Huawei has officially launched the Nova 16 lineup, expanding the series from three models to four this year. This report covers the standard Nova 16 and the Nova 16 Pro, while the flagship Nova 16 Ultra and the budget Nova 16z will be reviewed in separate articles.
While competitors have recently reduced hardware specifications in their latest devices, Huawei has taken a different approach. The Nova 16 and Nova 16 Pro match or exceed their predecessors in most areas, with one notable exception. Both models are powered by the Kirin 9010S chipset, a processor that previously appeared only in the Nova 15 Pro and 15 Ultra. The new devices also feature upgraded camera systems and larger 7000 mAh batteries, although the Pro model has removed wireless charging support.
Huawei Nova 16
Huawei Nova 16 Pro
The standard Nova 16 now includes an improved 50 MP periscope lens with 3.8x optical zoom. The Pro version received a complete camera overhaul. The previous 50+13+12 MP setup has been replaced by a 200+50+50 MP configuration. The Nova 16 also became slightly smaller, with its OLED display shrinking from 6.84 inches to 6.68 inches. The Pro model retained its 6.84-inch LTPO OLED panel.
Pricing for both models has increased compared to the previous generation. Entry-level storage variants rose by 300 to 400 yuan, while top-tier configurations jumped by as much as 1100 yuan. The Huawei Nova 16 now starts at 2999 yuan, which is approximately $415 or €385. The Nova 16 Pro opens at 3899 yuan, roughly $540 or €500. Color options include pink-blue, turquoise, white, and black.
| System | Specifications | |
|---|---|---|
| Huawei Nova 16 | Huawei Nova 16 Pro | |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | |
| Software | HarmonyOS 6.1 | |
| Display | 6.68″, 2800 x 1280 pixels, 120 Hz, touch 300 Hz, 10-bit, PWM 2160 Hz, OLED | 6.84″, 2856 x 1320 pixels, 1-120 Hz, touch 300 Hz, PWM 2160 Hz, 10-bit, LTPO OLED, Kunlun Glass |
| Chipset | Huawei Kirin 9010S | |
| RAM | 8 GB 12 GB 16 GB |
|
| Storage | 256 GB 512 GB |
256 GB 512 GB 1024 GB |
| SIM and memory card | Two nano-SIM slots | |
| Camera | Triple, AI, HDR, 4K video recording Main: 50 MP, f/1.9, EFL 23 mm, autofocus, OIS Periscope: 50 MP, RYYB, f/2.6, EFL 88 mm, 3.8x optical zoom, autofocus, OIS Red Maple sensor: 1.5 MP |
Quad, AI, HDR, 4K video recording Main: 200 MP, RYYB, f/1.8, EFL 23 mm, autofocus, OIS Ultrawide: 50 MP, f/2.2, autofocus for macro Periscope: 50 MP, RYYB, f/2.6, EFL 88 mm, 3.8x optical zoom, autofocus, OIS Red Maple sensor: 1.5 MP |
| Selfie | Center punch-hole 50 MP, f/2.4, 4K video recording |
Center pill Main: 50 MP, f/2.4, 4K video recording Red Maple sensor: 1.5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Battery | 7000 mAh | |
| Charging | USB 2.0 Type-C, 100 W | |
| Wireless interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, 2.4/5 GHz, 2×2 MIMO, HE160, MU-MIMO Bluetooth 6.0 BLE GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, NavIC IR blaster |
|
| NFC | Available | |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint scanner in power button Face recognition |
|
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Huawei Histen | |
| Water resistance | IP65 | |
| Dimensions and weight | 159.6 x 75.5 x 7.3 mm 199 g |
163 x 78 x 7.1 mm 218 g |
| Price | 2999 yuan 3499 yuan ($415 / €385 $485 / €450) |
3899 yuan 4399 yuan 4999 yuan ($540 / €500 $610 / €565 $695 / €645) |
The Nova 16 series launch coincides with HarmonyOS continuing to gain ground in the global smartphone market. Both models ship with HarmonyOS 6.1 and support the full range of modern connectivity standards, including Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 7. The device also benefits from the thermal management improvements seen in Huawei’s MEMS micro-cooler testing, which helps maintain performance under load.
Source: Huawei
