Huawei nova 9 SE vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior performance, significantly better battery life, brighter display, and more versatile camera system. While the nova 9 SE boasts incredibly fast charging, the A54's broader appeal makes it the more compelling choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 9 SE | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| 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 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| 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 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 20 | 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, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | 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 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 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 | 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/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, 75% in 20 min | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | JLN-LX1, JLN-LX3, JuliaQN-L01B, JuliaQN-L21B, JuliaQN-L23A, RMX2190, FIO-BD00, JLN-AL00 | 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 150 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
- Incredibly fast 66W charging
- Stylish design
- Compact size
- Good value for money
- Weaker performance than A54
- Shorter battery life
- Limited camera capabilities
- Potential software limitations due to Huawei's situation
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Strong performance with Exynos 1380
- Versatile camera system
- Samsung's software support and updates
- Slower charging speed (25W)
- Design may be considered less exciting by some
- Price slightly higher than nova 9 SE
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. The A54's infinite contrast ratio (nominal) also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience. While the nova 9 SE's display is decent, it lacks the A54's vibrancy and outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54's camera system is more versatile and generally produces better results. While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the A54's image processing and low-light performance are superior. The A54 likely offers more advanced features like OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) which the nova 9 SE may lack. Details on the nova 9 SE's camera are limited, making a direct comparison difficult, but the A54 is generally considered the stronger performer.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 chipset (5nm) offers noticeably better performance than the nova 9 SE's Snapdragon 680 (6nm). The A54 handles demanding tasks and games with greater ease, providing a smoother and more responsive user experience. The nova 9 SE is adequate for everyday use, but may struggle with more intensive applications.
Battery Life
Battery life is a major differentiator. The Galaxy A54 boasts exceptional endurance, with an active use score of 11 hours and 15 minutes and an endurance rating of 119 hours. The nova 9 SE's battery life is respectable, but falls significantly short of the A54's longevity. The A54's slower 25W charging is offset by its much longer battery life.
Buying Guide
The Huawei nova 9 SE 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 a reliable all-rounder with excellent battery life, a vibrant display, and a strong camera, especially those who value software updates and Samsung's brand reputation.