Xiaomi 13 Pro vs Huawei nova 11 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Pro and Huawei nova 11 Pro represent distinct approaches to the Android smartphone market. The Xiaomi 13 Pro aims for uncompromising flagship performance, while the Huawei nova 11 Pro focuses on a blend of style and capable mid-range specs. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly faster performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and faster charging speeds. While the nova 11 Pro offers a stylish design and respectable battery life, it can't match the 13 Pro's overall capabilities.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Pro Xiaomi 13 Pro
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, 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, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, April 172022, December 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2022, December 14
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.3 x 74.4 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm or 8.7 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g or 193 g (6.63 oz)210 g or 229 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 740
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-50.3 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 1080p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), 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/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging100W wired, 50% in 15 min Reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 36 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4820 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White, GoldCeramic White, Ceramic Black, Ceramic Flora Green, Mountain Blue
ModelsGOA-AL80, GOA-LX92210132G, 2210132C
PriceAbout 500 EURAbout 750 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 115h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1281666 (v9) GeekBench: 5087 (v5.1), 5323 (v6) GFXBench: 64fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 11 Pro

  • Stylish and eye-catching design
  • Fast 100W wired charging
  • More affordable price point

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset
  • Dimmer display compared to the 13 Pro
  • Limited to 4G connectivity

Xiaomi 13 Pro

  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Significantly brighter and more vibrant display
  • Faster 120W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Higher price tag
  • Potentially less impressive selfie camera (compared to Huawei's typical strength)
  • Larger and heavier build

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1253 nits compared to the nova 11 Pro’s 702 nits. This translates to vastly improved visibility in direct sunlight. While both devices feature excellent color reproduction, the 13 Pro’s higher peak brightness and likely higher contrast ratio (infinite nominal) provide a more immersive viewing experience. The absence of LTPO information for the nova 11 Pro suggests it likely lacks the adaptive refresh rate technology found in many flagships, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with capable camera systems, but the Xiaomi 13 Pro likely holds an advantage. While both are listed as offering Photo/Video capabilities, the Xiaomi 13 Pro benefits from the processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, enabling more sophisticated image processing algorithms. Without specific sensor details for either device, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Xiaomi flagships typically prioritize camera performance with larger sensors and advanced features. The nova 11 Pro may excel in selfie quality, a common strength of Huawei’s nova series, but the 13 Pro is expected to offer greater overall versatility and image quality.

Performance

The performance gap between these two phones is substantial. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap ahead of the Huawei nova 11 Pro’s Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm). The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, coupled with its more efficient 4nm process, delivers significantly faster CPU and GPU performance. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding applications like gaming and video editing. The 778G is a capable chip, but it will struggle to keep pace with the 13 Pro in resource-intensive scenarios. The 4G limitation on the nova 11 Pro is also a significant drawback for users in areas with robust 5G infrastructure.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Pro demonstrates superior battery endurance with an active use score of 10:55h and an endurance rating of 115h, compared to the nova 11 Pro’s 89h endurance rating. While the nova 11 Pro offers impressive 100W wired charging (50% in 15 minutes), the 13 Pro counters with even faster 120W wired charging (100% in 19 minutes), plus the addition of 50W wireless charging (100% in 36 minutes) and 10W reverse wireless charging. The 13 Pro’s more efficient chipset also contributes to its longer battery life despite a potentially similar battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 11 Pro if you prioritize a sleek design, fast 100W charging, and a more affordable price point, and don't require the absolute highest performance for demanding tasks. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Pro if you demand top-tier performance for gaming and multitasking, a superior display experience, and a more versatile camera system, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G 4G in the nova 11 Pro limit its usefulness for streaming or online gaming?
Yes, the 4G limitation is a significant drawback. While the Snapdragon 778G is a capable chip, the lack of 5G connectivity will result in slower download and upload speeds, potentially leading to buffering during streaming and increased latency in online games. This is especially noticeable in areas with strong 5G coverage.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 13 Pro compare to the 100W charging on the Huawei nova 11 Pro in real-world usage?
While both offer incredibly fast charging, the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s 120W charging is noticeably quicker. It can fully charge the battery in 19 minutes, whereas the nova 11 Pro takes longer. This difference is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ Is the camera on the Xiaomi 13 Pro significantly better for low-light photography?
Likely, yes. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's advanced image processing capabilities, combined with Xiaomi's typically excellent camera tuning, should result in superior low-light performance. Expect better detail retention, reduced noise, and more accurate colors in challenging lighting conditions.
❓ Does the Huawei nova 11 Pro support Google Mobile Services (GMS)?
This is a critical consideration. Due to ongoing restrictions, the Huawei nova 11 Pro does *not* natively support Google Mobile Services (GMS). It relies on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery. While the AppGallery has grown, it still lacks some popular apps readily available on the Google Play Store, requiring workarounds for some users.