Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G vs Google Pixel 6a: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing software support and a clean Android experience, the Google Pixel 6a is the better choice. However, the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G excels in charging speed and offers a potentially more visually striking display, making it ideal for users heavily reliant on quick top-ups and multimedia consumption.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, December 23. Released 2021, January 08 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 985 5G (7 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G77 (8-core) | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | VGA | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, White | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | BRQ-AN00, BRQ-AL00 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 600 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.04 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G
- Significantly faster 66W charging
- Potential for a more vibrant display (based on Huawei's history)
- 5W reverse wired charging for accessories
- Lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS)
- Older 7nm chipset compared to Pixel 6a's Tensor
Google Pixel 6a
- Google Tensor chip offers superior performance
- Guaranteed software updates and long-term support
- Excellent computational photography capabilities
- Slower 18W charging
- No reverse wireless charging
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a measured peak brightness of 876 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the nova 8 Pro 5G’s display specifications aren’t provided, Huawei typically focuses on vibrant OLED panels. The Pixel 6a’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, delivers deep blacks and punchy colors. Without specific details on the nova 8 Pro 5G’s panel type, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy, but the Pixel 6a’s display is a known quantity and performs admirably in real-world use.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a’s camera prowess stems from Google’s renowned computational photography. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel 6a’s image processing algorithms excel at dynamic range and low-light performance. The nova 8 Pro 5G’s camera specifications are unavailable, but Huawei often emphasizes high megapixel counts. However, megapixel count isn’t everything; the Pixel 6a’s software optimizations often outperform competitors with larger sensors. Without detailed camera specs for the nova 8 Pro 5G, a direct comparison is challenging, but the Pixel 6a’s consistent image quality is a strong advantage.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a’s Google Tensor chip, fabricated on a 5nm process, offers a significant architectural advantage over the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring two high-performance Cortex-X1 cores clocked at 2.80 GHz, promises superior CPU performance, particularly in demanding tasks. While the Kirin 985 5G utilizes a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores, the Tensor’s more modern architecture and smaller fabrication node translate to better efficiency and sustained performance. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip also includes dedicated machine learning cores, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G and Google Pixel 6a achieve an endurance rating of 94 hours, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, their charging capabilities differ dramatically. The nova 8 Pro 5G’s 66W wired charging can replenish the battery to 60% in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, a significant advantage for users who need a quick top-up. The Pixel 6a’s 18W wired charging, while supporting PD3.0, is considerably slower. The nova 8 Pro 5G also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 6a.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G if you need blazing-fast 66W charging, frequently consume media, and aren't heavily reliant on Google Mobile Services. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a streamlined Android experience, prioritize long-term software updates, and value Google’s computational photography capabilities. The Pixel 6a is the safer bet for those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.