Huawei Nova Y73 review
This phone makes sense if you need something tough, long-lasting, and straightforward for calls, messages, and casual use, and you can live with a coarse display and sluggish performance under load. Anyone who wants sharper text, smoother gaming, or faster app loading should look elsewhere.
This review is written with AI assistance from Huawei’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Huawei Nova Y73, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Nova Y73 is a large, straightforward budget phone with a bright 90Hz display that looks sharp from arm's length, but the 720p resolution and older Kirin 710A chipset keep it firmly in the entry-tier game. It suits daily calling and light browsing, not much more.
Design & Build
At 203 grams and 8.3 mm thick, the Nova Y73 is hefty and solid but not uncomfortable in hand. The plastic back and frame are par for the price, and the 84% screen-to-body ratio is decent for a 2025 budget phone. What matters more is the IP64 rating and drop resistance to 1.8 m: you can take it outdoors without constant worry, and a tumble from a table or desk will likely not end it. That durability is cheap to claim on paper but surprisingly rare in phones under €200.
Display
The 6.67-inch IPS LCD runs at 90Hz, which makes scrolling feel smoother than the 60Hz norm, and the 1000-nit peak brightness genuinely helps in direct sunlight. But 720p on this diagonal is the phone's defining compromise. At 264 ppi, text and UI elements are noticeably coarser than the 1080p standard that trickled down to budget phones two or three years ago; if you read a lot of small text or compare it side by side with a slightly older budget rival, the difference is impossible to ignore. The colour and viewing angles are inoffensive for an IPS panel, but sharpness is the issue.
Performance
The Kirin 710A is a 2019-era chip that has no business in a 2025 phone, even a budget one. It handles everyday tasks—calling, messaging, social media, light web browsing—without stuttering, and the 8 GB of RAM keeps background apps from constantly reloading. But ask it to multitask heavily, run a demanding 3D game, or process multiple browser tabs, and it will slow down noticeably. Light 2D games and lower-end 3D titles at modest settings work; anything graphically intensive will demand settings cuts or frame drops. By 2025, even MediaTek's budget chips offer better sustained performance.
Camera
The 50 MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and phase detection autofocus is the Nova Y73's genuine strength at this price. The wide aperture helps in dim indoor light and low-light scenes, and PDAF means focus locks quickly. Full-resolution shots are high megapixel count, so crops and zoomed-in prints are possible; processing can be slow on the Kirin 710A, though. There is no optical zoom, so distant subjects require cropping. The 8 MP selfie camera is basic but adequate for video calls. Video maxes out at 1080p@30fps, which is fine for social media but not for archival. The camera performs as a solid entry-level tool, nothing more.
Battery & Charging
The 6620 mAh battery lasts about a full day on moderate use (messaging, social media, browsing, an hour or two of video). Heavy video playback or gaming drains it faster, pushing toward an evening top-up. The 40W charging reaches zero to full in roughly 45 to 60 minutes in real conditions, which is respectable but no longer impressive for the price; rivals at €180 now often hit 60W or above. The 5W reverse charging is a curiosity more than a feature—it barely moves the needle on another phone's battery in a pinch.
Software
Android 12 with EMUI 12 is dated by mid-2025 standards but stable. Huawei's Android implementation is feature-rich and generally reliable, though EMUI's bloat and occasional notification quirks have long been familiar complaints. Updates are likely slow given this is a budget phone from a non-mainstream brand in many regions; do not expect rapid Android version jumps. The absence of Google Play Services in some markets is a separate headache depending on where you are.
Value & Verdict
At around €180, the Nova Y73 occupies an awkward middle ground. It has some nice touches—the bright display, the durable build, the competent main camera—but the 720p resolution and ageing chipset hold it back from being an obvious bargain. Spend a bit more and you will find phones with 1080p displays, newer processors, and faster charging. Spend less and you sacrifice build quality and camera. The Nova Y73 is a phone for someone who prioritises durability and battery life over sharpness and raw speed, values a bright screen for outdoor use, and does not game or do heavy multitasking. It works, but it feels like a generation behind for the price.
Verdict
This phone makes sense if you need something tough, long-lasting, and straightforward for calls, messages, and casual use, and you can live with a coarse display and sluggish performance under load. Anyone who wants sharper text, smoother gaming, or faster app loading should look elsewhere.
- Bright 1000-nit peak display is actually useful in sunlight, a rarity at this price
- 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF handles low-light shots better than typical budget rivals
- 6620 mAh battery comfortably lasts a full day on moderate use
- IP64 rating and drop resistance to 1.8 m offer genuine durability for the price point
- 720p resolution on a 6.67-inch screen makes text visibly coarse next to any budget phone from last year
- Kirin 710A is a step behind: struggles with even light gaming and multitasking by 2025 standards
- 40W charging is respectable for the class, but takes 45 to 60 minutes and rivals at similar price now hit 60W or above
Huawei Nova Y73 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, May 28 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67 inches, 107.2 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~264 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710A (14 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Battery | 6620 mAh |
| Charging | 40W wired5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 12, EMUI 12 |
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 76.6 x 8.3 mm (6.54 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) |
| Durability | IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) Drop resistant up to 1.8m |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Huawei Nova Y73 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Nova Y73 support 5G?
No. The Nova Y73 tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the Nova Y73 use?
The Nova Y73 runs on the Kirin 710A (14 nm).
What display does the Nova Y73 have?
A 6.67 inches, 107.2 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1000 nits (peak), 720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~264 ppi density).
How big is the Nova Y73 battery?
The Nova Y73 has a 6620 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 40W wired5W reverse wired.
Does the Nova Y73 have NFC?
Yes, the Nova Y73 has NFC.
Is the Nova Y73 water resistant?
The Nova Y73 carries a IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) Drop resistant up to 1.8m rating.
Does the Nova Y73 support a microSD card?
No, the Nova Y73 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Nova Y73 have a headphone jack?
No, the Nova Y73 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Nova Y73 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Nova Y63
Nova Y72S
nova 14i
nova 13i
Galaxy A07 4G
