Huawei is set to launch a new mid-range foldable smartphone, the Nova Flip S, as it prepares for the launch of the Mate 80 series. The device is expected to feature a familiar design with an upgraded processor.
The Nova Flip S will likely retain the flip-style format of its predecessor, with a square cover screen housed within a large rectangular bar on the back, accompanied by two vertical cameras positioned beside the screen. While the body’s framework may remain unchanged, reports indicate the phone could be available in new pastel color options, offering consumers a fresh aesthetic.
A significant update is anticipated in the device’s chipset. The Nova Flip S is expected to be powered by the Kirin 8020 5G, an upgrade from the Kirin 8000 found in the previous model. The Kirin 8020 is reportedly a downclocked version of the processor used in the Mate 70 Pro and was first seen in the Nova 14 Ultra. According to reports, it is set to deliver a 35% improvement in overall performance, a 23% boost for gaming, and a 39% increase in operating smoothness, enhancing the user experience.
For context, the previous Kirin 8000 chip has a configuration of four cores at 1.84 GHz, three cores at 2.19 GHz, and one core at 2.40 GHz. In comparison, the new Kirin 8020 is configured with four cores at 1.3 GHz, three cores at 2.05 GHz, and one core at 2.285 GHz, indicating a shift in processing power and efficiency.
Initial information suggests that the Nova Flip S will ship with HarmonyOS 5.1. However, this contradicts a previous listing on a China Telecom page, which showed the device running HarmonyOS 5.0. It is possible that Huawei may update the software to version 5.1 by the time of the official unveiling, ensuring the device is equipped with the latest operating system.
