Huawei nova 16 SE vs Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Verdict
The Huawei nova 16 SE scores higher in 1 of 6 sections (display), while the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE leads in camera, performance, connectivity & features and design & durability; they are even on battery.
The biggest difference is camera: 35 vs 87 points.
Choose the Huawei nova 16 SE for display; choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE for camera and performance.
- nova 16 SE leads in 8 fields
- Galaxy S26 FE leads in 14 fields
- 17 ties
39 scored fields compared
Score by section
| Section scores | nova 16 SE | Galaxy S26 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Performance | 58 | 85 |
| Camera | 35 | 87 |
| Battery | 76 | 75 |
| Display | 90 | 81 |
| Design & durability | 66 | 85 |
| Connectivity & features | 44 | 68 |
Full specifications
Performance
- Chipset performance index
- nova 16 SE: 50/100
- Galaxy S26 FE: 86/100(Better)
- Chipset
- nova 16 SE: Kirin 8020
- Galaxy S26 FE: Exynos 2500
- RAM (max)
- nova 16 SE: 8 GB
- Galaxy S26 FE: 8 GB
- Storage (max)
- nova 16 SE: 512 GB
- Galaxy S26 FE: 512 GB
- Process node
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: 3 nm
Camera
- Main camera resolution
- nova 16 SE: 50 MP
- Galaxy S26 FE: 50 MP
- Main sensor size
- nova 16 SE: 1/1.56″
- Galaxy S26 FE: 1/1.56″
- Optical stabilization (OIS)
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes(Better)
- Ultra-wide camera
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes(Better)
- Telephoto camera
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes(Better)
- Periscope lens
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Optical zoom
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: 3×(Better)
- Video recording
- nova 16 SE: 4K 30 fps
- Galaxy S26 FE: 8K(Better)
- Front camera
- nova 16 SE: 32 MP(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 12 MP
- Front camera 4K video
- nova 16 SE: Yes
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes
Battery
- Battery capacity
- nova 16 SE: 8500 mAh(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 4900 mAh
- Battery endurance (EU label)
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: 50:00 h
- EU label cycles
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: 1200
- Wired charging
- nova 16 SE: 66 W(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 45 W
- Wireless charging
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: 15 W(Better)
- Reverse charging
- nova 16 SE: Yes
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes
- Reverse charging type
- nova 16 SE: Wired
- Galaxy S26 FE: Wireless
Display
- Screen size
- nova 16 SE: 6.84″
- Galaxy S26 FE: 6.7″
- Panel type
- nova 16 SE: OLED
- Galaxy S26 FE: OLED
- Refresh rate
- nova 16 SE: 120 Hz
- Galaxy S26 FE: 120 Hz
- Pixel density
- nova 16 SE: 444 ppi(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 385 ppi
- Peak brightness
- nova 16 SE: 8000 nits(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 1900 nits
- Resolution
- nova 16 SE: 1272x2756
- Galaxy S26 FE: 1080x2340
- Screen protection
- nova 16 SE: Aluminosilicate glass
- Galaxy S26 FE: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Design & durability
- Weight
- nova 16 SE: 229 g
- Galaxy S26 FE: 193 g(Better)
- Thickness
- nova 16 SE: 8 mm
- Galaxy S26 FE: 7.4 mm(Better)
- Dust & water resistance
- nova 16 SE: IP65–IP67
- Galaxy S26 FE: IP68(Better)
- Back material
- nova 16 SE: Aluminum
- Galaxy S26 FE: Glass
- Frame material
- nova 16 SE: Plastic
- Galaxy S26 FE: Aluminum(Better)
- EU repairability class
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: C
- EU drop resistance class
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: A
- EU energy class
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: A
Connectivity & features
- 5G
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes(Better)
- Wi-Fi
- nova 16 SE: Wi-Fi 7(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- nova 16 SE: 6.0(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: 5.4
- USB speed
- nova 16 SE: USB 2.0
- Galaxy S26 FE: USB 2.0
- USB port
- nova 16 SE: USB-C 2.0
- Galaxy S26 FE: USB-C 2.0
- DisplayPort output
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- NFC
- nova 16 SE: Yes
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes
- eSIM
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes(Better)
- Ultra-wideband (UWB)
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Satellite connectivity
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Stereo speakers
- nova 16 SE: Yes
- Galaxy S26 FE: Yes
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Fingerprint reader
- nova 16 SE: Side-mounted
- Galaxy S26 FE: Under display (optical)(Better)
- 3D face unlock
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Infrared blaster
- nova 16 SE: Yes(Better)
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- FM radio
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- microSD slot
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
- Card slot
- nova 16 SE: No
- Galaxy S26 FE: No
General
- Operating system
- nova 16 SE: HarmonyOS 6.1
- Galaxy S26 FE: Android 17
- OS updates (major versions)
- nova 16 SE: Unknown
- Galaxy S26 FE: 7
- Launch price
- nova 16 SE: About 320 EUR
- Galaxy S26 FE: $ 569.95
- Year
- nova 16 SE: 2026
- Galaxy S26 FE: 2026
Show raw spec textHide raw spec text
Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.
| — | nova 16 SE | Galaxy S26 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Network | ||
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - India |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| 5G bands | – | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - India |
| Launch | ||
| Announced | 2026, August 05 | 2026, August 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2026, August 13 | Available. Released 2026, September 04 |
| Body | ||
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 78 x 8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 161.6 x 76.9 x 7.4 mm (6.36 x 3.03 x 0.29 in) |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, aluminum back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display | ||
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 8000 nits (peak)* | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1900 nits (HBM) |
| Size | 6.84 inches, 114.8 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1272 x 2756 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~444 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density) |
| Protection | Aluminosilicate glass * Measured at an isolated spot during video playback only | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Platform | ||
| OS | HarmonyOS 6.1 | Android 17, up to 7 major OS updates, One UI 9 |
| Chipset | Kirin 8020 | Exynos 2500 (3 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.29 GHz & 3x2.05 GHz & 4x1.3 GHz) | 10-core (1x3.3GHz Cortex-X925 & 2x2.74GHz Cortex-A725 & 5x2.36GHz Cortex-A725 & 2x1.8GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Maleoon 920 2cu | Xclipse 950 |
| Memory | ||
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera | ||
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", dual-pixel PDAF Auxiliary lens | – |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama, Best Face |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Triple | – | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm |
| Selfie camera | ||
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| 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/6e, dual-band or tri-band (market/region dependent), Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio) | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | Yes | – |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Features | ||
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass Virtual proximity sensing | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) |
| Battery | ||
| Type | 8500 mAh | Li-Ion 4900 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired 5W reverse wired | 45W wired, PD, QC2, 69% in 30 min 15W wireless, Qi2 compatible Reverse wireless |
| Misc | ||
| Colors | Black, White, Orange, Blue | Blueberry, Graphite, Pistachio |
| Models | CAS-AL50 | SM-S741B, SM-S741B/DS |
| Price | About 320 EUR | $ 569.95 / € 518.00 / £ 499.00 / ₹ 65,740 |
| SAR EU | – | 0.50 W/kg (head) 1.32 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
| Energy | – | Class A |
| Battery | – | 50:00h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Free fall | – | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | – | Class C |