The Huawei nova 6 SE and Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly crowded mid-range 5G smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, but they achieve this through different approaches to chipset selection and feature prioritization. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly brighter display, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 765G chipset offers a more balanced CPU and GPU performance profile, while the 610 nits peak brightness provides a more visible experience in direct sunlight. However, the nova 6 SE’s 40W charging is a significant advantage.
| 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, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December. Released 2019, December | 2020, March 27. Released 2020, May 25 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.34 in) | 163.7 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, HDR10+, 430 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| 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 | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired | 20W wired, PD3.0, QC4 |
| Stand-by | Up to 386 h (2G) / Up to 386 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 16 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 11 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Emerald Green, Light Pink/Blue | Aurora Blue, Cosmic Gray, Dream White |
| Models | JNY-AL10, JNY-TL10 | M2002J9G, M2002J9S, XIG01 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.79 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | £ 312.99 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | £ 399.99 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 272.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 103h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 318117 (v8)
GeekBench: 1927 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 6 SE
- 40W SuperCharge for incredibly fast charging.
- Potentially more competitive pricing (depending on region).
- Huawei’s established camera processing algorithms.
- Kirin 810 chipset may exhibit throttling under sustained load.
- Limited information on display brightness and quality.
- Potential software restrictions due to the Huawei ecosystem.
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G
- Snapdragon 765G offers better overall performance and gaming capabilities.
- 610 nits peak brightness for improved outdoor visibility.
- Wider software compatibility and access to Google services.
- Slower 20W charging compared to the nova 6 SE.
- Battery life, while good, isn't exceptional.
- Price may be slightly higher than the nova 6 SE.
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G boasts a display capable of reaching 610 nits of peak brightness, a measurable advantage over what is expected from the nova 6 SE. While the nova 6 SE’s panel specifications aren’t available, the Mi 10 Lite’s higher brightness translates to better outdoor visibility. Both displays feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting standard AMOLED characteristics. The lack of high refresh rate support on either device is a notable omission in today’s market, but not uncommon at this price point.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s camera system is likely to benefit from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP), which is known for its strong performance in computational photography. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is unknown for both devices, but would be a significant advantage for low-light photography and video recording. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely a marketing gimmick and unlikely to deliver substantial image quality improvements.
Performance
At the heart of the nova 6 SE lies the Kirin 810 (7nm), featuring a dual-cluster CPU configuration with 2x 2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x 1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Mi 10 Lite 5G counters with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm), utilizing a tri-cluster setup: 1x 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x 2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x 1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver. The Snapdragon 765G’s Kryo 475 Prime core offers a slight clock speed advantage, and Qualcomm’s GPU generally provides better sustained graphics performance, making the Mi 10 Lite 5G the better choice for gaming. Both devices utilize 6GB of RAM in the £312.99/£399.99 configurations, but RAM speed (LPDDR4x vs LPDDR5) isn’t specified, impacting overall system responsiveness.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting efficient power management despite its unspecified battery capacity. The Huawei nova 6 SE lacks a published endurance rating, but compensates with significantly faster 40W wired charging. The Mi 10 Lite 5G supports 20W charging with PD3.0 and QC4 standards, offering broader compatibility but slower top-up speeds. While the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s endurance is strong, the nova 6 SE’s 40W charging allows for a full charge in a considerably shorter timeframe, a crucial benefit for users who frequently need to replenish their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 6 SE if you need exceptionally fast charging and are comfortable with the potential limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Its 40W charging will get you back up and running quickly. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G if you prefer a more versatile chipset with broader software compatibility and a brighter, more easily viewable display, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 810 in the nova 6 SE struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 810 is a capable chipset, but it may exhibit thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions with high graphics settings. While playable, users may need to lower settings to maintain consistent frame rates. The Snapdragon 765G in the Mi 10 Lite 5G generally handles these titles more effectively due to its superior GPU and thermal management.
❓ Is the 20W charging on the Mi 10 Lite 5G slow compared to other phones in this price range?
While 20W isn't the fastest charging available, it's still a respectable speed and supports Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick Charge 4.0 for compatibility with a wide range of chargers. The trade-off is a significantly faster charge time with the nova 6 SE’s 40W charging, but the Mi 10 Lite 5G’s endurance rating suggests it won’t require charging as frequently.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Huawei nova 6 SE and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G?
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G runs on MIUI, based on Android, offering a highly customizable experience with a vast ecosystem of apps and services. The Huawei nova 6 SE runs on EMUI, which lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) support. This means users may need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and workarounds to access popular apps like Google Maps and YouTube.
