The Huawei nova 8 and Honor 500 represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The nova 8, released with Huawei’s Kirin 820E, aimed for a balance of style and performance. The Honor 500, leveraging Qualcomm’s newer Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, seeks to deliver a significant performance leap. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Honor 500 emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, built on a 4nm process, provides a substantial performance advantage over the Kirin 820E’s 7nm architecture, translating to smoother multitasking and gaming. While the nova 8 offers respectable charging speeds, the Honor 500’s 80W charging further enhances its usability.
| 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 800 / 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 | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 05 | 2025, November 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 05 | Available. Released 2025, November 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 x 0.30 in) | 155.8 x 74.2 x 7.8 mm (6.13 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Aluminosilicate glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1264 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 6000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) |
| Chipset | Kirin 820E (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8735 Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 (6-core) | Adreno 825 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 16, MagicOS 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 4K | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5, Auracast, ASHA |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass (ultrasound) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min
5W reverse wired | 80W wired
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Powder Pink | Black, Silver, Blue, Pink |
| Models | ANG-L02B, ANG-L21B, ANG-L22B, ANG-LX1, ANG-LX2 | MEY-AN00 |
| Price | About 420 EUR | About 330 EUR |
Huawei nova 8
- Sleek design (assumed based on Huawei’s design language)
- Respectable 66W fast charging
- Potentially lower price point (depending on market)
- Older Kirin 820E chipset
- 7nm process less efficient than 4nm
- Likely lower peak performance
Honor 500
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset
- 4nm process for improved efficiency
- Faster 80W wired charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Honor’s software experience may not appeal to all
- May run slightly warmer under extreme load
Display Comparison
Neither device’s display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the Honor 500’s positioning as a more modern device, it’s reasonable to expect a higher peak brightness and potentially a higher refresh rate. The Kirin 820E’s GPU may struggle to consistently drive a high refresh rate display at maximum settings, whereas the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 has more headroom. Color accuracy will likely be similar, falling within acceptable ranges for the price segment.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the chipset plays a crucial role in image processing. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is significantly more advanced than the Kirin 820E’s, enabling faster processing, better noise reduction, and improved dynamic range. This translates to better low-light performance and more detailed images on the Honor 500. The Honor 500 is likely to support more advanced computational photography features.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 500’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) boasts an octa-core configuration with a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.21 GHz, alongside three Cortex-A720 cores at 3.0 GHz and two more at 2.8 GHz. This contrasts sharply with the Huawei nova 8’s Kirin 820E (7nm) which uses a hexa-core setup with older Cortex-A76 and A55 cores. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon offers significantly improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning sustained performance will be higher on the Honor 500, especially during prolonged gaming sessions. The Snapdragon’s newer core architecture also provides a generational leap in instruction processing.
Battery Life
Both devices offer 5W reverse wired charging, a useful feature for topping up accessories. The Honor 500’s 80W wired charging is a clear advantage over the nova 8’s 66W. While both offer fast charging, the Honor 500 can reach 100% in a shorter timeframe. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4’s improved efficiency also contributes to better battery life, potentially offsetting any capacity differences (which are not specified).
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 if you prioritize a sleek design and are comfortable with the limitations of the Kirin 820E for everyday tasks. It’s a good option for users who primarily browse, use social media, and take casual photos. Buy the Honor 500 if you demand strong performance for gaming, demanding applications, or future-proofing. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 offers a noticeable upgrade in processing power and efficiency, making it ideal for power users and mobile gamers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in the Honor 500 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a capable chipset for demanding games. Its Cortex-X4 prime core and Adreno GPU provide ample processing power to run Genshin Impact at high settings with stable frame rates. The 4nm process also helps manage thermals, preventing significant throttling during extended gaming sessions.
❓ Does the Kirin 820E in the Huawei nova 8 struggle with multitasking or running multiple apps simultaneously?
The Kirin 820E is adequate for basic multitasking, but it may exhibit slowdowns when running numerous apps concurrently or switching between resource-intensive applications. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in the Honor 500 offers a significantly smoother multitasking experience due to its more powerful CPU and increased memory bandwidth.
❓ How much faster is the 80W charging on the Honor 500 compared to the 66W charging on the Huawei nova 8?
While both offer fast charging, the Honor 500’s 80W charging will likely reduce the 0-100% charge time by approximately 10-15 minutes compared to the nova 8’s 66W. This difference is noticeable for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
