Huawei nova 15 Pro vs Huawei nova 16 Pro

Verdict

The Huawei nova 15 Pro is not clearly ahead in any section, while the Huawei nova 16 Pro leads in camera and connectivity & features; they are even on performance, battery, display and design & durability.

The biggest difference is camera: 86 vs 89 points.

The Huawei nova 16 Pro is the newer model, announced 6 months after the Huawei nova 15 Pro.

nova 15 Pro leads in 2 fields
nova 16 Pro leads in 3 fields
33 ties

38 scored fields compared

Score by section

Section scores	nova 15 Pro	nova 16 Pro
Overall
Performance	71	71
Camera	86	89
Battery	79	79
Display	98	98
Design & durability	77	76
Connectivity & features	66	69

Full specifications

Only differences

Performance

Chipset performance index: nova 15 Pro: 62/100; nova 16 Pro: 62/100
Chipset: nova 15 Pro: Kirin 9010S; nova 16 Pro: Kirin 9010S
RAM (max): nova 15 Pro: 12 GB; nova 16 Pro: 12 GB
Storage (max): nova 15 Pro: 1 TB; nova 16 Pro: 1 TB

Camera

Main camera resolution: nova 15 Pro: 50 MP; nova 16 Pro: 200 MP(Better)
Main sensor size: nova 15 Pro: Unknown; nova 16 Pro: 1/1.28″
Optical stabilization (OIS): nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Ultra-wide camera: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Telephoto camera: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Periscope lens: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Optical zoom: nova 15 Pro: 3×; nova 16 Pro: 3.7×(Better)
Video recording: nova 15 Pro: 4K 30 fps; nova 16 Pro: 4K 30 fps
Front camera: nova 15 Pro: 50 MP; nova 16 Pro: 50 MP
Front camera 4K video: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes

Battery

Battery capacity: nova 15 Pro: 6500 mAh; nova 16 Pro: 7000 mAh
Wired charging: nova 15 Pro: 100 W; nova 16 Pro: 100 W
Wireless charging: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Reverse charging: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Reverse charging type: nova 15 Pro: Wired; nova 16 Pro: Wired

Display

Screen size: nova 15 Pro: 6.84″; nova 16 Pro: 6.84″
Panel type: nova 15 Pro: LTPO OLED; nova 16 Pro: LTPO OLED
Refresh rate: nova 15 Pro: 120 Hz; nova 16 Pro: 120 Hz
Pixel density: nova 15 Pro: 460 ppi; nova 16 Pro: 460 ppi
Peak brightness: nova 15 Pro: 4000 nits; nova 16 Pro: 6000 nits
Resolution: nova 15 Pro: 1320x2856; nova 16 Pro: 1320x2856
Screen protection: nova 15 Pro: Aluminosilicate glass (256GB only); Kunlun Glass edition; nova 16 Pro: Kunlun Glass

Design & durability

Weight: nova 15 Pro: 202 g(Better); nova 16 Pro: 218 g
Thickness: nova 15 Pro: 6.9 mm(Better); nova 16 Pro: 7.1 mm
Dust & water resistance: nova 15 Pro: IP65–IP67; nova 16 Pro: IP65–IP67
Back material: nova 15 Pro: Aluminum; nova 16 Pro: Glass
Frame material: nova 15 Pro: Aluminum; nova 16 Pro: Aluminum

Connectivity & features

5G: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
Wi-Fi: nova 15 Pro: Wi-Fi 7; nova 16 Pro: Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth: nova 15 Pro: 6.0; nova 16 Pro: 6.0
USB speed: nova 15 Pro: USB 2.0; nova 16 Pro: USB 2.0
USB port: nova 15 Pro: USB-C 2.0; nova 16 Pro: USB-C 2.0
DisplayPort output: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
NFC: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
eSIM: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Ultra-wideband (UWB): nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Satellite connectivity: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: Yes(Better)
Stereo speakers: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
3.5 mm headphone jack: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Fingerprint reader: nova 15 Pro: Under display (optical); nova 16 Pro: Under display (optical)
3D face unlock: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Infrared blaster: nova 15 Pro: Yes; nova 16 Pro: Yes
FM radio: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
microSD slot: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No
Card slot: nova 15 Pro: No; nova 16 Pro: No

General

Operating system: nova 15 Pro: HarmonyOS 6.0; nova 16 Pro: HarmonyOS 6.0
Launch price: nova 15 Pro: About 430 EUR; nova 16 Pro: About 500 EUR
Year: nova 15 Pro: 2025; nova 16 Pro: 2026

Show raw spec text

Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.

—	nova 15 Pro	nova 16 Pro
Network
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 CDMA 800	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1x	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	LTE
5G bands	SA/NSA	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Launch
Announced	2025, December 22	2026, June 01
Status	Available. Released 2025, December 27	Available. Released 2026, June 06
Body
Dimensions	163 x 78 x 6.9 mm (6.42 x 3.07 x 0.27 in)	163 x 78 x 7.1 mm (6.42 x 3.07 x 0.28 in)
Weight	202 g (7.13 oz)	218 g (7.69 oz)
Build	Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back	Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets)
Display
Type	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 4000 nits (peak)	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 6000 nits (peak)
Size	6.84 inches, 115.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.84 inches, 115.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution	1320 x 2856 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1320 x 2856 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Protection	Aluminosilicate glass (256GB only); Kunlun Glass edition	Kunlun Glass
Platform
OS	HarmonyOS 6.0	HarmonyOS 6.0
Chipset	Kirin 9010S	Kirin 9010S
Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF	200 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 88mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 118˚ (ultrawide), AF
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video	4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid	4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Selfie camera
Single	50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), 1/2.5", Dual Pixel PDAF	50 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), 1/2.5", Dual Pixel PDAF
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Video	4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid	4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Sound
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack	No	No
Comms
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth	6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio)	6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC	GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS
NFC	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass Virtual proximity sensing	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass Virtual proximity sensing BDS Satellite Calling and Messaging - China only
Battery
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 6500 mAh	7000 mAh
Charging	100W wired, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 5W reverse wired	100W wired, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 5W reverse wired
Misc
Colors	Black, White, Purple, Green	Black, White, Blue/Pink, Blue
Models	KLE-AL00U	CRS-AL00
Price	About 430 EUR	About 500 EUR