Huawei Nova 9 Pro vs. Huawei P40 Pro: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The P40 Pro boasts superior camera capabilities and exceptional battery life, while the Nova 9 Pro shines with its blazing-fast 100W charging and a more modern chipset. Ultimately, the P40 Pro is the better all-rounder, but the Nova 9 Pro offers incredible charging speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 9 Pro | Huawei P40 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, 41 - ELS-NX9 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - ELS-NX9 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 23 | 2020, March 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 30 | Available. Released 2020, April 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 74.4 x 8 mm (6.43 x 2.93 x 0.31 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 + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670) | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| 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, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, 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 (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/a/6, 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 | 100W wired, 100% in 20 min Reverse wired | 40W wired 27W wireless 27W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Violet | Silver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black |
| Models | RTE-AL00, Hebe-BD00 | ELS-NX9, ELS-N04, ELS-AN00, ELS-TN00 |
| Price | About 460 EUR | € 360.00 / £ 335.00 |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 714.88 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 680.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 496356 (v8) GeekBench: 12848 (v4.4), 3197 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 9 Pro
- Blazing-fast 100W charging
- Modern Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset
- Sleek and stylish design
- Good display with likely high refresh rate
- Camera not as impressive as P40 Pro
- Battery life not as long as P40 Pro
- No 5G connectivity
Huawei P40 Pro
- Exceptional camera system with periscope zoom
- Outstanding battery life (94h endurance)
- Premium build quality
- Excellent display with high contrast
- Slower charging speeds (40W wired)
- Older Kirin 990 5G chipset
- No Google Play Services
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent OLED displays, but the P40 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests deeper blacks and potentially better overall image quality. The Nova 9 Pro likely has a slightly higher refresh rate for smoother scrolling, but the P40 Pro's display is arguably more visually striking.
Camera Comparison
The P40 Pro's camera system is a clear winner. It features a more versatile setup with a periscope telephoto lens for impressive zoom capabilities. While the Nova 9 Pro has a capable camera, it doesn't match the P40 Pro's overall image quality and zoom range.
Performance
The Snapdragon 778G 4G in the Nova 9 Pro offers solid performance for everyday tasks and gaming, though it's not as powerful as the Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro. The Kirin 990 5G, while older, still holds its own, especially in demanding applications. However, the Nova 9 Pro's newer chipset may offer better efficiency.
Battery Life
The P40 Pro's endurance rating of 94 hours is phenomenal, significantly outperforming the Nova 9 Pro. While the Nova 9 Pro compensates with its 100W charging, the P40 Pro's battery simply lasts much longer between charges.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a smooth, modern experience. The Huawei P40 Pro is best suited for photography enthusiasts and those who value long battery life and a premium feel.