Huawei nova 8 vs P40 Pro+: Which Huawei Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and rapid charging, the Huawei nova 8 is the stronger choice. While the P40 Pro+ offers a superior camera and more powerful chipset, its age and higher price point make the nova 8 a more practical option in today’s market.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 8 | Huawei P40 Pro+ |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 05 | 2020, March 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 05 | Available. Released 2020, June 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 x 0.30 in) | 158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 226 g (7.97 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 820E (7 nm) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 (6-core) | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Infrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired | 40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Powder Pink | White Ceramic, Black Ceramic |
| Models | ANG-L02B, ANG-L21B, ANG-L22B, ANG-LX1, ANG-LX2 | ELS-N39, ELS-AN10 |
| Price | About 420 EUR | About 1000 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.4 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 8
- Incredibly fast 66W wired charging
- Sleek and modern design
- More affordable price point
- Less powerful processor than the P40 Pro+
- Likely lower camera performance
Huawei P40 Pro+
- Superior camera system
- More powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset
- High display brightness and contrast
- Slower charging speeds (40W)
- Higher price point
- Older chipset generation
Display Comparison
The Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 760 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the nova 8’s display specifications aren’t detailed, it’s likely lower. The P40 Pro+’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a high-quality OLED panel. The P40 Pro+’s display is geared towards content consumption and professional photo/video editing, benefitting from its higher brightness and contrast. The nova 8 likely prioritizes cost-effectiveness in its display panel.
Camera Comparison
The P40 Pro+ was designed as a photography powerhouse. While specific sensor details are missing, its ‘Photo/Video’ designation indicates a focus on image quality and versatility. The P40 Pro+ likely features a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms than the nova 8. The nova 8, while capable, is likely to prioritize a balance between camera features and cost. The P40 Pro+’s superior processing power also aids in faster image capture and more complex computational photography features.
Performance
The Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+ is the clear performance leader, featuring an octa-core configuration with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.86 GHz, alongside two more Cortex-A76 cores at 2.36 GHz, and four efficiency cores. This contrasts with the nova 8’s hexa-core Kirin 820E, which utilizes three Cortex-A76 cores at 2.22 GHz and three Cortex-A55 cores at 1.84 GHz. The P40 Pro+’s more complex and higher-clocked CPU translates to significantly faster processing speeds, particularly in demanding applications and multitasking. The 7nm+ process of the Kirin 990 5G also offers a slight edge in efficiency compared to the 7nm Kirin 820E.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the nova 8). However, the charging capabilities are drastically different. The nova 8’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 60% charge in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The P40 Pro+ offers 40W wired and wireless charging, and 27W reverse wireless charging, but is significantly slower to fully charge. The nova 8’s charging speed is a major advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 if you need a stylish phone with incredibly fast 66W charging and a smooth user experience for everyday tasks and casual gaming. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prioritize exceptional camera quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions, and demand the highest possible performance, even if it comes at a premium and with an older chipset.