The Huawei nova 5T and vivo S1 Pro represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take drastically different approaches to achieving this. The nova 5T leverages Huawei’s in-house Kirin 980 chipset, a former flagship SoC, while the S1 Pro opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665. This comparison dives deep into the implications of these choices, examining performance, camera capabilities, and battery life to determine which device offers the best overall value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Huawei nova 5T is the clear winner. Its Kirin 980 chipset provides a significant performance uplift over the Snapdragon 665 in the S1 Pro. However, the S1 Pro remains a viable option for those on a tighter budget who prioritize a clean software experience and don't require demanding processing power.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, November 19. Released 2019, November | 2019, August 27. Released 2019, September 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 154.3 x 74 x 7.8 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186.7 g (6.60 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1"
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 22.5W wired, 50% in 24 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Knight Black, Fancy Sky | Black, Crush Blue, Midsummer Purple, Crush Green |
| Models | 1920, PD1945F_EX, 1920_20 | YAL-L21, YAL-L61, YAL-L71, YAL-L61D |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 340 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 313024 (v7), 395503 (v8)
GeekBench: 10013 (v4.4), 2504 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo S1 Pro
- More powerful Kirin 980 chipset
- Faster 22.5W charging
- Potentially better camera image processing
- Potential software concerns (Huawei Mobile Services)
- May be slightly more expensive
Huawei nova 5T
- More affordable price point
- Clean and streamlined software experience
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- Significantly less powerful Snapdragon 665
- Slower 18W charging
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a particularly standout display. While specific panel details (like peak brightness or color gamut coverage) are unavailable, the focus here is on the internal hardware. The difference in processing power will have a greater impact on the user experience than subtle display variations. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket, and the absence of high refresh rates is expected.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed sensor information, a direct camera comparison is challenging. However, the Kirin 980’s integrated ISP (Image Signal Processor) generally offers more advanced image processing capabilities than the Snapdragon 665’s. This could result in better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality in the nova 5T. The presence of a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) in the Kirin 980 further enhances AI-powered camera features. While both phones likely include multiple rear cameras, the quality of the primary sensor and the sophistication of the image processing pipeline will be the key differentiators, favoring the nova 5T.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei nova 5T’s Kirin 980 (7nm) is a significant step up from the vivo S1 Pro’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm). The Kirin 980 features a more sophisticated CPU configuration – a dual-core Cortex-A76 setup alongside dual Cortex-A76 cores and quad Cortex-A55 cores – compared to the Snapdragon 665’s quad Kryo 260 Gold and quad Kryo 260 Silver. This translates to a noticeable performance advantage for the nova 5T in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The 7nm process node of the Kirin 980 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 665 is adequate for everyday use, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Huawei nova 5T’s 22.5W wired charging is a clear advantage over the vivo S1 Pro’s 18W charging. The nova 5T can achieve a 50% charge in just 24 minutes, significantly reducing downtime. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed of the nova 5T mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery. The more efficient Kirin 980 chipset may also contribute to better battery life under heavy load, despite the S1 Pro potentially having a larger capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S1 Pro if you need a reliable daily driver for basic tasks, social media, and light gaming, and value a streamlined software experience. You'll benefit from a generally cleaner Android skin. Buy the Huawei nova 5T if you prefer a more powerful processor for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking, and appreciate faster charging speeds. Be aware of potential software limitations due to the ongoing geopolitical situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Huawei nova 5T suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 980 is a powerful chipset, Huawei implemented thermal management solutions to mitigate overheating. However, sustained gaming at maximum settings may still lead to some thermal throttling, but it's generally well-controlled and doesn't result in complete performance collapse. The 7nm process node aids in heat dissipation compared to the Snapdragon 665.
❓ What is the impact of Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) on the nova 5T user experience?
The nova 5T utilizes Huawei Mobile Services instead of Google Mobile Services. This means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store and core Google apps. However, Huawei's AppGallery is growing, and workarounds exist to sideload Google apps, though this isn't officially supported and may have security implications. The HMS ecosystem is improving, but it's a factor to consider.
❓ Is the Snapdragon 665 in the vivo S1 Pro sufficient for playing popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 665 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. Expect to play at medium or low settings to avoid stuttering and lag. It's not ideal for demanding gamers, but it's adequate for casual play.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the two devices?
The vivo S1 Pro typically runs Funtouch OS, which is a heavily customized Android skin. The Huawei nova 5T runs EMUI based on Android, also customized, but with a different aesthetic and feature set. Funtouch OS is often criticized for being bloated, while EMUI has its own set of quirks. The S1 Pro generally offers a cleaner experience than older EMUI versions.
