Huawei nova 9 SE vs Samsung Galaxy A33 5G: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Huawei nova 9 SE and Samsung Galaxy A33 5G are both mid-range contenders, but they offer distinct features and experiences. Let's break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one deserves your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G takes the crown thanks to its 5G connectivity, superior battery life, and brighter display. While the nova 9 SE boasts incredibly fast charging, the A33 5G's overall package provides better value and future-proofing.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei nova 9 SE	Samsung Galaxy A33 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - JLN-LX1	HSDPA 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, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - JLN-LX3	-

Launch
Announced	2022, March 08	2022, March 17
Status	Available. Released 2022, March 20	Available. Released 2022, April 20

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 in)	159.7 x 74 x 8.1 mm (6.29 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	186 g (6.56 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 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz	Super AMOLED, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)	Exynos 1280 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	Mali-G68
OS	Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM	128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide)	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Selfie camera
Single	16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide)	13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (JLN-XL1 only)	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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

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

Battery
Charging	66W wired, 75% in 20 min	25W wired
Type	Li-Po 4000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue	Black, White, Blue, Peach
Models	JLN-LX1, JLN-LX3, JuliaQN-L01B, JuliaQN-L21B, JuliaQN-L23A, RMX2190, FIO-BD00, JLN-AL00	SM-A336E, SM-A336B, SM-A336B/DS, SM-A336B/DSN, SM-A336E/DS, SM-A336M, SM-A3360
Price	About 150 EUR	£ 174.99 / € 187.50 / ₹ 21,999
SAR	-	0.35 W/kg (head)
SAR EU	-	0.57 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 104h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 354420 (v8), 394918 (v9) GeekBench: 1900 (v5.1) GFXBench: 20fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei nova 9 SE

Incredibly fast 66W charging
Stylish design
Compact size
Decent performance for everyday tasks

No 5G connectivity
Less powerful chipset
Lower battery life
Potentially limited software support

Samsung Galaxy A33 5G

5G connectivity
Excellent battery life
Brighter display
More powerful chipset
Samsung's One UI software

Slower charging speed (25W)
Larger size
Plastic build

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G's 728 nits max brightness gives it a clear advantage in outdoor visibility. While the nova 9 SE's display is decent, it lacks the same level of brightness. Both offer vibrant colors, but the A33 5G's contrast ratio (infinite nominal) suggests deeper blacks and better overall image quality.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Galaxy A33 5G likely has a more versatile setup with potentially better image processing. The A33 5G's camera features are more detailed, suggesting better low-light performance and video recording capabilities. The nova 9 SE's camera is adequate for everyday snapshots.

Performance

The Exynos 1280 in the Galaxy A33 5G generally offers better sustained performance than the Snapdragon 680 in the nova 9 SE. While the nova 9 SE's CPU has a slightly higher peak clock speed on some cores, the A33 5G's 5nm process and overall architecture provide a smoother experience, especially with demanding apps and multitasking. Gaming performance will be noticeably better on the A33 5G.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A33 5G's endurance rating of 104 hours significantly surpasses the nova 9 SE. While the nova 9 SE's 66W charging is incredibly fast, the A33 5G's larger battery capacity provides much longer usage time between charges.

Buying Guide

The Huawei nova 9 SE is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a stylish design, particularly those in regions where 5G isn't essential. The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is a better choice for those seeking long battery life, 5G connectivity, and a brighter, more vibrant display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei nova 9 SE support 5G?

No, the Huawei nova 9 SE is a 4G-only device.

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is likely to receive longer software updates and security patches due to Samsung's commitment to supporting its devices.

❓ Is the Huawei nova 9 SE worth buying if I don't need 5G?

If fast charging and a stylish design are your top priorities, and you don't need 5G, the nova 9 SE could be a good option. However, consider the A33 5G's overall value and future-proofing.