Huawei Nova 9 vs Nova 11i: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Nova 9 takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 778G chipset, brighter display, and blazing-fast 66W charging. While the Nova 11i offers a more budget-friendly price, the Nova 9's performance and features justify the extra cost for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 9 | Huawei nova 11i |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 66, 26, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 23 | 2023, May 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 30 | Available. Released 2023, May 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 160 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) | 164.6 x 75.6 x 8.6 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| - | Splash and dust resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10 | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 610 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services | EMUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Unspecified |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | - |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min Reverse wired | 40W wired, 60% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starry Blue, Black, Green, Violet | Starry Black, Mint Green |
| Models | NAM-AL00, NAM-LX9 | MAO-LX9, MAO-LX9N |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 140 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
- Superior Performance (Snapdragon 778G)
- Brighter Display (608 nits)
- Blazing-Fast 66W Charging
- Excellent Battery Life (96h Endurance)
- Likely Higher Refresh Rate Display
- Higher Price
- Potentially Larger Size/Weight
Huawei nova 11i
- More Affordable
- Sleek Design
- Reliable for Everyday Tasks
- Slower Performance (Snapdragon 680)
- Dimmer Display
- Slower 40W Charging
- Less Impressive Battery Life
Display Comparison
The Nova 9 boasts a significantly brighter display at 608 nits compared to the Nova 11i (estimated around 450-500 nits). Both feature OLED panels, offering excellent contrast and vibrant colors, but the Nova 9's higher brightness makes it more comfortable to use outdoors. The Nova 9 also likely has a higher refresh rate (90Hz or 120Hz, based on typical Nova series specs) compared to the Nova 11i's likely 60Hz, resulting in smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the Nova 9 likely has a slight edge in image quality due to its more powerful processor and potentially better sensors. Both likely offer a main sensor around 50MP. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, with both supporting 4K recording. Low-light performance is expected to be better on the Nova 9.
Performance
Here's where the Nova 9 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset is considerably more powerful than the Nova 11i's Snapdragon 680 4G. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Nova 9. The Nova 11i is adequate for basic tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Nova 9's endurance rating of 96h is exceptional, suggesting excellent battery optimization. While the Nova 11i's battery life is respectable, it doesn't match the Nova 9's longevity. The Nova 9's 66W charging is also significantly faster than the Nova 11i's 40W, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Nova 9 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a vibrant display, and rapid charging. It's a great choice for gamers and those who frequently multitask. The Huawei Nova 11i is best suited for budget-conscious buyers who need a reliable phone for everyday tasks and appreciate a sleek design.