Huawei Nova 8i vs Nova 9: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Huawei's Nova series consistently delivers stylish phones with impressive features. Choosing between the Nova 8i and Nova 9 can be tricky, as both offer compelling value. This comprehensive comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Nova 9 emerges as the clear winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset, brighter display, and overall refined experience. While the Nova 8i offers fast charging, the Nova 9's performance and camera capabilities justify its slightly higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei nova 8i	Huawei nova 9

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China

Launch
Announced	2021, July 07	2021, September 23
Status	Available. Released 2021, July 22	Available. Released 2021, September 30

Body
Dimensions	161.9 x 74.7 x 8.6 mm (6.37 x 2.94 x 0.34 in)	160 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2376 pixels (~391 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 108.1 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	Adreno 642L
OS	Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services	HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, Panorama, HDR	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), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	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/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	66W wired, 60% in 17 min, 100% in 38 min	66W wired, 60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min Reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 4300 mAh	Li-Po 4300 mAh

Misc
Colors	Moonlight Silver, Interstellar Blue, Starry Black	Starry Blue, Black, Green, Violet
Models	NEN-L22, NEN-LX1, NEN-LX3	NAM-AL00, NAM-LX9
Price	About 200 EUR	About 120 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 96h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 469798 (v9) GeekBench: 2973 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 8i

Fast 66W Charging
More Affordable
Stylish Design
Decent Performance for Everyday Tasks

Less Powerful Chipset
Dimmer Display
Potentially Lower Camera Quality

Huawei nova 9

Powerful Snapdragon 778G 4G
Brighter Display
Superior Camera Performance
Better Overall Performance

Higher Price
Reverse Wired Charging (may be a con for some)

Display Comparison

The Nova 9 boasts a brighter display with a measured 608 nits of peak brightness, offering better visibility in sunlight. While the Nova 8i's display is adequate, it lacks the same level of vibrancy and outdoor usability. The Nova 9's 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors, though this is a marketing term and real-world performance may vary.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Nova 9 is expected to deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, due to its more advanced chipset and likely improved image processing algorithms. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are missing, but the Nova 9's hardware suggests a better overall camera experience.

Performance

The Nova 9's Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Nova 8i's Snapdragon 662. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the Nova 9. The 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

Both phones share the same 66W fast charging capability, achieving similar charging times (60% in 18-17 min, 100% in 38 min). The Nova 9's endurance rating of 96h suggests slightly better overall battery life, potentially due to the more efficient 6nm chipset.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Huawei Nova 8i? Users prioritizing fast charging and a more budget-friendly option. Who should buy the Huawei Nova 9? Those seeking a smoother, faster experience, better camera performance, and a brighter display, even if it means spending a bit more.