Hello Poplar,
Welcome to the community!
Where did you find the specifications for those models? You might consider verifying those frequency specifications are in fact correct for the phone versions you intend to purchase. Firstly, you noted that both phones are compatible with WCDMA 850 and 1900 (note WCDMA and UMTS and HSPA refer to the same technology; see here). However, the specifications you listed for the Huawei Nova 4e do not show WCDMA 1900. In addition, the specifications you listed for the Huawei Nova 5i show two slightly different frequency compatibilities.
@Poplar wrote:Here are the specifics.Huawei nova 4e:
4G 4G TD-LTE；4G FDD-LTE (I can't find the bands) 2G/3G 2G：GSM 850/900/1800/1900；3G：TD-SCDMA 1900/2000；3G：WCDMA 850/900/2100
Huawei nova 5i:
4G网络 4G TD-LTE；4G FDD-LTE （2G/3G） 2G：GSM 850/900/1800/1900；3G：TD-SCDMA 1900/2000；3G：WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100；3G：WCDMA：850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz
According to those specifications, both phones would have both of the compatible bands/frequencies for 2G. Note however, Fido/Rogers intends to decommission the 2G (GSM) network by December 31, 2020 (see here). In addition, there are no other nationwide GSM operators.
Again, according to those specifications the Nova 4e would only have one compatible band/frequency for '3G', while the Nova 5i lists both compatible bands for that network.
With regards to LTE, we won't be able to comment since those specifications do not list those compatible bands/frequencies.
Online resources may or may not be reliable in determining the true band/frequency compatibility for those devices since the specifications are not even listed on the Huawei website (see Nova 4e and Nova 5i). That said, as far as I am aware, the Chinese version of those phone versions are either TL00 or AL00.
These are other possible band/frequency specifications for the Nova 4e. and Nova 5i. According to those specifications both those phones would have both compatible bands/frequencies for 2G and only one compatible band/frequency for '3G'. With regards to LTE, those phones would only have one compatible band or frequency. While the phones should work on the networks, coverage depends on corresponding bands/frequencies used at your surrounding cellular towers. You can get an idea of your local cellular towers here. In addition, the different frequencies have differing characteristics (see graphic here). A phone with fewer compatible bands/frequencies might not work as reliably as one with more or all of them.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
