Huawei nova 6 5G vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more refined software experience, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. While the Huawei nova 6 5G offers competitive specs at a potentially lower price point, the Snapdragon 865’s superior processing power and the OnePlus 8 Pro’s versatile camera system provide a more compelling overall package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 6 5G | OnePlus 8 Pro |
| 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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, December. Released 2019, December | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 75.8 x 9 mm (6.41 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 212 g (7.48 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Panorama, HDR, LED flash | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera) |
| Triple | 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min | 30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red, Provence | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | WLZ-AN00, WLZ-TN00 | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | - | About 310 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 428.39 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 853.51 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 486.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 6 5G
- Faster 40W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- 5G connectivity
- Less powerful chipset (Kirin 990)
- Limited information on camera specs
- No wireless charging
OnePlus 8 Pro
- More powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Versatile camera system
- 120Hz display for smoother visuals
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- Slower wired charging than nova 6 5G
Display Comparison
Both the Huawei nova 6 5G and OnePlus 8 Pro boast displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and panel type are missing for the nova 6 5G. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s display benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate (not mentioned for the nova 6 5G), resulting in smoother scrolling and animations. This higher refresh rate, combined with the Snapdragon 865’s processing power, will be particularly noticeable in gaming and fast-paced content consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specifics are lacking for the nova 6 5G. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system is a known quantity, featuring a versatile setup with a large main sensor and advanced image processing. Without detailed sensor information for the nova 6 5G, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s reputation for image quality and video stabilization gives it an edge. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the nova 6 5G is a significant omission.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 990 (7nm) versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). While both are 7nm processes, the Snapdragon 865 utilizes a slightly refined process node, potentially offering better efficiency. The CPU architecture also differs; the OnePlus 8 Pro features the newer Cortex-A77 cores (1x2.84 GHz & 3x2.42 GHz) compared to the Kirin 990’s Cortex-A76 cores (2x2.86 GHz & 2x2.09 GHz). This translates to a performance advantage for the Snapdragon 865 in CPU-intensive tasks. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s availability with up to 12GB of RAM (and LPDDR5) further enhances multitasking capabilities. Thermal management is a key consideration; the Snapdragon 865 is known to generate heat under sustained load, but OnePlus’s cooling solutions aim to mitigate throttling.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating solid battery life. While the exact battery capacity isn’t specified, the 103-hour rating provides a real-world benchmark. The OnePlus 8 Pro offers a comprehensive charging solution: 30W wired (50% in 23 minutes), 30W wireless (50% in 30 minutes), and 3W reverse wireless charging. The Huawei nova 6 5G offers faster wired charging at 40W (70% in 30 minutes), but lacks wireless charging options. This faster wired charging could be a significant advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 6 5G if you need a capable 5G phone with fast 40W charging and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. It’s a strong choice for users who prioritize value and don’t require the absolute highest level of performance. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a smoother, more responsive user experience, a more versatile camera system, and the benefits of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset, even at a higher price point. It’s ideal for power users, mobile gamers, and photography enthusiasts.