Xiaomi 11T Pro vs Huawei nova 9: A Detailed Comparison

The Xiaomi 11T Pro and Huawei nova 9 represent compelling options in the mid-to-upper range of the smartphone market. The 11T Pro, initially a flagship contender, now benefits from price drops, while the nova 9 aims for a balance of style and performance. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device delivers the best value for your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and incredibly fast charging, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset offers a significant leap over the nova 9’s Snapdragon 778G. However, the Huawei nova 9 provides a respectable experience with excellent battery endurance and a stylish design, making it a strong contender for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 9 Xiaomi 11T Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China-
Launch
Announced2021, September 232021, September 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 30Available. Released 2021, October 05
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions160 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)164.1 x 76.9 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 3.03 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10AMOLED, Dolby Vision, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Triple-108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960, HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single32 MP, f/2.0, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -Tuned by Harman Kardon 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 18 min, 100% in 38 min Reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 72% in 10 min, 100% in 17 min
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStarry Blue, Black, Green, VioletMeteorite Gray, Moonlight White, Celestial Blue
ModelsNAM-AL00, NAM-LX92107113SG, 2107113SI, 2107113SR
PriceAbout 120 EUR€ 139.00 / $ 185.21 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 39,999
SAR-0.78 W/kg (head)     0.49 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 96h Endurance rating 92h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 469798 (v9) GeekBench: 2973 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei nova 9

  • Excellent battery endurance (96h rating)
  • Stylish design and build quality
  • Fast 66W wired charging

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset
  • Limited to 4G connectivity

Xiaomi 11T Pro

  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 888 performance
  • Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slightly lower battery endurance (92h rating)
  • Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 11T Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 837 nits compared to the Huawei nova 9’s 608 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical for OLED panels. While neither manufacturer specifies refresh rates, the brighter panel on the 11T Pro provides a more vibrant and usable experience in various lighting conditions. The difference in brightness is substantial enough to be noticeable in everyday use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed specifications are limited. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the 11T Pro’s higher processing power likely allows for more sophisticated image processing algorithms. Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the 11T Pro’s chipset will likely handle complex tasks like 4K video recording and HDR processing more efficiently. The absence of detailed camera specs makes a direct comparison challenging, but the 11T Pro’s overall processing power gives it an edge.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 11T Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), a flagship-level processor, while the Huawei nova 9 features the Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a substantial performance advantage over the 778G’s Kryo 670 cores. The 5nm process node of the 888 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, though both phones are likely to throttle under sustained heavy loads. The 11T Pro’s 5G connectivity is another advantage, while the nova 9 is limited to 4G.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 11T Pro and Huawei nova 9 both achieve endurance ratings of 92 and 96 hours respectively, suggesting comparable overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The 11T Pro’s 120W wired charging can replenish the battery to 72% in just 10 minutes and fully charge it in 17 minutes, while the nova 9 takes 18 minutes to reach 60% and 38 minutes for a full charge with its 66W charging. This difference in charging speed is a significant advantage for the 11T Pro, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The nova 9’s slightly higher endurance rating suggests it may last a bit longer on a single charge, but the 11T Pro’s charging speed mitigates this difference.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 9 if you need a stylish phone with consistently good battery life and don't demand the absolute highest performance for demanding games or applications. Buy the Xiaomi 11T Pro if you prioritize speed, need the fastest possible charging, and are willing to trade some battery endurance for a more powerful processor. Gamers and power users will find the 11T Pro more appealing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Xiaomi 11T Pro get excessively hot during gaming?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate heat under sustained load. While the 11T Pro incorporates cooling solutions, some thermal throttling is likely during extended gaming sessions. However, the phone is generally well-managed and won't shut down unexpectedly, but performance may dip slightly over time.
❓ Is the 4G limitation on the Huawei nova 9 a significant drawback in 2024?
For users in areas with widespread 5G coverage, the lack of 5G on the nova 9 is a noticeable limitation. Download and upload speeds will be capped at 4G speeds. However, if 5G isn't available or isn't a priority, the 4G connectivity is still perfectly functional for most everyday tasks.
❓ How does the 120W charging of the Xiaomi 11T Pro affect battery health over the long term?
While extremely fast charging is convenient, there's a theoretical concern about accelerated battery degradation. However, Xiaomi implements charging management algorithms to mitigate this effect, slowing down the charging rate as the battery nears full capacity. Real-world degradation is unlikely to be significantly different from slower charging methods.