The Huawei nova Y90 and Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G both target the competitive mid-range smartphone market, but approach it with different strengths. The nova Y90 focuses on a streamlined experience with a reliable chipset, while the Poco X4 Pro 5G prioritizes 5G connectivity and significantly faster charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and faster charging, the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset offers 5G connectivity and a slight performance edge, complemented by the impressive 67W charging that replenishes the battery in just over 40 minutes. However, users on a tighter budget without immediate 5G needs may find the nova Y90 a compelling option.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, June 23 | 2022, February 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 27 | Available. Released 2022, March 23 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 74.7 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) | 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | EMUI 12 | Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF - Global version
64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF - India version
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| 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, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 50% in 30 min | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 70% in 22 min, 100% in 41 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Crystal Blue, Pearl White, Emerald Green, Midnight Black | Laser Black, Laser Blue, Poco Yellow |
| Models | CTR-LX2, CTR-LX1, CTR-LX3 | 2201116PG |
| Price | About 160 EUR | € 160.40 / $ 419.99 / £ 255.00 / ₹ 12,940 |
| SAR | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.8 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 335353 (v8), 384646 (v9)
GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova Y90
- Reliable Snapdragon 680 chipset for everyday tasks
- Efficient power consumption
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Slower charging speed (40W)
Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
- Significantly faster 67W charging
- More powerful Snapdragon 695 chipset
- May be slightly more expensive
- Potentially slightly lower battery endurance due to 5G usage
Display Comparison
Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting typical IPS LCD characteristics. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the price point, expect both to offer adequate, but not exceptional, viewing experiences. The lack of high refresh rate information suggests both likely operate at 60Hz, which is standard for this segment. Bezels are likely comparable, with neither phone positioning itself as a display-focused flagship.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific sensor details. Without knowing megapixel counts or sensor sizes, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the omission of any mention of advanced features like OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device suggests a focus on basic photography. The 2MP macro cameras often found in this price range are unlikely to deliver significant image quality improvements. Image processing will likely be the differentiating factor, with Xiaomi’s software often leaning towards more vibrant, saturated colors, while Huawei typically aims for more natural tones.
Performance
The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G’s Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm) represents a clear advantage over the Huawei nova Y90’s Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm). While both are 6nm chips, the 695 boasts a more modern CPU architecture – 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold vs 4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold – and crucially, integrated 5G modem. This translates to faster download/upload speeds where 5G is available and improved multitasking capabilities. The 695’s Adreno 619 GPU also offers a modest graphical performance uplift. The nova Y90’s CPU configuration, with more cores at a slightly higher clock speed, might show marginal gains in certain single-threaded tasks, but the 695’s overall system-on-chip efficiency and 5G support are more impactful.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating similar overall battery life despite the lack of specific mAh capacities. However, the charging experience is where they diverge dramatically. The Poco X4 Pro 5G’s 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC3, is significantly faster, reaching 70% in 22 minutes and 100% in 41 minutes. The nova Y90’s 40W charging, while respectable, takes longer to fully replenish the battery, hitting 50% in 30 minutes. This faster charging speed on the Poco X4 Pro 5G is a major convenience factor for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova Y90 if you need a dependable daily driver with a focus on efficiency and don't require 5G connectivity. It's ideal for users who prioritize a stable software experience and aren't heavy gamers. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G if you prefer faster charging, 5G capabilities for future network access, and a slightly more powerful processor for smoother multitasking and gaming. This phone is geared towards users who want a bit more performance and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Poco X4 Pro 5G handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile smoothly?
The Snapdragon 695 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but likely at medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate. It's not a gaming-focused chipset, so don't expect flagship-level performance. The nova Y90's Snapdragon 680 will likely require even lower settings for a comparable experience.
❓ How much faster is the 67W charging on the Poco X4 Pro 5G compared to the 40W charging on the nova Y90 in real-world use?
The Poco X4 Pro 5G can reach a 70% charge in approximately 22 minutes, while the nova Y90 takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. This means a full charge on the Poco X4 Pro 5G takes around 41 minutes, versus a significantly longer time for the nova Y90. This difference is substantial for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Will I notice a significant difference in internet speeds with the 5G capability of the Poco X4 Pro 5G?
If you live in an area with 5G coverage, you will experience significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G. However, if 5G is unavailable, both phones will fall back to 4G, and the difference will be negligible. The Poco X4 Pro 5G future-proofs you for when 5G becomes more widespread.
