Huawei Nova 11 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two strong contenders are the Huawei Nova 11 and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes the crown for overall value and longevity, boasting exceptional battery life and a brighter display. The Huawei Nova 11 shines with its incredibly fast 66W charging and stylish design, but lacks the software support and ecosystem of Samsung.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Samsung Galaxy A54
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, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, April 172023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions161.3 x 75 x 6.9 mm (6.35 x 2.95 x 0.27 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1084 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G68 MP5
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDR-
Single-32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, 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, compass, barometer (USA only)
 Virtual proximity sensingVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired, 100% in 31 min Reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White, GoldLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsFOA-AL00, FOA-LX9SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 310 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 11

  • Incredibly fast 66W charging
  • Stylish and premium design
  • Smooth user experience
  • Good selfie camera

  • Limited software support (no Google services)
  • Less established ecosystem
  • Potentially weaker battery life compared to A54
  • 4G connectivity only

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Reliable Samsung ecosystem
  • Good camera performance
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower charging speed (25W)
  • Design is less distinctive
  • Exynos chipset can sometimes throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54's 980 nits peak brightness gives it a significant edge in outdoor visibility. While the Nova 11's display is likely good, Samsung's 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests superior image quality. Both offer vibrant colors, but the A54's brightness is a key differentiator.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems. The Galaxy A54 is known for its consistent image quality and versatile lens setup. The Nova 11 likely focuses on selfie capabilities, potentially with advanced beauty modes. A direct camera comparison would require detailed testing, but the A54's reputation suggests a slight edge in overall image quality and video recording.

Performance

The Snapdragon 778G 4G in the Nova 11 is a capable chip, but the Exynos 1380 in the A54 generally offers slightly better sustained performance and efficiency. While both are octa-core, the A54's Cortex-A78 cores provide a small advantage in demanding tasks. Gaming performance is comparable, but the A54 might handle prolonged gaming sessions better due to thermal management.

Battery Life

This is where the Galaxy A54 truly shines. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, significantly outperforming the Nova 11. While the Nova 11's 66W charging is incredibly fast, the A54's superior battery life means you'll need to charge it far less frequently.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 11 is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a sleek design, and a smooth user experience. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is perfect for those seeking long-lasting battery life, a vibrant display, and the reliability of the Samsung ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Nova 11 have Google services?
No, the Huawei Nova 11 does not come with Google services pre-installed. Users will need to rely on Huawei's AppGallery and potentially sideload apps.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy A54 worth the extra cost?
For most users, yes. The A54's superior battery life, brighter display, and Samsung ecosystem make it a more well-rounded and future-proof choice.