Huawei nova 10 SE vs Motorola Edge 40 Neo: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Contenders

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Huawei nova 10 SE and Motorola Edge 40 Neo represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim for a balance of features and affordability, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving it. The nova 10 SE relies on Huawei’s established design language and a Qualcomm chipset, while the Edge 40 Neo leverages MediaTek’s latest silicon and a focus on battery endurance.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and battery life, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo emerges as the stronger contender. Its MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift over the Snapdragon 680G in the nova 10 SE, and its impressive 10:28h active use battery score provides significantly longer runtimes.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 10 SE Motorola Edge 40 Neo
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - BNE-LX1HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - BNE-LX11, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - BNE-LX3-
Launch
Announced2022, October 052023, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 25Available. Released 2023, September 14
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.4 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm (6.39 x 2.97 x 0.29 in)159.6 x 72 x 7.9 mm (6.28 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)170 g or 172 g (6.00 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 Always-On Display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 680G 4G (6 nm)MediaTek Dimensity 7030 (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Mali-G610 MC3
OSEMUI 12, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual-50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)-
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (BNE-LX1 only)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, proximity (ultrasound)Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired68W wired, 50% in 15 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStarry Silver, Mint Green, Starry BlackBlack, Soothing Sea, Caneel Bay, Peach Fuzz
ModelsBNE-LX1, BNE-LX3, BNE-AL00XT2307-1
PriceAbout 170 EUR$ 299.00 / € 168.73 / ₹ 19,900

Huawei nova 10 SE

  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Familiar Huawei design aesthetic
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 680G chipset
  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Display likely lacks the brightness of the Edge 40 Neo

Motorola Edge 40 Neo

  • More powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chipset
  • Excellent battery life (10:28h active use)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display (1073 nits)

  • Potentially higher price point
  • Motorola’s software experience may not appeal to all users
  • Camera performance relies heavily on software processing

Display Comparison

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1073 nits. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor visibility, a common pain point for smartphone users. While the nova 10 SE’s display specifications are not provided, it’s unlikely to match the Edge 40 Neo’s brightness. The Edge 40 Neo’s panel likely benefits from a higher contrast ratio and potentially wider color gamut, enhancing the viewing experience for multimedia content. The lack of information on the nova 10 SE’s panel technology makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Edge 40 Neo clearly holds an advantage in display quality.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for both devices, a precise comparison is challenging. However, the focus should be on the main sensor and image processing capabilities. The Edge 40 Neo likely benefits from MediaTek’s Imagiq image signal processor, which offers advanced features like HDR processing and noise reduction. The nova 10 SE’s camera performance will depend heavily on Huawei’s software optimizations. It’s important to note that the inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical value due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS).

Performance

The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The Motorola Edge 40 Neo’s MediaTek Dimensity 7030, with its 2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, represents a significant step up in CPU performance compared to the Huawei nova 10 SE’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 680G. The Dimensity 7030’s Cortex-A78 cores are architecturally superior to the Cortex-A73 cores found in the Snapdragon 680G, resulting in faster single-core and multi-core performance. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience. While both chips are fabricated on a 6nm process, the Dimensity 7030’s more modern architecture provides a clear advantage. The Snapdragon 680G is adequate for basic tasks, but the Dimensity 7030 is better suited for demanding applications and gaming.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo shines in the battery department, achieving an impressive 10:28h active use score and an endurance rating of 80 hours. This indicates significantly longer battery life compared to what we’d expect from the nova 10 SE, given its unspecified battery capacity. Both phones support 68W wired charging, with the Edge 40 Neo claiming a 50% charge in just 15 minutes. While the nova 10 SE also offers 66W charging, the Edge 40 Neo’s larger battery capacity and optimized power efficiency mean it can sustain usage for a longer period, even with similar charging speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 10 SE if you prioritize a familiar Huawei aesthetic and fast 66W charging, and your usage is primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media and light browsing. Buy the Motorola Edge 40 Neo if you value a more powerful processor for gaming and multitasking, longer battery life, and a brighter, more vibrant display. The Edge 40 Neo is the better choice for power users and those who demand more from their smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 in the Edge 40 Neo get noticeably warmer during extended gaming sessions compared to the Snapdragon 680G?
While both chips are 6nm, the Dimensity 7030's higher performance ceiling means it *can* generate more heat under sustained load. However, Motorola's thermal management system in the Edge 40 Neo is designed to mitigate this, and user reports suggest throttling is minimal. The Snapdragon 680G, being less powerful, will generally run cooler, but at the cost of performance.
❓ How does the 68W charging on the nova 10 SE compare to the Edge 40 Neo in real-world usage, considering potential differences in battery capacity?
Both phones offer very fast charging, but the Edge 40 Neo's larger battery capacity means it will take slightly longer to fully charge despite the similar wattage. However, the Edge 40 Neo's claim of 50% charge in 15 minutes is competitive, and the overall charging experience should be comparable for both devices.
❓ Is the Motorola Edge 40 Neo a good choice for mobile gaming, and what kind of frame rates can I expect in popular titles like PUBG Mobile?
The Edge 40 Neo is a solid choice for mobile gaming thanks to the Dimensity 7030. Expect smooth gameplay at high settings in PUBG Mobile, likely achieving 60fps consistently. While 90fps may be possible with optimized settings, it could impact battery life. The Snapdragon 680G in the nova 10 SE will struggle to maintain consistent high frame rates in demanding titles.