Xiaomi 11T Pro vs Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Charging

The Xiaomi 11T Pro and Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range to upper-mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience, they take drastically different approaches to achieving it, primarily through their chipset choices and charging technologies. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi 11T Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a significant performance advantage, and its 120W charging is substantially faster than the Huawei's 66W solution. While Huawei offers a stylish design, the Xiaomi's raw power and charging speed make it the more practical choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G Xiaomi 11T Pro
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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 -
Launch
Announced2021, April 262021, September 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 18Available. Released 2021, October 05
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)164.1 x 76.9 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 3.03 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzAMOLED, Dolby Vision, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 985 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 (8-core)Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple-108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960, HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDR-
Single-16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -Tuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 72% in 10 min, 100% in 17 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteMeteorite Gray, Moonlight White, Celestial Blue
ModelsBRQ-AN002107113SG, 2107113SI, 2107113SR
Price-€ 139.00 / $ 185.21 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 39,999
SAR-0.78 W/kg (head)     0.49 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 92h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.3 LUFS (Good)

Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G

  • Sleek and stylish design
  • 66W fast charging
  • 5W reverse wired charging

  • Older Kirin 985 chipset
  • Potentially lower peak display brightness
  • Limited camera details

Xiaomi 11T Pro

  • Flagship Snapdragon 888 processor
  • 120W ultra-fast charging
  • Brighter display (837 nits)

  • May run warmer under sustained load
  • Design may be less visually striking than the Huawei

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 11T Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 837 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the nova 8 Pro 4G. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors, the Xiaomi’s higher brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The Xiaomi also features an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED displays, ensuring deep blacks. Details regarding the nova 8 Pro 4G’s display technology, such as refresh rate and PWM dimming frequency, are missing, making a complete comparison difficult, but the Xiaomi’s brightness advantage is clear.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Xiaomi 11T Pro, being a more recent device, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either phone makes it hard to assess low-light performance. It's reasonable to assume the Xiaomi, given its flagship positioning, may have a more sophisticated camera system overall, but concrete evidence is lacking.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 11T Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a flagship-tier processor, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This is a substantial leap over the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G’s Kirin 985 (7nm). The Kirin 985 utilizes a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-A76 cores, but the Snapdragon 888’s newer architecture and smaller fabrication process deliver superior performance and efficiency. The Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660 GPU also significantly outperforms the Kirin 985’s Mali-G77 MP16, making the Xiaomi the clear winner for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. While both phones likely feature ample RAM, the Snapdragon 888’s architecture is better optimized for handling it.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the nova 8 Pro 4G). However, the charging speeds are dramatically different. The Xiaomi 11T Pro’s 120W charging can replenish the battery to 72% in just 10 minutes and fully charge it in 17 minutes, utilizing PD3.0 and QC3 standards. The Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G’s 66W charging, while still fast, takes 15 minutes to reach 60% and 35 minutes for a full charge. The Xiaomi’s charging speed is a game-changer for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The Huawei also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature not explicitly mentioned for the Xiaomi.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G if you prioritize a sleek aesthetic and a balanced, if not leading-edge, experience. It's a good fit for users who value design and don't heavily rely on demanding applications. Buy the Xiaomi 11T Pro if you prioritize performance, especially for gaming or content creation, and demand the fastest possible charging speeds. This is the phone for power users who want a flagship-level experience without the flagship price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 985 is capable of running Genshin Impact, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 888 in the Xiaomi 11T Pro will handle the game at higher settings with less performance throttling.
❓ How much hotter does the Xiaomi 11T Pro get during extended gaming sessions compared to the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than the Kirin 985, especially under sustained load. While the Xiaomi 11T Pro likely has thermal management systems in place, it may experience more noticeable warming during prolonged gaming. The Huawei, with its less powerful chipset, will generally remain cooler.
❓ Is the 120W charging of the Xiaomi 11T Pro safe for long-term battery health?
While extremely fast, 120W charging incorporates safety mechanisms to prevent overcharging and battery degradation. Xiaomi employs technologies to manage heat and optimize the charging process. However, consistently using ultra-fast charging *may* contribute to slightly faster battery wear over several years compared to slower charging methods.