Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G vs Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power

Both the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G and the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon variant) aim for the upper echelon of the mid-range smartphone market. However, they take different approaches. The nova 8 Pro relies on Huawei’s Kirin 985 chipset, while the Reno6 Pro leverages the proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 870. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon) emerges as the stronger contender. The Snapdragon 870 provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in sustained workloads and gaming, and the 108-hour endurance rating suggests superior battery optimization despite similar charging speeds.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 -
Launch
Announced2021, April 262021, September 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 18Available. Released 2021, September 09
Body
Build-Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)160.8 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.33 x 2.85 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
Display
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
GPUMali-G77 (8-core)Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)
Single-32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRPanorama
Single-32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired65W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteArctic Blue, Lunar Grey
ModelsBRQ-AN00CPH2247
Price-About 230 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 108h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 671577 (v9) GeekBench: 2941 (v5.1) GFXBench: 49fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G

  • Sleek and modern design aesthetic
  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Huawei ecosystem integration

  • Kirin 985 chipset is outperformed by Snapdragon 870
  • Potential software limitations due to geopolitical factors

Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)

  • Powerful Snapdragon 870 processor
  • Excellent 108-hour battery endurance
  • More open software experience

  • Design may be less striking than the nova 8 Pro
  • Camera processing may not appeal to all users

Display Comparison

The Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 780 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the unspecified brightness of the nova 8 Pro. While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED panels), the Reno6 Pro’s brightness advantage is a tangible benefit for outdoor use. Details regarding panel technology (LTPO, refresh rate) are missing for both, but the Reno6 Pro’s higher peak brightness is a clear win.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised with capable camera systems, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the focus should be on image processing. Huawei historically emphasizes vibrant, sometimes oversaturated colors, while Oppo tends towards a more natural look. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device makes it hard to assess low-light performance. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro lenses found on both, the primary sensor and image processing pipeline will be the deciding factors for photo and video quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G’s Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm) features a Kryo 585 CPU clocked up to 3.2 GHz, offering a significant performance uplift over the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). The Snapdragon 870’s CPU architecture, with its higher clock speeds and more efficient core design, translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 870 consistently outperforms the Kirin 985 in benchmarks and real-world usage. The Reno6 Pro also benefits from potentially faster RAM speeds (LPDDR5x is common with this chipset) which further enhances responsiveness.

Battery Life

The Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G claims an impressive endurance rating of 108 hours, indicating excellent battery optimization. While the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G’s battery capacity is not specified, the Reno6 Pro’s endurance suggests superior power management. Both devices support 65W wired charging, with the nova 8 Pro claiming 60% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Reno6 Pro’s charging speed is comparable, but the longer overall endurance means users may find themselves charging less frequently.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G if you prioritize a sleek design and are deeply embedded within the Huawei ecosystem, accepting the limitations of the Kirin chipset and potential software restrictions. Buy the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon) if you value raw performance, longer battery life, and a more open software experience, making it ideal for gamers and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 struggle with graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Kirin 985, while capable, will likely exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding titles like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 870. The 870’s Adreno 660 GPU offers a significant performance advantage in sustained gaming scenarios.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G a significant issue for most users?
For users heavily reliant on Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps, the absence of GMS on the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G is a major drawback. While Huawei offers its AppGallery and HMS Core as alternatives, the app ecosystem is not as comprehensive as Google’s.
❓ How does the 65W charging on the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G compare to other fast charging solutions?
65W charging is exceptionally fast, capable of fully charging the Reno6 Pro 5G in around 35-40 minutes. It's comparable to other leading fast charging technologies like OnePlus's Warp Charge and Xiaomi's HyperCharge, offering a significant time saving over standard charging.