Huawei Nova 16 and 16 Pro Unveiled: Impressive Cameras and Massive 7,000mAh Batteries

Huawei has launched its nova series of mid-range smartphones, introducing the nova 16 and 16 Pro, featuring eye-catching designs and substantial upgrades. The Pro model, in particular, is expected to draw attention with its unique aesthetics. Beyond appearances, these new devices showcase significant improvements in camera technology, larger batteries, a quicker chipset for the standard version, and satellite messaging capabilities for both models.

The nova 16 Pro stands out with its impressive 200MP 1/1.28” RYYB main camera, equipped with an f/1.8 lens and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Accompanying this is a 50MP ultra-wide camera featuring an f/2.2 lens, capable of capturing macro shots from as close as 7cm.

A noteworthy feature is the 50MP telephoto lens, which also utilizes a RYYB sensor and boasts a longer 3.7x lens paired with OIS. Both the main and telephoto cameras represent significant upgrades over the previous nova 15 Pro's configuration, which included a 50MP main sensor (size unspecified) and a 12MP 3x telephoto lens.

The Pro model maintains a pill-shaped cutout on the display, housing a 50MP selfie camera with a 1/2.5” sensor, a wide f/2.4 lens, and a 1.5 million channel spectral sensor.

As for the display, not much has changed since its predecessor. The nova 16 Pro features a 6.84” LTPO panel (1-120Hz) with a resolution of 1,320 x 2,856 pixels and 10-bit color depth. It employs 2,160Hz PWM dimming for enhanced brightness control and is protected by Kunlun glass.

The primary distinctions between the Pro and standard models lie in their displays. The nova 16 features a smaller 6.68” OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 1,280 x 2,800 pixels, and 10-bit color support, utilizing unbranded aluminosilicate glass for protection.

The camera capabilities on the standard model are less advanced than those on the Pro, featuring a 50MP main sensor with a f/1.9 lens that lacks OIS. The telephoto module, however, consists of a 50MP RYYB sensor paired with a 3.3x OIS-enabled lens, outperforming the cameras on both the nova 15 and 15 Pro. The selfie camera features a similar 50MP sensor housed in a conventional punch-hole design.

Both the nova 16 and 16 Pro are powered by the Kirin 9010S chipset, which was previously featured in the nova 15 Pro. Huawei has equipped both models with 12GB of RAM; however, the nova 16 lacks the 1TB storage option, meaning its performance remains on par with the 16 Pro, which offers 256GB and 512GB storage alternatives.

Regarding battery life, both models come equipped with a 7,000mAh battery, supporting 100W SuperCharge technology, although neither phone supports wireless charging.

Both devices support 5G connectivity and introduce satellite messaging via the BeiDou satellite system, a feature previously exclusive to the nova 15 Ultra.

In terms of local connectivity, the nova 16 and 16 Pro include dual-band Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 (with LDAC, L2HC), and StarFlash (Huawei’s alternative to Bluetooth), as well as NFC. They also feature tri-band BeiDou and dual-band GPS and Galileo for positioning. The USB-C port, however, only supports USB 2.0.

Additionally, there is no upgrade in terms of water resistance, as both models maintain an IP65 rating (protection against water jets but not submersion), similar to the nova 15 and 15 Pro. Furthermore, the nova 16 and 16 Pro feature a side-mounted fingerprint reader, which is a change from the optical under-display reader found in the earlier 15 Pro model.

The Huawei nova 16 can be purchased from vmall.com, priced at CNY 3,000 for the 12GB/256GB version and CNY 3,500 for the 12GB/512GB model. These prices convert to approximately $445/€380 and $520/€445, respectively, and are available in Clear Blue, Iridescent Mother of Pearl, Sky White, or Starry Night Black.

Huawei nova 16 available in: Clear Blue • Iridescent Mother of Pearl • Sky White • Starry Night Black

The Huawei nova 16 Pro is similarly available in the same colors, priced at CNY 3,900 for the base 12GB/256GB model, CNY 4,400 for the 12GB/512GB version, and CNY 5,000 for the 12GB/1TB option. This translates to approximately $575/€495, $650/€560, and $740/€635, respectively.

Huawei nova 16 Pro available in: Clear Blue • Iridescent Mother of Pearl • Sky White • Starry Night Black