The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the vivo S16, known for its stylish design and powerful processor, and the Huawei nova 5 Pro, lauded for its impressive display and long battery life. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The vivo S16 takes the lead with its significantly faster Snapdragon 870 chipset and blazing-fast 66W charging. While the Huawei nova 5 Pro boasts exceptional battery life and a stunning display contrast ratio, the S16's overall performance and charging speed make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 22 | 2019, June. Released 2019, June |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 30 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) | 157.4 x 74.8 x 7.3 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 171 g (6.03 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | OLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 13, OriginOS 3 | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", predictive PDAF, Laser AF |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, 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/6, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 50% in 19 min | 40W wired, 85% in 30 min |
| Type | 4600 mAh | Li-Po 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Mint, Gold | Black, Purple, Green, Orange |
| Models | V2244A | SEA-AL10, SEA-TL10 |
| Price | About 340 EUR | About 390 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 73h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1223:1 (nominal), 3.818 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 73dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 170766 (v8)
GeekBench: 808 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo S16
- Powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset
- Blazing-fast 66W charging
- Stylish design
- Likely excellent selfie camera
- Battery life potentially shorter than nova 5 Pro
- Display contrast ratio details unavailable
Huawei nova 5 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (73h endurance rating)
- Impressive display contrast ratio
- Good camera performance
- Generally more affordable
- Older Kirin 980 chipset
- Slower 40W charging
- Performance lags behind the vivo S16
Display Comparison
The Huawei nova 5 Pro shines with its impressive contrast ratio (1223:1 nominal, 3.818 in sunlight), offering excellent visibility even in bright conditions. While the vivo S16 has a good display, details about its contrast ratio are not readily available, but it is expected to be a vibrant OLED panel. The nova 5 Pro's display is a clear advantage in terms of outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems. The Huawei nova 5 Pro is known for its detailed photos and vibrant colors. The vivo S16 is expected to have a strong selfie camera, a key selling point for the S series. A direct camera comparison would require detailed testing, but both should deliver good results in various lighting conditions.
Performance
Here, the vivo S16 dominates. The Snapdragon 870 is a significantly more powerful chipset than the Kirin 980. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a better gaming experience on the vivo S16. The Kirin 980 is still capable, but it's showing its age compared to the 870.
Battery Life
The Huawei nova 5 Pro holds a clear advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 73 hours. The vivo S16's battery capacity is likely smaller, and while its 66W charging is incredibly fast, it won't match the nova 5 Pro's longevity.
Buying Guide
The vivo S16 is ideal for users prioritizing performance, fast charging, and a modern design. It's great for gamers and those who frequently multitask. The Huawei nova 5 Pro is a solid pick for those who value long battery life, a vibrant display, and a more budget-friendly price point, especially if camera performance is not the top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the vivo S16 worth the extra cost over the Huawei nova 5 Pro?
If performance and fast charging are your priorities, the vivo S16 is worth the investment. However, if you prioritize battery life and a more budget-friendly price, the nova 5 Pro remains a compelling option.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The vivo S16 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 870 chipset. It will handle demanding games with ease.
