Huawei Nova 10 vs Nova 9: A Detailed Comparison

Huawei's Nova series consistently delivers stylish phones with impressive features. The Nova 10 and Nova 9 are both strong contenders, but which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you make an informed decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nova 9 edges out the Nova 10 thanks to its slightly brighter display and faster charging times, despite both sharing the same powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset. The Nova 10's design refinements and potentially updated software might sway some, but overall, the Nova 9 offers a more complete package.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 10 Huawei nova 9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2022, July 042021, September 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 10Available. Released 2021, September 30
Body
Dimensions162.2 x 73.9 x 6.9 mm (6.39 x 2.91 x 0.27 in)160 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)175 g (6.17 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 642L
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens-
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired66W wired, 60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4300 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Green, VioletStarry Blue, Black, Green, Violet
ModelsNCO-AL00, NCO-LX1, NCO-LX3NAM-AL00, NAM-LX9
PriceAbout 500 EURAbout 120 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 96h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 469798 (v9) GeekBench: 2973 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 10

  • Potentially updated software
  • Modern design
  • 66W wired charging with reverse wired

  • Unspecified display brightness
  • Unspecified battery endurance rating
  • Potentially less refined camera system compared to Nova 9

Huawei nova 9

  • Brighter display (608 nits)
  • Excellent battery life (96h endurance)
  • Faster charging (60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min)
  • Proven camera system

  • Older design compared to Nova 10
  • May have older software version

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, but the Nova 9 boasts a measured peak brightness of 608 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. The Nova 10's display is likely comparable but lacks specific brightness measurements. The Nova 9 also advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors. While both offer smooth visuals, the Nova 9's brightness gives it a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a key area. While both are listed as 'Photo / Video', the Nova 9 is known for its versatile camera system, including a main sensor and potentially ultrawide and macro lenses. The Nova 10 likely features similar capabilities, potentially with improvements in image processing. Detailed camera comparisons would require in-depth testing, but the Nova 9's established reputation gives it a slight advantage.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Expect similar performance in most scenarios. Software optimization and RAM management will be key differentiators in real-world usage.

Battery Life

The Nova 9 shines in this category, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours. This suggests exceptional battery life. The Nova 10's battery capacity is likely similar, but its endurance rating isn't explicitly stated. Both support 66W wired charging, but the Nova 9 charges significantly faster (60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min), providing a quicker top-up.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 10 is ideal for users prioritizing a modern design and potentially newer software features. The Nova 9 is a better choice for those who value a brighter display, faster charging, and a proven track record of excellent battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Nova 10 worth the upgrade from the Nova 9?
It depends on your priorities. If you value a newer design and potentially updated software, the Nova 10 might be worth it. However, the Nova 9 offers superior battery life and a brighter display.
❓ Do both phones have 5G connectivity?
No, both the Huawei Nova 10 and Nova 9 are 4G devices. Huawei's 5G Nova phones are a separate series.