Huawei nova 11i vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Huawei nova 11i 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.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior performance, brighter display, significantly faster charging, and exceptional battery life. While the nova 11i offers a sleek design and fast charging, the A54's broader appeal and robust features make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11i Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 66, 26, 38, 40, 411, 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 / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, May 012023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, May 11Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions164.6 x 75.6 x 8.6 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.34 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
Weight193 g (6.81 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Mali-G68 MP5
OSEMUI 13Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotUnspecifiedmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED 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)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging40W wired, 60% in 30 min25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStarry Black, Mint GreenLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsMAO-LX9, MAO-LX9NSM-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 140 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 11i

  • Fast 40W Charging
  • Sleek Design
  • 6nm Process (potentially more efficient)

  • Less Powerful Chipset
  • Limited Camera Details
  • Unknown Battery Capacity
  • No IP Rating (likely)

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Bright and Vibrant Display
  • Powerful Exynos 1380 Chipset
  • Versatile Camera System
  • IP67 Water and Dust Resistance

  • Slower 25W Charging
  • Design may be less exciting to some

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits peak) compared to the nova 11i, offering better visibility in sunlight. The A54's 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and richer colors, while the nova 11i's display, though likely good, lacks detailed specifications for comparison. The A54's display is a clear advantage.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, but the Galaxy A54 is expected to have a more advanced camera system based on Samsung's reputation. Details on the nova 11i's camera are limited, but the A54 likely offers better image processing, low-light performance, and potentially more versatile features like optical image stabilization (OIS).

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 (5nm) chipset generally outperforms the Huawei nova 11i's Snapdragon 680 (6nm). The Cortex-A78 cores in the A54 provide a noticeable boost in processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking and gaming. While both have octa-core CPUs, the A54's architecture is more modern and efficient.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A54 shines in battery life, consistently achieving endurance ratings of 119 hours (old) and an active use score of 11:15h. The nova 11i's battery capacity is unknown, but its 40W charging speed is a plus. However, the A54's exceptional battery longevity gives it a significant edge.

Buying Guide

The Huawei nova 11i is a good option for users prioritizing a stylish design and fast charging speeds, especially if they are already within the Huawei ecosystem. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is ideal for those seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with a vibrant display, strong performance, and a versatile camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better performance for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset provides significantly better gaming performance compared to the Huawei nova 11i's Snapdragon 680.
❓ Is the Huawei nova 11i a good choice if I'm already using Huawei services?
Yes, if you're heavily invested in the Huawei ecosystem, the nova 11i might be a convenient choice. However, consider the limitations of its hardware compared to the A54.