Both the Huawei nova 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The nova 8 focuses on rapid charging and a sleek design, while the S20 FE 2022 leverages a more powerful chipset and Samsung’s established software ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 865 5G chipset provides a significant performance advantage over the Kirin 820E, translating to smoother multitasking and superior gaming capabilities. While the nova 8 boasts faster charging, the S20 FE’s overall package is more compelling.
| 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 | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 05 | 2022, April 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 05 | Available. Released 2022, April 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 74.1 x 7.6 mm (6.30 x 2.92 x 0.30 in) | 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m 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 (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 820E (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 (6-core) | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, 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 | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
Tuned by AKG |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, 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 | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min
5W reverse wired | 25W wired, PD3.0
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Powder Pink | Cloud White, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Navy |
| Models | ANG-L02B, ANG-L21B, ANG-L22B, ANG-LX1, ANG-LX2 | SM-G781NK, SM-G781NK22 |
| Price | About 420 EUR | About 520 EUR |
Huawei nova 8
- Incredibly fast 66W wired charging
- Sleek and modern design
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Kirin 820E chipset is less powerful than Snapdragon 865
- Lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) in some regions
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022
- Powerful Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
- Versatile camera system with OIS and telephoto lens
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower 25W wired charging compared to nova 8
- Can experience some throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a cutting-edge display, but differences exist. While specific panel details (like peak brightness in nits) are unavailable for the nova 8, the S20 FE 2022 features a Super AMOLED display. The S20 FE’s display technology generally offers superior contrast and color accuracy compared to the LCD panels often found in this price bracket. Both likely feature a standard 60Hz refresh rate, as neither is marketed as a high refresh rate device. Bezels are comparable, with both aiming for a modern, minimized look.
Camera Comparison
The S20 FE 2022 likely has a more versatile camera system. While specific sensor details for the nova 8 are missing, the S20 FE 2022 typically features a 12MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens. The presence of OIS on the main sensor is a significant advantage for low-light photography and video stabilization. Huawei often emphasizes image processing algorithms, but the Snapdragon 865’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also highly capable. The S20 FE’s telephoto lens provides zoom capabilities absent from the nova 8’s configuration, offering greater photographic flexibility.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) is a flagship-level processor, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This contrasts with the Huawei nova 8’s Kirin 820E (7nm), a hexa-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 2.22 GHz. The Snapdragon 865’s more advanced architecture and higher clock speeds translate to significantly better CPU and GPU performance. While both utilize 7nm process technology, the Snapdragon 865+ refinement offers improved efficiency. The S20 FE’s performance advantage will be most noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
The Huawei nova 8’s 66W wired charging is its standout feature, capable of charging from 0 to 60% in just 15 minutes and reaching 100% in 35 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 offers 25W wired charging, a slower but still respectable rate. However, the S20 FE compensates with 15W wireless charging (Qi standard) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the nova 8. While the nova 8’s faster wired charging is convenient, the S20 FE’s wireless charging options add versatility. The actual battery life will depend on usage patterns, but the S20 FE’s more efficient chipset may offset any capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 8 if you prioritize incredibly fast charging speeds and a stylish design, and are comfortable navigating the Huawei ecosystem without full Google Mobile Services. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 if you value raw performance, a versatile camera system, and seamless integration with the Google Play Store and Samsung’s feature-rich One UI.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 820E struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Kirin 820E will likely require lower graphics settings and may exhibit frame drops in demanding games like Genshin Impact. The Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 2022 offers a significantly smoother gaming experience at higher settings.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei nova 8 affect usability?
The absence of GMS means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store and core Google apps like Gmail and YouTube. Huawei provides its own app ecosystem (AppGallery) and workarounds for accessing Google services, but the experience isn't as seamless.
❓ Is the 25W charging on the S20 FE 2022 slow compared to the nova 8's 66W?
While 25W is slower than 66W, it's still a respectable charging speed. A full charge will take around 1.5-2 hours, which is acceptable for overnight charging. The S20 FE compensates with wireless charging options.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 2022 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865 can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming, but Samsung’s cooling system mitigates this to a degree. Performance will decrease slightly over time, but it’s generally manageable.
