Huawei nova 11 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Plus: A Deep Dive into Value and Performance

The Huawei nova 11 Pro and Apple iPhone 14 Plus represent distinct approaches to the smartphone market. The nova 11 Pro aims to deliver a premium experience at a more accessible price point, leveraging fast charging and a stylish design. Conversely, the iPhone 14 Plus offers Apple’s established ecosystem, robust performance, and long-term software support, albeit at a higher cost. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing long-term software support, ecosystem integration, and consistently strong performance, the iPhone 14 Plus is the better choice. However, the Huawei nova 11 Pro offers a compelling alternative with its blazing-fast 100W charging and respectable performance for a significantly lower price.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Pro Apple iPhone 14 Plus
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2886, A2888
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2886, A2888
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2887
Launch
Announced2023, April 172022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2022, October 07
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.3 x 74.4 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight188 g or 193 g (6.63 oz)203 g (7.16 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LApple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSHarmonyOS 3.0iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensingUltra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging100W wired, 50% in 15 min Reverse wiredWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White, GoldMidnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, Yellow
ModelsGOA-AL80, GOA-LX9A2886, A2632, A2885, A2888, A2887, iphone14,8
PriceAbout 500 EUR€ 391.58 / $ 329.97 / £ 335.00
SAR-1.14 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 102h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.7 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 797976 (v9) GeekBench: 4582 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 11 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • More affordable price point
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Less powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset
  • Shorter battery endurance

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

  • Powerful A15 Bionic chip
  • Longer battery life and endurance
  • Seamless Apple ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless)
  • Higher price tag
  • No reverse wireless charging

Display Comparison

Both devices feature capable displays, but the iPhone 14 Plus edges out the nova 11 Pro in peak brightness, achieving 797 nits compared to the nova 11 Pro’s 702 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both are excellent, the iPhone 14 Plus’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, provides deeper blacks and a more dynamic image. The nova 11 Pro’s panel specifications aren’t detailed enough to assess color accuracy, but Huawei typically delivers vibrant, if sometimes oversaturated, colors. The larger screen size of the iPhone 14 Plus (6.7” vs. unspecified for the nova 11 Pro) also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited without specific sensor information. The iPhone 14 Plus likely benefits from Apple’s advanced image processing pipeline and computational photography features. While the nova 11 Pro may offer unique camera modes and filters characteristic of Huawei, the A15 Bionic’s image signal processor (ISP) provides a significant advantage in processing speed and image quality. Without knowing sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Apple’s consistent camera performance suggests a stronger overall experience. We can assume the iPhone 14 Plus will excel in video recording, offering features like Cinematic mode.

Performance

The performance gap is significant. The Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) in the iPhone 14 Plus is a substantially more powerful chip than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm) found in the nova 11 Pro. The A15’s hexa-core architecture, with its 2x3.23 GHz Avalanche and 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard cores, delivers superior CPU and GPU performance. The Snapdragon 778G, while capable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, will struggle with demanding applications and sustained workloads. The iPhone 14 Plus benefits from Apple’s tight software optimization, further enhancing its performance advantage. The 4G limitation on the nova 11 Pro is a significant drawback for users in areas with robust 5G infrastructure.

Battery Life

The iPhone 14 Plus boasts a superior endurance rating of 102 hours, compared to the nova 11 Pro’s 89 hours. This suggests the iPhone 14 Plus offers longer battery life under typical usage. However, the nova 11 Pro compensates with its incredibly fast 100W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in just 15 minutes. The iPhone 14 Plus takes 30 minutes to reach 50% with wired charging. The nova 11 Pro also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the iPhone 14 Plus. While the iPhone 14 Plus has 15W wireless charging (MagSafe and Qi2), the nova 11 Pro’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 11 Pro if you need incredibly fast charging, prioritize a vibrant display for media consumption, and are comfortable with the Android ecosystem and potential limitations regarding Google Mobile Services. Buy the Apple iPhone 14 Plus if you prefer a seamless user experience within the Apple ecosystem, demand consistently high performance for demanding tasks, and value long-term software updates and resale value.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the lack of 5G on the Huawei nova 11 Pro significantly impact performance in areas with 5G coverage?
Yes, the absence of 5G on the nova 11 Pro is a considerable limitation. Users in areas with 5G infrastructure will experience significantly slower download and upload speeds compared to devices with 5G capability. This impacts streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers.
❓ How does the 100W charging on the Huawei nova 11 Pro affect battery health over the long term?
While 100W charging is incredibly fast, it's a valid concern regarding long-term battery health. Huawei likely employs sophisticated charging algorithms to mitigate heat generation and prevent overcharging, but repeated use of extremely fast charging *can* contribute to faster battery degradation over several years. However, the convenience often outweighs this concern for many users.
❓ Is the iPhone 14 Plus’s A15 Bionic chip still relevant given the release of the A16 and A17 Bionic?
Absolutely. The A15 Bionic remains a highly capable chip, even compared to newer processors. It provides ample power for all current mobile applications, demanding games, and multitasking. While the A16 and A17 offer incremental improvements, the A15 still delivers a flagship-level experience.
❓ What are the implications of using a Huawei phone regarding Google Mobile Services (GMS)?
The Huawei nova 11 Pro does not come with Google Mobile Services (GMS) pre-installed due to US trade restrictions. This means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store and apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. Huawei offers its own ecosystem, AppGallery, and workarounds to install some GMS apps, but compatibility and functionality may vary.