Huawei Nova 9 Pro vs. Huawei P30 Pro: A Clash of Generations

Huawei's smartphone lineup has always offered compelling options, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we pit the newer Huawei Nova 9 Pro against the veteran Huawei P30 Pro, examining their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nova 9 Pro boasts significantly faster charging and a more modern chipset, offering better performance. However, the P30 Pro's exceptional battery life and arguably superior camera system, especially in low light, make it a strong contender. It depends on your priorities: speed vs. endurance and image quality.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei nova 9 Pro	Huawei P30 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	CDMA 800	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 66

Launch
Announced	2021, September 23	2019, March 26. Released 2019, March 26
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 30	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions	163.4 x 74.4 x 8 mm (6.43 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)	158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	186 g (6.56 oz)	192 g (6.77 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min)

Display
Resolution	1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size	6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz	OLED, HDR10

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)	Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)	Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L	Mali-G76 MP10
OS	HarmonyOS 2.0	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10

Memory
Card slot	No	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	UFS	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Dual	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)	-
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Triple	-	40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video	4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps

Selfie camera
Dual	32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)	-
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	-	32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	100W wired, 100% in 20 min Reverse wired	40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless 2.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4000 mAh	Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, Green, Violet	Aurora, Amber Sunrise, Breathing Crystal, Black, Pearl White, Misty Lavender, Mystic Blue
Models	RTE-AL00, Hebe-BD00	VOG-L29, VOG-L09, VOG-AL00, VOG-TL00, VOG-L04, VOG-AL10, HW-02L
Price	About 460 EUR	About 670 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -90.5dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 100h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 5.119 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	-28.1 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 316156 (v7), 401208 (v8) GeekBench: 10014 (v4.4), 2521 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 9 Pro

Blazing-fast 100W charging
Modern Snapdragon 778G chipset
Smooth 120Hz display
Sleek design

Battery life not as impressive as P30 Pro
Camera may not match P30 Pro in low light
Limited 4G connectivity

Huawei P30 Pro

Exceptional battery life (100h endurance)
Excellent camera, especially in low light
Proven reliability
High contrast display

Slower charging speed (40W)
Older Kirin 980 chipset
No high refresh rate display
Older model - potential for reduced software updates

Display Comparison

The Nova 9 Pro features a 6.57-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The P30 Pro has a 6.47-inch OLED display, but lacks the high refresh rate. While the P30 Pro's contrast ratio is impressive, the Nova 9 Pro's higher refresh rate provides a more fluid user experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera capabilities. The P30 Pro is renowned for its exceptional low-light performance and zoom capabilities, thanks to its RYYB sensor and periscope lens. The Nova 9 Pro has a versatile quad-camera system, but may not match the P30 Pro's low-light prowess. Video recording capabilities are comparable, though both lack 4K 60fps.

Performance

The Nova 9 Pro's Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the P30 Pro's Kirin 980. While both are capable, the Nova 9 Pro handles demanding apps and games with greater ease. The Nova 9 Pro's 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

This is where the P30 Pro truly shines. Its endurance rating of 100h is remarkable, significantly outperforming the Nova 9 Pro. While the Nova 9 Pro's 100W charging is incredibly fast, the P30 Pro's longevity compensates for its slower charging speed.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize fast charging, smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming, and a modern design. The Huawei P30 Pro is a better choice for those who value long battery life, a proven camera system, and a more established reputation for reliability, especially if you can find one in good condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Nova 9 Pro 5G compatible?

No, the Nova 9 Pro is a 4G-only device.

❓ Will the P30 Pro receive software updates?

Huawei's software support for older devices is limited. Expect fewer updates compared to newer models.

❓ Which phone has better video recording?

Both offer good video quality, but neither supports 4K 60fps. The Nova 9 Pro might have slightly better stabilization.

❓ Is the Nova 9 Pro worth buying if I need a long-lasting battery?

If battery life is your top priority, the P30 Pro is the clear winner. The Nova 9 Pro's charging speed is fast, but it doesn't match the P30 Pro's endurance.