Oppo Find X3 Pro vs Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Oppo Find X3 Pro and Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Find X3 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 888, aims for uncompromising performance, while the nova 8 Pro leverages Huawei’s Kirin 985 5G, focusing on a balance of features and value. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Oppo Find X3 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers superior processing power, and while both phones offer excellent 65W+ charging, the Find X3 Pro’s endurance rating and brighter display provide a more refined overall experience. However, the nova 8 Pro remains a compelling option for those prioritizing Huawei’s ecosystem and a potentially lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G Oppo Find X3 Pro
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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
EDGEYes-
GPRSYes-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, December 23. Released 2021, January 082021, March 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 19
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)163.6 x 74 x 8.3 mm (6.44 x 2.91 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)193 g (6.81 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, BT.2020, 500 nits (typ), 1300 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 14, ColorOS 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, 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, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 110˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 3 MP, f/3.0, (microscope), AF, ring flash, 60x magnification
Single3.15 MP-
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS; HDR, 10‑bit video
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRPanorama
SingleVGA32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
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 (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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, PD, 40% in 10 min 30W wireless, 100% in 80 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteGloss Black, Blue, White, Cosmic Mocha, Mars Edition, Photographer Edition
ModelsBRQ-AN00, BRQ-AL00CPH2173, PEEM00, OPG03
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 200 EUR
SAR1.25 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)     -
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 81h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 656467 (v8) GeekBench: 3316 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G

  • Faster processor with Snapdragon 888
  • Brighter and potentially higher refresh rate display
  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support

  • Potentially higher price point
  • Snapdragon 888 can generate more heat under sustained load

Oppo Find X3 Pro

  • Faster wired charging (66W)
  • Sleek design and Huawei ecosystem integration
  • Potentially more affordable price

  • Less powerful Kirin 985 chipset
  • Limited wireless charging options

Display Comparison

The Oppo Find X3 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 774 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the nova 8 Pro. While both likely utilize OLED technology, the Find X3 Pro’s higher brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The Find X3 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) is standard for OLED panels, ensuring deep blacks and vibrant colors. The absence of refresh rate data for the nova 8 Pro suggests it may not match the smoother experience potentially offered by a higher refresh rate panel on the Find X3 Pro, though this is speculative.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed as having strong camera capabilities, but detailed sensor information is limited. The Oppo Find X3 Pro likely benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 888, enabling superior image processing and low-light performance. The absence of specific sensor details for both phones makes a direct comparison difficult, but Oppo’s history suggests a focus on high-quality sensors and computational photography. The nova 8 Pro’s camera system is likely optimized for Huawei’s aesthetic preferences, potentially resulting in different color profiles and image characteristics.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Oppo Find X3 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 8 Pro’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz) provides a substantial performance boost over the Kirin 985’s Cortex-A76 (2.58 GHz). The 5nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 888 also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones feature 8GB of RAM (assumed based on market segment), the Snapdragon 888’s superior architecture will deliver a noticeably smoother and faster experience, particularly in graphically intensive games.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive charging speeds. The Oppo Find X3 Pro supports 65W wired charging, achieving 40% charge in 10 minutes, while the Huawei nova 8 Pro’s 66W charging reaches 60% in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Find X3 Pro also adds 30W wireless charging (80 minutes to full) and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent or less powerful on the nova 8 Pro. Despite similar endurance ratings of 81 hours, the Snapdragon 888’s greater efficiency could translate to slightly longer real-world battery life for the Find X3 Pro, especially during demanding tasks.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G if you prioritize a sleek design, fast 66W charging, and are deeply integrated into the Huawei ecosystem, potentially benefiting from seamless device interaction. Buy the Oppo Find X3 Pro if you demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications, value a brighter, more vibrant display, and appreciate the flexibility of the Snapdragon platform and wider app compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 985 in the Huawei nova 8 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 985 is a capable chipset, but it will likely exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 888 in the Oppo Find X3 Pro. The Snapdragon 888’s superior GPU and thermal management provide a smoother gaming experience.
❓ How does the charging speed of the Oppo Find X3 Pro compare to real-world usage? Is 65W significantly faster than 66W?
While both phones offer incredibly fast charging, the difference between 65W and 66W is marginal. The Oppo Find X3 Pro’s 65W charging can deliver a substantial charge in a short amount of time (40% in 10 minutes), and the addition of 30W wireless charging provides added convenience. The nova 8 Pro’s 66W is also very fast, reaching 100% in 35 minutes.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei nova 8 Pro a significant drawback for most users?
The absence of GMS is a major consideration. Users reliant on Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps will need to utilize Huawei’s AppGallery and potentially rely on workarounds, which can be inconvenient. This is a significant barrier for many users outside of Huawei’s established ecosystem.