Huawei Nova 11 Ultra vs Xiaomi 13: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we pit two compelling contenders against each other: the Huawei Nova 11 Ultra and the Xiaomi 13. Both offer unique features and appeal to different user preferences, but which one ultimately comes out on top?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi 13 takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, superior camera capabilities, and faster wireless charging. While the Nova 11 Ultra boasts incredibly fast wired charging, the Xiaomi 13 offers a more well-rounded and premium experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Ultra Xiaomi 13
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, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, April 172022, December 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2022, December 14
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass 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)152.8 x 71.5 x 8.0 mm or 8.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)185 g or 189 g (6.53 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~414 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.36 inches, 97.7 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzAMOLED, 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, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB 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/1.4-f/4.0, 25mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica lens, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), 1/3.75", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
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, LE, 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
 Virtual proximity sensing BDS Satellite Message (Emergency SOS service)-
Battery
Charging100W wired, 20-80% in 10 min Reverse wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min 50W wireless, 100% in 48 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, GreenWhite, Black, Flora Green, Mountain Blue, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Gray
ModelsGOA-AL80U2211133C, 2211133G
PriceAbout 590 EUR€ 314.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 108h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1248260 (v9) GeekBench: 5129 (v5.1) GFXBench: 109fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 11 Ultra

  • Incredibly fast 100W wired charging
  • Stylish design
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Less powerful chipset
  • Potentially weaker camera
  • Limited availability in some regions

Xiaomi 13

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Excellent camera system
  • Fast wired and wireless charging
  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Wired charging not as fast as Nova 11 Ultra
  • Design may be less distinctive

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1254 nits, offering exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. Its infinite contrast ratio promises vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Nova 11 Ultra's display is likely good, but lacks the measured brightness and contrast data to compete directly. Xiaomi wins here.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Xiaomi 13 is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's image signal processor (ISP) is more advanced, and Xiaomi's camera software is generally well-regarded. The Nova 11 Ultra's camera is likely good, but not in the same league.

Performance

The Xiaomi 13's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerhouse, outperforming the Nova 11 Ultra's Snapdragon 778G 4G by a considerable margin. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Xiaomi 13. The Xiaomi 13's CPU architecture is also more advanced.

Battery Life

Both phones claim impressive endurance ratings (108h). However, the Xiaomi 13 offers faster charging speeds overall, including both wired and wireless options. The Nova 11 Ultra's 100W wired charging is incredibly fast, but the Xiaomi 13's 50W wireless charging provides added convenience.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 11 Ultra is ideal for users prioritizing incredibly fast wired charging and a stylish design. The Xiaomi 13 is perfect for those seeking top-tier performance, a versatile camera system, and a premium build quality, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both phones are advertised with an endurance rating of 108 hours, suggesting comparable battery life. However, the Xiaomi 13 offers faster charging speeds.
❓ Is the Huawei Nova 11 Ultra available globally?
Huawei's availability varies by region. Check local retailers for availability in your area.