Huawei Nova 11 vs Honor 70: A Clash of Mid-Range Titans

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Huawei Nova 11 and Honor 70 are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer stylish designs, capable cameras, and decent performance, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor 70 edges out the Nova 11 thanks to its Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, 5G connectivity, and slightly faster charging. While the Nova 11 boasts a beautiful design and impressive fast charging, the Honor 70's overall performance and features make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Honor 70
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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, April 172022, May 30
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2022, June 02
Body
Build-Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions161.3 x 75 x 6.9 mm (6.35 x 2.95 x 0.27 in)161.4 x 73.3 x 7.9 mm (6.35 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass-
Resolution1084 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 642L
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 12, Magic UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Triple-54 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS
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/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, 100% in 31 min Reverse wired66W wired, 60% in 20 min 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White, GoldMidnight Black, Emerald Green, Icelandic Frost, Crystal Silver
ModelsFOA-AL00, FOA-LX9FNE-AN00, FNE-NX9
PriceAbout 310 EUR£ 201.00 / € 189.90
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 100h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.4 LUFS (Average)

Huawei nova 11

  • Stunning design
  • Incredibly fast 66W charging
  • Excellent color accuracy on display
  • Good portrait mode camera

  • No 5G connectivity
  • Slightly less powerful chipset
  • Limited availability in some regions

Honor 70

  • More powerful Snapdragon 778G+ chipset
  • 5G connectivity
  • Brighter display
  • Good overall camera performance

  • Design less distinctive than Nova 11
  • Slower charging than Nova 11 (to 100%)
  • Reverse wired charging is slower (5W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Honor 70's measured 790 nits peak brightness gives it an advantage in direct sunlight, while the Nova 11's display is known for its accurate color reproduction. The Honor 70's 'infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, but suggests excellent contrast.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera setups, but the Honor 70 generally produces slightly more detailed and vibrant photos. The Nova 11's camera is known for its pleasing color science and portrait mode capabilities. Video recording quality is comparable on both devices.

Performance

The Honor 70's Snapdragon 778G+ provides a noticeable performance boost over the Nova 11's Snapdragon 778G. The '+’ variant offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and better gaming experiences. The Honor 70 also supports 5G, a feature absent in the Nova 11.

Battery Life

Both phones have similar battery capacities, but the Honor 70's endurance rating of 100h suggests slightly better overall battery life. The Nova 11's 66W charging is incredibly fast, reaching 100% in just 31 minutes, while the Honor 70 charges to 60% in 20 minutes with its 66W charger.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 11 is ideal for users prioritizing aesthetics and fast charging, particularly those who don't need 5G. The Honor 70 is a better fit for those seeking a more powerful processor, 5G capabilities, and a brighter display for outdoor use.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Nova 11 support 5G?
No, the Huawei Nova 11 is a 4G-only device.
❓ Which phone has faster charging?
The Huawei Nova 11 charges faster to 100% (31 minutes) compared to the Honor 70 (charging to 60% in 20 minutes).
❓ Is the Honor 70's 'infinite' contrast ratio a real specification?
The 'infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term and not a measurable specification. It suggests excellent contrast but doesn't provide a concrete value.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor 70 is better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 778G+ chipset.