Huawei has officially completed its Nova 16 lineup with the launch of the Ultra model, joining the standard and Pro variants that debuted earlier this month. While the new flagship shares much of its core hardware with the Pro version, it introduces several meaningful upgrades designed to distinguish it in a crowded market.
The most significant changes appear in the camera system. The periscope lens now opens wider at f/2.2, a notable improvement over the f/2.6 aperture found on the Pro model. The front-facing cameras received the same treatment, moving from f/2.4 to f/2.2 to allow for better light gathering in low-light conditions.
Beyond optics, the device adds a wireless charging coil and satellite communication antennas. It also boasts stronger water resistance rated at IP68 and IP69, a significant step up from the IP65 rating on previous models. These premium features come with a steep price tag. The Nova 16 Ultra starts at 4,699 yuan, which converts to roughly $655 or €575. That entry price sits 800 yuan above the Pro model, and color options have been reduced to three, with the gradient finish removed from the Ultra’s palette.
Under the hood, the phone runs on the Kirin 9010S chipset, the same silicon Huawei has been deploying across its premium devices as part of its broader domestic chip strategy. The 6.84-inch LTPO OLED panel delivers a resolution of 2856 by 1320 pixels with an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120 Hz. It also features 300 Hz touch sampling, 2160 Hz PWM dimming, and protection from Kunlun Glass.
Storage tiers are available in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB configurations. The quad rear camera array is anchored by a 200 MP main sensor featuring a 1/1.28-inch RYYB design, an f/1.8 aperture, and a 23 mm equivalent focal length. Combined OIS and AIS stabilization help keep shots steady. A 50 MP ultrawide lens handles macro duties at f/2.2, while the upgraded 50 MP periscope offers 3.8x optical zoom at an 88 mm equivalent focal length with a brighter f/2.2 aperture and OIS. A 1.5 MP Red Maple sensor completes the rear setup. The centered pill-shaped cutout on the front houses a 50 MP selfie camera capable of 4K video at f/2.2, along with another 1.5 MP Red Maple sensor operating at f/2.4.
Battery capacity has been bumped to 7000 mAh, supporting 100 W wired charging, 50 W wireless charging, and 7.5 W reverse wireless charging via a USB 2.0 Type-C port. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 BLE, and full GNSS support covering GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, and NavIC. The device also includes an IR blaster and satellite SMS capability. NFC is present, as are stereo speakers tuned by Huawei Histen. Biometric security is handled by a side-mounted fingerprint reader and face recognition.
The device measures 163 by 78 by 7.1 mm and weighs 220 grams. Full pricing details break down to 4,699 yuan ($655 / €575) for the 256 GB model, 5,199 yuan ($725 / €635) for the 512 GB version, and 5,799 yuan ($810 / €710) for the 1 TB variant.
| Technical Specifications: Huawei Nova 16 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G |
| Software | HarmonyOS 6.1 |
| Display | 6.84″, 2856 x 1320 pixels, 1-120 Hz, 300 Hz touch, 2160 Hz PWM, 10-bit, LTPO OLED, Kunlun Glass |
| Chipset | Huawei Kirin 9010S |
| RAM | Available |
| Storage | 256 GB 512 GB 1024 GB |
| SIM and memory card | Dual nano-SIM slots |
| Camera | Quad, AI, HDR, 4K video recording Main: 200 MP, 1/1.28″, RYYB, f/1.8, 23 mm EFL, autofocus, OIS+AIS Ultrawide: 50 MP, f/2.2, macro autofocus Periscope: 50 MP, RYYB, f/2.2, 88 mm EFL, 3.8x optical zoom, autofocus, OIS Red Maple sensor: 1.5 MP |
| Selfie | Centered pill Main: 50 MP, f/2.2, 4K video recording Red Maple sensor: 1.5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Battery | 7000 mAh |
| Charging | USB 2.0 Type-C, 100 W wired, 50 W wireless, 7.5 W reverse wireless |
| 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 Satellite SMS |
| NFC | Available |
| Biometrics | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face recognition |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, Huawei Histen |
| Water resistance | IP68/69 |
| Dimensions and weight | 163 x 78 x 7.1 mm 220 g |
| Price | 4,699 yuan 5,199 yuan 5,799 yuan ($655 / €575 $725 / €635 $810 / €710) |
The Nova 16 series arrives as Huawei continues to rebuild its mobile portfolio around domestic components, a strategy that has drawn considerable attention since U.S. trade restrictions forced the company to revamp its supply chain. The official announcement earlier this spring set the stage for this broader rollout.
Source: Huawei
