multi-user system

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra's software environment includes a solid set of everyday usability features, among them split-screen multitasking, widgets, customizable notifications, sharing intents, voice commands, and a child lock. Privacy-conscious users will find camera and microphone access controls available, and the system supports multi-user profiles, device tracking, dark mode, and battery health monitoring. Direct OS updates from the vendor are not available, and the device cannot be used as a PC replacement.

Battery:

battery power 4600 mAh
has wireless charging
Supports fast charging
charging speed 100W
comes with a charger
has a removable battery
has a battery level indicator
has a rechargeable battery

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra houses a 4,600 mAh rechargeable battery with a battery level indicator and support for 100W wired fast charging, with a charger included in the box. The battery is non-removable, and wireless charging is not supported. These specifications make for quick top-ups over a cable while keeping the hardware configuration straightforward.

Audio:

has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has stereo speakers
has aptX
has LDAC
has aptX HD
has aptX Adaptive
has aptX Lossless
Has a radio

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra includes stereo speakers for built-in audio output but omits a 3.5 mm headset jack, meaning wired headphones require an adapter or USB-C connection. No radio is present. On the wireless audio side, none of the high-quality Bluetooth codec options — aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, or LDAC — are supported, which limits lossless or enhanced-quality audio transmission over Bluetooth.

Connectivity & Features:

has 5G support
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
SIM cards 2 SIM
Bluetooth version 5.2
has an external memory slot
Has USB Type-C
USB version 2
has NFC
Has a fingerprint scanner
has emergency SOS via satellite
has crash detection
is DLNA-certified
has a gyroscope
supports ANT+
Has a heart rate monitor
has GPS
has a compass
supports Wi-Fi
Has an infrared sensor
has an accelerometer
has a cellular module
Has a barometer
has an HDMI output
Uses 3D facial recognition
Has an iris scanner
Stylus included
supports Galileo
Has motion tracking
Has optical tracking
Has a built-in projector

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra supports 5G connectivity and accommodates two SIM cards, with Wi-Fi covering versions 4, 5, and 6 (802.11ax) alongside Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC. A USB Type-C port is present, though it operates at USB 2.0 speeds, and there is no external memory slot or HDMI output. Location capabilities include GPS, Galileo, a compass, gyroscope, and accelerometer, while a barometer, infrared sensor, heart rate monitor, and ANT+ support are absent. Security is handled through a fingerprint scanner, though 3D facial recognition and an iris scanner are not available. Notably, the device includes emergency SOS via satellite, adding a safety layer for users in areas without cellular coverage. Crash detection, DLNA certification, motion tracking, optical tracking, and a built-in projector are not part of this model's feature set.

Miscellaneous:

has a video light
Has sapphire glass display
Has a curved display
Has an e-paper display

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra includes a video light to assist with recording in low-light conditions. The display is flat rather than curved and does not use sapphire glass or an e-paper panel.

Final Verdict

The Huawei Nova 12 Ultra positions itself as a camera-forward smartphone with a strong focus on display quality and fast charging convenience. Its 60 MP dual front camera and 120 Hz OLED panel make it a compelling option for users who spend significant time on selfies, video calls, and media consumption, while 1 TB of internal storage and 100W wired fast charging add practical depth for daily use. That said, the absence of wireless charging, USB 2.0-limited data transfer speeds, no water resistance, and missing HDR display standards mean it asks for certain trade-offs that more demanding users may notice. For those whose needs align with its strengths — generous storage, a capable camera system, and a sharp, fluid display — the Nova 12 Ultra delivers a well-rounded everyday experience, provided its connectivity and protection limitations are not a priority.

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