Realme GT 5G vs Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G: A Head-to-Head Performance and Value Showdown

The Realme GT 5G and Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-to-high range smartphone market. The Realme GT 5G arrives with Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, promising top-tier performance. Conversely, the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G leverages Huawei’s in-house Kirin 985 5G, aiming for a balance of power and efficiency. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and gaming, the Realme GT 5G is the clear winner thanks to its Snapdragon 888. However, the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G offers a compelling alternative with its fast 66W charging and a potentially more refined software experience, making it ideal for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G Realme GT 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
EDGEYes-
GPRSYes-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, December 23. Released 2021, January 082021, March 04
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 10
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, plastic frame
Dimensions163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)158.5 x 73.3 x 8.4 mm (Glass) / 9.1 mm (Leather)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight184 g (6.49 oz)186 g (6.56 oz)
Display
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
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, Realme UI 5.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
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-
Single3.15 MP-
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 16mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
SingleVGA16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
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, 100% in 35 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, Green, WhiteGold/Black, Blue, Silver
ModelsBRQ-AN00, BRQ-AL00RMX2202
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 330 EUR
SAR1.25 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)     -
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 98h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 703986 (v8), 810433 (v9) GeekBench: 3555 (v5.1) GFXBench: 55fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G

  • 66W fast charging with 35-minute full charge time
  • Potentially refined Huawei software experience
  • 5W reverse wired charging for accessories

  • Kirin 985 chipset is less powerful than Snapdragon 888
  • Limited information on camera sensor specs

Realme GT 5G

  • Snapdragon 888 5G delivers flagship-level performance
  • 65W fast charging with 35-minute full charge time
  • High peak brightness for excellent outdoor visibility

  • Snapdragon 888 is prone to thermal throttling
  • Image processing may be less refined than Huawei

Display Comparison

Both devices offer a premium visual experience, but differ in key specs. The Realme GT 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 650 nits, suggesting excellent outdoor visibility. While the nova 8 Pro 5G’s display specs are not provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Realme GT 5G’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) is standard for OLED technology, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. Without specific details on the nova 8 Pro 5G’s panel technology (LTPO, refresh rate), it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Realme GT 5G’s measured brightness gives it an edge.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size, aperture, or OIS, a direct comparison is challenging. Huawei typically excels in image processing, often prioritizing color accuracy and dynamic range. Realme, on the other hand, tends towards more vibrant, social media-friendly images. The absence of details on the nova 8 Pro 5G’s camera system makes it difficult to assess its capabilities against the Realme GT 5G. We can assume both offer a standard suite of camera modes, but the quality will depend heavily on the underlying hardware.

Performance

The performance gap is significant. The Realme GT 5G’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) is built on a smaller fabrication process than the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G’s Kirin 985 5G (7nm). This translates to greater transistor density, improved power efficiency, and ultimately, higher performance. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz) is a substantial upgrade over the Kirin 985’s Cortex-A76 (2.58 GHz). While both utilize Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the Snapdragon 888’s A78 performance cores (2.42 GHz) outperform the Kirin 985’s A76 cores (2.40 GHz). This difference will be most noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. However, the Snapdragon 888 is known for thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential drawback.

Battery Life

Both devices share an endurance rating of 98 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the charging speeds differ slightly. Both support 65W wired charging, achieving 100% charge in 35 minutes. The Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G adds 5W reverse wired charging, a convenient feature for topping up accessories. The Realme GT 5G’s larger power draw from the Snapdragon 888 may offset some of the battery life gains, but the fast charging mitigates this concern.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G if you need a phone with exceptionally fast charging, a sleek design, and a balanced user experience, even if it means sacrificing some peak performance. Buy the Realme GT 5G if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and the absolute fastest processing speeds, and are willing to manage potential thermal throttling.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Realme GT 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load, potentially leading to thermal throttling. While the Realme GT 5G incorporates cooling solutions, expect some performance reduction during extended gaming. Adjusting graphics settings can help mitigate this.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G a significant issue for most users?
The Huawei nova 8 Pro 5G does not natively support Google Mobile Services. Instead, it relies on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery. While many popular apps are available through HMS and third-party sources, some Google apps may be missing or require workarounds.
❓ How does the Kirin 985 5G handle demanding applications like video editing compared to the Snapdragon 888?
The Snapdragon 888’s superior CPU and GPU performance will result in faster rendering and smoother operation in demanding applications like video editing. The Kirin 985 5G is capable, but will likely exhibit longer processing times and potentially some stuttering with complex projects.