Huawei nova 8 vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Deep Dive into Speed, Software, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a consistently smooth experience, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice. However, if rapid charging is paramount and you're comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem, the nova 8 offers a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 8 | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ANG-L22B, ANG-L02B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 05 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 05 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 x 0.30 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 820E (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 (6-core) | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 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 |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Powder Pink | Mostly Black |
| Models | ANG-L02B, ANG-L21B, ANG-L22B, ANG-LX1, ANG-LX2 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 420 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 8
- Blazing-fast 66W wired charging
- Potentially more vibrant display (based on Huawei's typical style)
- 5W Reverse Wired Charging
- Software updates are less frequent and reliable than Google's
- Kirin 820E may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Excellent camera performance with Google's computational photography
- Consistent and reliable performance thanks to Snapdragon 765G
- Slower 18W charging
- Less flashy design compared to the nova 8
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a display capable of reaching 861 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the nova 8’s display specs aren’t provided, Huawei typically favors vibrant, saturated colors. The Pixel’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel, offering deep blacks. The lack of high refresh rate information for the nova 8 suggests it likely operates at a standard 60Hz, while the Pixel 5a 5G also sticks to 60Hz, prioritizing battery life over ultra-smooth scrolling.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to deliver consistently excellent results, even in challenging lighting conditions. While the nova 8’s camera specs are not detailed, Huawei often emphasizes high megapixel counts and AI-powered scene optimization. The Pixel’s strength lies in its dynamic range and accurate color reproduction, while the nova 8 may lean towards more saturated, visually appealing images. Without specific sensor size information for the nova 8, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance, but the Pixel’s software processing gives it a significant advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 5a 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, an octa-core processor with a Kryo 475 Prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz for peak performance, supported by Gold and Silver cores for efficiency. The Huawei nova 8 features the Kirin 820E, a hexa-core chip with Cortex-A76 and A55 cores. While the Kirin 820E’s A76 cores offer strong single-core performance, the Snapdragon 765G’s more balanced core configuration and optimized software integration generally translate to a smoother, more consistent experience, particularly in sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 765G also benefits from Qualcomm’s established 5G modem technology.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite differing approaches. The Pixel 5a 5G’s endurance is achieved with a focus on efficient power management. The Huawei nova 8, however, compensates for potentially higher power draw with its incredibly fast 66W wired charging. This allows it to reach 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, a significant advantage over the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W PD2.0 charging. The nova 8 also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 5a 5G.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 if you need incredibly fast 66W charging, frequently top up your phone, and appreciate a more vibrant, eye-catching design. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, a consistently excellent camera, and a phone that prioritizes long-term usability over raw speed.