Huawei nova 8 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G: A Deep Dive Comparison

Both the Huawei nova 8 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G target the competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market, but they take different approaches. The nova 8 5G emphasizes rapid charging and Huawei’s in-house Kirin chipset, while the Mi 11 Lite 5G leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 780G and a focus on a lightweight design and bright display. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing fast charging and potentially smoother multitasking, the Huawei nova 8 5G emerges as the winner. Its 66W charging significantly outperforms the Mi 11 Lite 5G’s 33W, and the Kirin 985, while older, offers a robust CPU configuration. However, the Mi 11 Lite 5G remains a strong contender for those valuing a brighter display and Qualcomm’s established software ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 5G Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 80, 83, 84 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 1, 3, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, December 23. Released 2021, January 052021, March 29
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, April 16
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back
Dimensions160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 x 0.30 in)160.5 x 75.7 x 6.8 mm (6.32 x 2.98 x 0.27 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)159 g (5.61 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10+, 90Hz, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 3x2.2 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.90 GHz Kryo 670)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM7350-AB Snapdragon 780G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 (8-core)Adreno 642
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video4K1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with dual speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (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 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired33W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAhLi-Po 4250 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteTruffle Black, Mint Green, Citrus Yellow
ModelsANG-AN00M2101K9G, M2101K9C, M2101K9R
PriceAbout 410 EURAbout 120 EUR
SAR-1.03 W/kg (head)     1.06 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.56 W/kg (head)     0.89 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 106h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 465534 (v8) | 522490 (v9) GeekBench: 2909 (v5.1) GFXBench: 35fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 8 5G

  • Significantly faster 66W charging
  • Potentially smoother multitasking due to CPU core count
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Older Kirin 985 chipset may lack long-term software support
  • Display brightness data unavailable, potentially lower than Mi 11 Lite 5G

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G

  • Brighter display (846 nits)
  • More efficient Snapdragon 780G chipset
  • Wider app compatibility and software ecosystem

  • Slower 33W charging
  • Potentially less smooth multitasking compared to nova 8 5G

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured 846 nits. This is a significant advantage for outdoor visibility compared to the nova 8 5G (brightness data unavailable). While the Mi 11 Lite 5G’s contrast ratio is listed as ‘infinite’ (nominal), this is typical marketing language. Both devices likely utilize AMOLED panels, but the Mi 11 Lite 5G’s higher peak brightness provides a tangible benefit for HDR content consumption and general usability in bright environments. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, suggesting neither device significantly excels in screen-to-body ratio.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The focus should be on image processing and real-world results, which are not provided in the context data. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The presence of 'Photo / Video' capabilities on both suggests a similar feature set, but the Mi 11 Lite 5G’s image processing algorithms are generally well-regarded for natural color reproduction. The 2MP macro cameras often found in this price range on both devices are unlikely to provide significant photographic value.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm) versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 780G (5nm). The Snapdragon 780G’s 5nm process gives it a theoretical edge in power efficiency and thermal management. While the Kirin 985 features a more complex CPU core configuration – a 1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76, 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76, and 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55 – the Snapdragon 780G’s Kryo 670 cores (1x2.4 GHz, 3x2.2 GHz, 4x1.90 GHz) are architecturally more modern and benefit from Qualcomm’s optimizations. This translates to potentially better sustained performance under heavy load for the Mi 11 Lite 5G. The Snapdragon 780G also benefits from superior GPU performance, making it the better choice for mobile gaming.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G has an endurance rating of 106 hours, indicating respectable battery life. However, the Huawei nova 8 5G’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer. It can reach 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, significantly reducing downtime. While the Mi 11 Lite 5G supports 33W charging with PD3.0 and QC4, it’s considerably slower. This charging speed disparity effectively mitigates any potential battery capacity differences (capacity data missing for nova 8 5G), making the nova 8 5G more convenient for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 5G if you need exceptionally fast charging, frequently multitask with demanding applications, and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G if you prioritize a brighter, more color-accurate display, a lighter and more compact form factor, and prefer the wider app compatibility and software support of the Qualcomm ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 in the Huawei nova 8 5G suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 985 is a capable chipset, its 7nm process is less efficient than the Snapdragon 780G’s 5nm process. This means the nova 8 5G is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, graphically intensive gaming. However, the extent of throttling will depend on the game and ambient temperature.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G fast enough for daily use, or is it a significant drawback compared to the nova 8 5G’s 66W charging?
33W charging is adequate for overnight charging, but it’s considerably slower than the nova 8 5G’s 66W charging. If you frequently need to quickly top up your phone throughout the day, the nova 8 5G’s charging speed is a significant advantage. The Mi 11 Lite 5G will take considerably longer to reach a full charge.
❓ How does Huawei’s EMUI software compare to Xiaomi’s MIUI in terms of user experience and bloatware?
Both EMUI and MIUI are heavily customized Android skins. Historically, EMUI has been criticized for a less intuitive interface and more pre-installed bloatware compared to MIUI. However, Xiaomi has also increased the amount of pre-installed apps in recent MIUI versions. User preference is subjective, but MIUI generally offers more customization options.