Released in close proximity, the Huawei nova 5 and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro represent compelling options in the mid-range to upper-mid-range smartphone space. Both leverage 7nm fabrication processes for their respective chipsets, but diverge significantly in their implementation and overall user experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best balance of performance, battery life, and value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and sustained gaming, the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset provides a noticeable edge in CPU and GPU capabilities, offsetting the nova 5’s faster 40W charging. However, the nova 5 remains a viable option for those heavily invested in the Huawei ecosystem.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, June. Released 2019, June | 2019, August 21. Released 2019, August 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157.4 x 74.8 x 7.3 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | Super AMOLED, HDR |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, AF | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 85% in 30 min | 27W wired, QC4 |
| Stand-by | Up to 360 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 28 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, Green | Carbon black, Red flame, Glacier blue |
| Models | SEA-AL00, SEA-TL00 | M1903F11G |
| Price | About 360 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.43 W/kg (head) | 1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8)
GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 5
- 40W SuperCharge delivers incredibly fast charging speeds.
- Potentially better software integration for Huawei ecosystem users.
- Competitive battery endurance despite a less powerful chipset.
- Kirin 810 chipset is outperformed by the Snapdragon 855 in CPU and GPU tasks.
- EMUI software can be polarizing compared to stock Android.
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
- Snapdragon 855 provides superior performance for gaming and demanding apps.
- More open Android experience with MIUI (though heavily customized).
- Likely better image processing capabilities thanks to the Snapdragon ISP.
- 27W charging is slower than the nova 5’s 40W SuperCharge.
- MIUI can be resource-intensive and include bloatware.
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks typical of AMOLED panels. However, specific details like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are absent. Given the Mi 9T Pro’s positioning, it likely benefits from a slightly wider color gamut. The lack of high refresh rate support on either device is a notable omission compared to later models, but standard for the price point at the time of release. Bezels are likely comparable, focusing on maximizing screen real estate within their respective form factors.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications are limited. Both phones likely feature multi-camera setups, but the emphasis should be on the main sensors. Without knowing sensor sizes or apertures, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 ISP generally offers superior image processing capabilities, potentially leading to better dynamic range and low-light performance on the Mi 9T Pro. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the primary sensor of the Mi 9T Pro (a common feature in this class) would further enhance its photographic capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 810 versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855. While both are fabricated on a 7nm process, the Snapdragon 855 boasts a more powerful CPU configuration – a single Kryo 485 core clocked at 2.84 GHz, supported by three additional Kryo 485 cores at 2.42 GHz, and four efficiency cores at 1.78 GHz. This contrasts with the Kirin 810’s 2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 setup. The Snapdragon 855’s Adreno 640 GPU also significantly outperforms the Kirin 810’s GPU, making the Mi 9T Pro the clear winner for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. The Mi 9T Pro likely utilizes LPDDR4X RAM, while the nova 5’s RAM type is unspecified, but likely similar.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei nova 5 and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The nova 5 supports 40W wired charging, claiming an 85% charge in 30 minutes, while the Mi 9T Pro offers 27W charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support. While the Mi 9T Pro’s charging isn’t as rapid, QC4 provides broader compatibility with various chargers. The similar endurance ratings suggest that the Kirin 810’s power efficiency partially offsets the Mi 9T Pro’s more powerful chipset.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 5 if you prioritize extremely fast charging – its 40W capability significantly reduces downtime. It’s also a good choice if you prefer Huawei’s EMUI software and are already integrated into their ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro if you demand superior processing power for gaming and demanding applications, and value a more open Android experience. The Snapdragon 855 offers a more robust platform for long-term software support and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 810 in the Huawei nova 5 struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Fortnite?
While the Kirin 810 is a capable chipset, it will likely require lower graphics settings and frame rate caps in demanding games like PUBG or Fortnite to maintain a smooth experience. The Snapdragon 855 in the Mi 9T Pro offers a more comfortable gaming experience at higher settings.
❓ Is the 27W charging on the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro significantly slower than the 40W charging on the Huawei nova 5 in real-world use?
While 40W is faster on paper, the difference in real-world charging times isn't as dramatic as the numbers suggest. The Mi 9T Pro’s 27W charging with QC4 is still relatively quick and will fully charge the device in a reasonable timeframe. The nova 5’s advantage is more noticeable in topping up the battery quickly for short bursts of use.
❓ Which phone is likely to receive more software updates and security patches over time?
Historically, Xiaomi has offered more consistent software updates and security patches for its devices compared to Huawei, particularly after the US trade restrictions impacted Huawei’s access to Google services. The Mi 9T Pro is therefore likely to receive longer-term software support.
