Huawei nova 10 vs Xiaomi 12T Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi 12T Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a significant performance advantage over the nova 10’s Snapdragon 778G, making it ideal for demanding tasks and gaming. While the nova 10 offers a sleek design, the 12T Pro’s superior speed and comparable battery life justify the slight price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 10 | Xiaomi 12T Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 75 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 04 | 2022, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 10 | Available. Released 2022, October 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.2 x 73.9 x 6.9 mm (6.39 x 2.91 x 0.27 in) | 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.6 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10 | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 730 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | 200 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.47", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps, HDR |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | Tuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (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) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 5W reverse wired | 120W wired, 100% in 19 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Green, Violet | Black, Silver, Blue |
| Models | NCO-AL00, NCO-LX1, NCO-LX3 | 22081212UG, 22081212G |
| Price | About 500 EUR | $ 208.76 / € 167.62 |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 91h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1032185 (v9) GeekBench: 4081 (v5.1) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 10
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Balanced feature set for everyday use
- 5W reverse wired charging
- Less powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset
- Slower charging speed (66W)
Xiaomi 12T Pro
- Flagship-level Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (19 minutes to full)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Potentially larger and heavier build
- May run hotter under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12T Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 913 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the nova 10. This higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for OLED panels. While the nova 10’s display specifications are less detailed, the 12T Pro’s brightness advantage is a clear win for users who consume a lot of media outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited for both. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Xiaomi 12T Pro, positioned as a higher-tier device, likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor. The absence of detailed camera specs highlights a focus on overall system performance rather than camera-centric marketing for both phones. We can assume the 12T Pro will deliver more consistent image quality in challenging lighting conditions due to its superior processing power.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12T Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Huawei nova 10’s Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm). The 8+ Gen 1 features a more advanced CPU architecture – a Cortex-X2 prime core alongside Cortex-A710 and A510 cores – compared to the 778G’s Kryo 670 cores. This results in significantly faster processing speeds and improved graphics performance. The 4nm process node of the 8+ Gen 1 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The nova 10’s 778G is still capable for everyday tasks, but the 12T Pro is the clear winner for gaming and demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 91 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing charging speeds. However, the Xiaomi 12T Pro’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, capable of fully charging the device in just 19 minutes. The Huawei nova 10’s 66W charging is respectable, but significantly slower. The 12T Pro’s faster charging is a major convenience factor for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up their battery quickly. The inclusion of 5W reverse wired charging on the nova 10 is a niche feature, useful for charging accessories, but doesn’t offset the 12T Pro’s charging speed advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 10 if you prioritize a stylish, lightweight design and a balanced feature set for everyday use. It’s a good fit for social media enthusiasts and users who don’t require extreme processing power. Buy the Xiaomi 12T Pro if you demand top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and if you value incredibly fast 120W charging to minimize downtime. It’s the better option for power users and those who frequently push their phone to its limits.