Huawei nova 6 vs. Google Pixel 4a 5G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range 5G Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and exceptionally fast charging, the Huawei nova 6 is the winner. However, the Google Pixel 4a 5G’s superior camera software and clean Android experience make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those valuing software simplicity.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 6 | Google Pixel 4a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6, mmWave (market dependant) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, December. Released 2019, December | 2020, September 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 05 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.6 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) | 153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6) or 8.5 mm (Sub-6 and mmWave) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 168 g (5G Sub-6); 171 g ( 5G Sub-6 and mmWave) (5.93 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~413 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 95.7 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 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 990 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 107˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Laser AF, Panorama, HDR, LED flash | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| 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@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3885 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red, Provence | Just Black, Clearly White |
| Models | WLZ-AL10, WLZ-TL10 | GD1YQ, G025I, G025E, G025H, G6QU3 |
| Price | - | About 140 EUR |
Huawei nova 6
- Significantly faster 40W charging
- Potentially higher CPU performance with Kirin 990
- Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals
- Huawei’s software ecosystem and potential lack of Google services
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Google Pixel 4a 5G
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Exceptional camera image processing and software
- Efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Slower 18W charging
- Potentially lower peak CPU performance
Display Comparison
While specific display specs aren't provided, both devices utilize 7nm chipsets suggesting a focus on efficiency. The nova 6 likely features a higher refresh rate panel, a common feature in Huawei’s mid-range offerings, potentially offering smoother scrolling and animations. The Pixel 4a 5G, given Google’s history, will prioritize color accuracy and viewing angles. The absence of LTPO technology in either device suggests standard OLED panels, meaning refresh rate scaling for power saving isn't present.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 4a 5G’s strength lies in Google’s renowned computational photography. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, Google’s software algorithms excel at dynamic range, noise reduction, and detail preservation, even with a potentially smaller sensor. The nova 6 likely relies more on hardware, potentially offering higher resolution images, but may lack the Pixel’s consistent image quality across various lighting conditions. The absence of information on OIS makes it difficult to assess low-light performance definitively, but Google’s software stabilization is typically very effective.
Performance
The Kirin 990 in the nova 6 boasts a more complex CPU configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) compared to the Snapdragon 765G’s (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver). This suggests the Kirin 990 has a theoretical advantage in multi-threaded tasks and peak performance. However, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G is known for its efficient architecture and optimized software integration, potentially closing the gap in real-world usage. Both are built on a 7nm process, but the Kirin 990’s more aggressive clock speeds could lead to higher thermal throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Huawei nova 6’s 40W wired charging is a significant advantage, promising a 70% charge in just 30 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime compared to the Pixel 4a 5G’s 18W charging with PD2.0. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the nova 6 mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery. The Pixel 4a 5G’s slower charging speed means longer periods tethered to a wall outlet, despite potentially having a larger battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 6 if you need a phone capable of handling demanding games and applications, and if rapid 40W charging is a priority. You’ll benefit from a more powerful chipset and faster charging speeds. Buy the Google Pixel 4a 5G if you prefer a clean, bloatware-free Android experience, exceptional camera image processing, and guaranteed software updates directly from Google. It’s the better choice for everyday users and photography lovers.