The Huawei nova 12 Ultra and vivo X100 Pro represent compelling choices in the premium smartphone space, but cater to different priorities. The nova 12 Ultra aims for a balance of style and performance, while the X100 Pro aggressively targets camera enthusiasts and power users with its cutting-edge chipset and display technology. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which device best fits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and a vibrant display, the vivo X100 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Dimensity 9300 chipset and 1472 nit display offer a noticeable advantage in demanding tasks and outdoor visibility, despite a slightly slower charging speed than the nova 12 Ultra.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, December 26 | 2023, November 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 12 | Available. Released 2023, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather) | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 75 x 7.7 mm (6.42 x 2.95 x 0.30 in) | 164.1 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm or 9.1 mm |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 221 g or 225 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Kunlun Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2776 pixels (~449 ppi density) | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~452 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 108.8 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.25 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000S (7 nm)* the chipset is not officially confirmed | Mediatek Dimensity 9300 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Maleoon 910 MP4 | Immortalis-G720 MC12 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 4.0 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, Funtouch 15 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.4-4.0, 27mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, LED flash, panorama, HDR, 3D LUT import |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/0.98", 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.5, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, PDAF (18cm - ∞), OIS, 4.3x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom
60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.0, 20mm (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio) | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 100W wired, 3-60% in 10 min
5W reverse wired | 100W wired, 50% in 14 min
50W wireless
Reverse wired |
| Type | 4600 mAh | Li-Ion 5400 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | Startrail Blue, Asteroid Black, Sunset Orange, White |
| Models | ADA-AL00U | V2324A, V2309 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | ₹ 59,999 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
Huawei nova 12 Ultra
- Extremely fast 100W wired charging
- Sleek and stylish design
- Potentially competitive price point
- Uncertain chipset performance (Kirin 9000S)
- Limited information on display specifications
- No wireless charging
vivo X100 Pro
- Powerful Mediatek Dimensity 9300 chipset
- Bright and color-accurate 1472 nit display
- Excellent battery life (13:53h active use)
- Slower 100W wired charging (50% in 14 min)
- Potentially higher price
- Larger size and weight
Display Comparison
The vivo X100 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1472 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. While the nova 12 Ultra’s display specifications are not detailed, it’s likely to be a high-quality OLED panel, but will likely fall short of the X100 Pro’s peak brightness. The X100 Pro’s panel technology is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for improved power efficiency, a feature not confirmed for the nova 12 Ultra. This difference in brightness and potential refresh rate technology makes the X100 Pro the superior choice for outdoor use and media consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are expected to deliver strong camera performance, but the X100 Pro likely holds an edge. While specific sensor details for the nova 12 Ultra are missing, the X100 Pro’s camera system is expected to feature a large main sensor with advanced OIS, enabling exceptional low-light photography and video stabilization. The Dimensity 9300’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more advanced, offering superior image processing capabilities. The X100 Pro’s focus on camera technology, combined with its powerful chipset, positions it as the preferred choice for photography and videography enthusiasts.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Huawei nova 12 Ultra utilizes the Kirin 9000S (7nm), while the vivo X100 Pro is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 9300 (4nm). The Dimensity 9300’s 4nm process node offers superior power efficiency and thermal management compared to the 7nm Kirin 9000S, translating to less throttling during sustained workloads. The Dimensity 9300’s CPU configuration, featuring Cortex-X4 cores, provides a substantial performance uplift over the Taishan cores in the Kirin 9000S, particularly in single-core tasks. While both phones likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, the Dimensity 9300’s more advanced architecture will maximize its potential.
Battery Life
The vivo X100 Pro demonstrates impressive battery life, achieving 13:53 hours of active use. While the nova 12 Ultra offers faster wired charging at 100W (30-60% in 10 minutes), the X100 Pro’s more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (not specified) contribute to its longer runtime. The X100 Pro also supports 50W wireless charging, a feature absent on the nova 12 Ultra. The X100 Pro’s combination of efficiency and wireless charging capabilities provides a more versatile charging experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 12 Ultra if you prioritize rapid charging speeds (reaching 60% in just 10 minutes) and a sleek design, and are comfortable with the potential uncertainties surrounding the Kirin 9000S chipset's performance. Buy the vivo X100 Pro if you demand top-tier processing power for gaming and content creation, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more established and well-documented chipset in the Mediatek Dimensity 9300.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 9000S chipset in the nova 12 Ultra comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of gaming performance?
Based on available information, the Kirin 9000S is likely to fall short of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in sustained gaming performance due to its 7nm process node and less advanced CPU architecture. The Dimensity 9300 in the X100 Pro is expected to outperform both.
❓ Does the vivo X100 Pro experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 9300’s 4nm process node and advanced thermal management system are designed to minimize throttling. While some throttling is inevitable, the X100 Pro is expected to maintain higher frame rates for longer periods compared to devices with less efficient chipsets.
❓ What type of storage does the vivo X100 Pro use, and does it impact app loading times?
The vivo X100 Pro is expected to utilize UFS 4.0 storage, which offers significantly faster read and write speeds compared to UFS 3.1. This translates to quicker app loading times, faster file transfers, and an overall smoother user experience.
❓ How does the 100W charging on the Huawei nova 12 Ultra compare to other 100W charging implementations?
While both phones offer 100W charging, the nova 12 Ultra achieves 60% charge in 10 minutes, while the X100 Pro takes 14 minutes for 50%. This suggests a potentially more aggressive charging curve on the Huawei, but may also generate more heat.
