Huawei nova 14 Pro vs. Xiaomi 14 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Huawei nova 14 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent distinct approaches to the modern flagship smartphone. The nova 14 Pro aims to deliver a premium experience with Huawei’s in-house Kirin chipset and rapid charging, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro leverages the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for uncompromising performance and a versatile camera system. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is the clear winner thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, the Huawei nova 14 Pro offers a compelling alternative with its 100W charging and potentially more refined software experience for users within the Huawei ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 14 Pro Xiaomi 14 Pro
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 bandsLTE1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, May 192023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, May 19Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
Build-Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions163.4 x 75 x 7.8 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.31 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight207 g (7.30 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionAluminosilicate glass (256/512GB); Kunlun Glass edition (512GB only)Shatterproof glass
Resolution1224 x 2776 pixels (~447 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.29 GHz & 3x2.05 GHz & 4x1.3 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 8020Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920 2cuAdreno 750
OSHarmonyOS 5.0Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), PDAF-
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio)5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), 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 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type5500 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Purple, BlueBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsMIA-AL0023116PN5BC
PriceAbout 430 EURAbout 650 EUR

Huawei nova 14 Pro

  • 100W SuperCharge for incredibly fast wired charging.
  • Potential for a more refined software experience within the Huawei ecosystem.
  • Competitive price point (likely).

  • Kirin 8020 chipset is significantly less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
  • Lacks wireless charging.
  • Camera system likely less advanced than the Xiaomi 14 Pro.

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers class-leading performance.
  • 120W wired and 50W wireless charging options.
  • Advanced camera system with a large sensor and sophisticated image processing.

  • Potentially higher price tag.
  • Xiaomi’s MIUI software can be polarizing.
  • May run warmer under sustained load compared to the Kirin 8020 (though thermal management is improved).

Display Comparison

While specific display specs (resolution, panel type) are missing for the nova 14 Pro, both devices are expected to feature high-refresh-rate OLED panels. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 benefits from optimized display drivers, potentially leading to smoother animations. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s likely higher peak brightness, typical of flagship panels, will provide better visibility in direct sunlight. The absence of LTPO information for the nova 14 Pro suggests it may not dynamically adjust refresh rates as efficiently as the Xiaomi 14 Pro, impacting battery life during static content viewing.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for the nova 14 Pro, a direct comparison is limited. However, Xiaomi flagships consistently prioritize camera innovation. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to feature a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s OIS system will likely be more sophisticated, resulting in sharper images and smoother video recording. While the nova 14 Pro may offer a competent camera experience, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is positioned to deliver a more versatile and higher-quality photographic output.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 14 Pro’s Kirin 8020. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime core, clocked at 3.3 GHz, provides a substantial performance leap over the Kirin 8020’s 2.29 GHz core. The Snapdragon’s more modern architecture and 4nm process translate to superior thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances performance, offering faster data transfer speeds compared to the likely LPDDR4x or LPDDR5 found in the nova 14 Pro.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 120W wired charging is significantly faster than the Huawei nova 14 Pro’s 100W charging, promising a full charge in just 18 minutes. The addition of 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro provides a convenient alternative, while the nova 14 Pro lacks wireless charging. While battery capacity is unknown for both, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset will likely result in comparable or better real-world battery life despite potentially having a similar or smaller battery size. The 10W reverse wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro is also more useful than the nova 14 Pro's 5W offering.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 14 Pro if you prioritize fast charging speeds, are deeply integrated into the Huawei ecosystem, and value a potentially more streamlined software experience. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you demand the absolute best performance for gaming and demanding applications, require advanced camera capabilities, and prefer a wider range of software customization options.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 8020 in the Huawei nova 14 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Kirin 8020 is significantly less powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. While it can run Genshin Impact, expect lower frame rates and potentially more noticeable frame drops, especially at higher graphics settings. The Xiaomi 14 Pro will provide a much smoother and more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How much faster is the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro compared to the 100W charging on the Huawei nova 14 Pro in real-world use?
The Xiaomi 14 Pro can charge from 0-100% in approximately 18 minutes, while the Huawei nova 14 Pro takes longer. In practical terms, you'll gain a significant amount of charge – enough for several hours of use – in just 10-15 minutes with the Xiaomi 14 Pro, whereas the nova 14 Pro will require a bit more time to reach a similar charge level.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the Huawei nova 14 Pro a significant drawback?
For users who frequently utilize wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the nova 14 Pro is a notable omission. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 50W wireless charging offers a convenient alternative to wired charging, especially for overnight top-ups.