Huawei nova 15 Ultra vs Huawei nova 16 Ultra

Verdict

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

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

nova 15 Ultra leads in 2 fields
nova 16 Ultra leads in 1 field
35 ties

38 scored fields compared

Score by section

Section scores	nova 15 Ultra	nova 16 Ultra
Overall
Performance	71	71
Camera	88	89
Battery	100	100
Display	98	98
Design & durability	88	87
Connectivity & features	69	69

Full specifications

Only differences

Performance

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

Camera

Main camera resolution: nova 15 Ultra: 50 MP; nova 16 Ultra: 200 MP(Better)
Main sensor size: nova 15 Ultra: Unknown; nova 16 Ultra: 1/1.28″
Optical stabilization (OIS): nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes
Ultra-wide camera: nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes
Telephoto camera: nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes
Periscope lens: nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes
Optical zoom: nova 15 Ultra: 3.7×; nova 16 Ultra: 3.7×
Video recording: nova 15 Ultra: 4K 30 fps; nova 16 Ultra: 4K 30 fps
Front camera: nova 15 Ultra: 50 MP; nova 16 Ultra: 50 MP
Front camera 4K video: nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes

Battery

Battery capacity: nova 15 Ultra: 6500 mAh; nova 16 Ultra: 7000 mAh
Wired charging: nova 15 Ultra: 100 W; nova 16 Ultra: 100 W
Wireless charging: nova 15 Ultra: 50 W; nova 16 Ultra: 50 W
Reverse charging: nova 15 Ultra: Yes; nova 16 Ultra: Yes
Reverse charging type: nova 15 Ultra: Wired & wireless; nova 16 Ultra: Wired & wireless

Display

Screen size: nova 15 Ultra: 6.84″; nova 16 Ultra: 6.84″
Panel type: nova 15 Ultra: LTPO OLED; nova 16 Ultra: LTPO OLED
Refresh rate: nova 15 Ultra: 120 Hz; nova 16 Ultra: 120 Hz
Pixel density: nova 15 Ultra: 460 ppi; nova 16 Ultra: 460 ppi
Peak brightness: nova 15 Ultra: 4000 nits; nova 16 Ultra: 6000 nits
Resolution: nova 15 Ultra: 1320x2856; nova 16 Ultra: 1320x2856
Screen protection: nova 15 Ultra: Kunlun Glass; nova 16 Ultra: Kunlun Glass

Design & durability

Weight: nova 15 Ultra: 209 g(Better); nova 16 Ultra: 220 g
Thickness: nova 15 Ultra: 6.8 mm(Better); nova 16 Ultra: 7.1 mm
Dust & water resistance: nova 15 Ultra: IP68 + IP69; nova 16 Ultra: IP68 + IP69
Back material: nova 15 Ultra: Fiber; nova 16 Ultra: Leather
Frame material: nova 15 Ultra: Aluminum; nova 16 Ultra: Aluminum

Connectivity & features

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

General

Operating system: nova 15 Ultra: HarmonyOS 6.0; nova 16 Ultra: HarmonyOS 6.1
Launch price: nova 15 Ultra: About 520 EUR; nova 16 Ultra: About 600 EUR
Year: nova 15 Ultra: 2025; nova 16 Ultra: 2026

Show raw spec text

Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.

—	nova 15 Ultra	nova 16 Ultra
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 2026, January 06	Available. Released 2026, June 06
Body
Dimensions	163 x 78 x 6.8 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	209 g (7.37 oz)	220 g (7.76 oz)
Build	Glass front (Kunlun Glass), aluminum frame, glass-fiber reinforced plastic back	Glass front (Kunlun Glass), aluminum frame, glass back + silicone polymer back (eco leather)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 2m for 30 min)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 2m for 30 min)
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	Kunlun Glass	Kunlun Glass
Platform
OS	HarmonyOS 6.0	HarmonyOS 6.1
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/1.4-4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 88mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 118˚ (ultrawide), AF	200 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 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/2.0, (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 BDS Satellite Calling and Messaging - China only	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 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	100W wired, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Misc
Colors	Black, White, Purple, Green	Black, White, Blue
Models	SLY-AL00	HIP-AL00
Price	About 520 EUR	About 600 EUR