The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and the Samsung Galaxy A54. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior battery life, brighter display, and more established software support. While the nova 9 SE 5G boasts incredibly fast charging, the A54's consistent performance and longevity make it the more practical choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 20 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 23 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) - unconfirmed | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Unspecified | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 35 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | - | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 370 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
- 66W Super Fast Charging
- Stylish Design
- OLED Display (likely)
- 5G Connectivity
- Potentially Lower Brightness Display
- Unconfirmed Chipset Performance
- Limited Software Support (Huawei Ecosystem)
- Likely Shorter Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent Battery Life
- Bright and Vibrant Display
- Reliable Software Updates
- Versatile Camera System
- Strong Performance
- 25W Charging (Slower than nova 9 SE 5G)
- Design Less Distinctive
- Price Slightly Higher (potentially)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes a clear lead in the display department. Its 980 nits peak brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, a significant advantage over the nova 9 SE 5G's likely lower brightness. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio on the A54 also suggests richer colors and deeper blacks. While the nova 9 SE 5G likely has a good quality OLED panel, it doesn't match the A54's overall performance.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Galaxy A54 is expected to have a more versatile and refined camera experience. Samsung's image processing is generally well-regarded, and the A54 likely offers better low-light performance and video recording capabilities. The nova 9 SE 5G's camera is likely decent, but may lack the same level of detail and consistency.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54, built on a 5nm process, generally offers better sustained performance than the Snapdragon 695 5G (potentially 6nm) in the nova 9 SE 5G. While both are octa-core processors, the A54's Cortex-A78 cores provide a noticeable boost in demanding tasks. The nova 9 SE 5G's charging speed is a significant advantage, however.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 dominates in battery life. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, and active use lasting 11:15h is impressive. The nova 9 SE 5G's 66W charging is incredibly fast, but it needs to be charged more frequently due to its likely smaller battery capacity and less efficient chipset.
Buying Guide
The Huawei nova 9 SE 5G is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a stylish design, particularly those comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a better fit for those seeking long battery life, a vibrant display, and reliable software updates, especially those invested in the Samsung ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G worth buying if fast charging is a priority?
Yes, if incredibly fast charging is your top priority, the nova 9 SE 5G is a strong contender. However, consider the trade-offs in battery life and software support.
❓ Which phone has better software support and updates?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 has significantly better software support and a longer update commitment, ensuring your phone stays secure and up-to-date for years to come.
