Huawei nova 9 SE vs nova 9: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei nova 9 takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset, superior display, and slightly faster charging. While the nova 9 SE offers excellent value with its 66W charging, the nova 9 provides a more complete and refined smartphone experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 9 SE | Huawei nova 9 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - JLN-LX1 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JLN-LX1 | 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - JLN-LX3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2021, September 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 20 | Available. Released 2021, September 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 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 | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS | |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (JLN-XL1 only) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | 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, 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/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 75% in 20 min | 66W wired, 60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min Reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue | Starry Blue, Black, Green, Violet |
| Models | JLN-LX1, JLN-LX3, JuliaQN-L01B, JuliaQN-L21B, JuliaQN-L23A, RMX2190, FIO-BD00, JLN-AL00 | NAM-AL00, NAM-LX9 |
| Price | About 150 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 9 SE
- Fast 66W charging
- Stylish design
- Good value for money
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Less powerful chipset
- Dimmer display
- Camera not as capable as nova 9
- Limited software updates
Huawei nova 9
- Powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Better camera performance
- Reverse wired charging
- Premium design
- Higher price
- Battery life is excellent but not significantly better than SE
- Software update concerns (Huawei ecosystem)
Display Comparison
The nova 9 boasts a significantly brighter display (608 nits) compared to the nova 9 SE, offering better visibility in sunlight. Its 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and richer colors, providing a more immersive viewing experience. While the nova 9 SE's display is adequate, it lacks the vibrancy and brightness of its counterpart.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, the nova 9 generally produces better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The nova 9's chipset allows for more advanced image processing algorithms, resulting in more detailed and vibrant photos and videos. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) would need further investigation to provide a more precise comparison.
Performance
The Snapdragon 778G in the nova 9 is a clear winner here. It offers substantially better performance than the Snapdragon 680 in the nova 9 SE, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience. Gaming performance will also be noticeably better on the nova 9.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life with an endurance rating of 96h. However, the nova 9's 66W charging is slightly faster, reaching 60% in 18 minutes and 100% in 38 minutes, compared to the nova 9 SE's 75% in 20 minutes. The reverse wired charging on the nova 9 is a useful bonus.
Buying Guide
The Huawei nova 9 SE is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize fast charging and a decent overall experience. The Huawei nova 9 is the better choice for those seeking a smoother performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more capable camera system, even if it comes at a higher price.