Side-by-side technical data
Huawei nova 16z vs Huawei nova 15
Comparison between Huawei nova 16z and Huawei nova 15: camera, battery, fast charging, display, performance and colors, side by side. More phones from Huawei.
NeoTeo's verdict
Which of the two is the better buy
The Huawei nova 15 is the pick for display and build priorities: its LTPO OLED panel and glass, plastic, and metal body give it an edge over the nova 16z’s OLED display and glass-and-plastic body. The nova 16z leads on performance and connectivity, with DDR5 versus LPDDR4X and satellite connectivity; their overall scores are 7.3 and 7.2.
For everyday use, the nova 15 adds 120Hz and an Always-On Display, not listed for the nova 16z, while both include LTPO among their display features. The cameras are level: the nova 16z has Dual LED versus the nova 15’s LED flash, but the nova 15 adds 4K recording at 30 fps. Battery does not separate them.
The power setup is the same on both: a 6,000 mAh Si-Carbon Li-Ion battery, 100W charging, and reverse charging. The nova 16z is the more complete buy for faster RAM and satellite connectivity, while the nova 15 suits buyers who want a 120Hz LTPO OLED display and a metal-backed build.
Huawei nova 16z
The Huawei nova 16z is the better buy for DDR5 RAM and satellite connectivity.
Huawei nova 15
The Huawei nova 15 is the better buy for a 120Hz LTPO OLED display and a build that includes metal.
The verdict
Neither runs away with it: each wins something.
| Category | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Design & display | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| Performance & hardware | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Camera | 7.2 | 7.2 |
| Connectivity | 8.1 | 8.1 |
| Battery & charging | 7.4 | 7.4 |
Which one is for you?
Huawei nova 16z, if you care about…
- RAM Type
- DDR5
- against LPDDR4X
Huawei nova 15, if you care about…
- Display Technology
- LTPO OLED
- against OLED
- Body Materials
- Glass, Plastic, Metal
- against Glass, Plastic
Specification comparison
Performance
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Model | Huawei Kirin 8020 | Huawei Kirin 8020 |
| Processor Process Size | 6 nm | 6 nm |
| Graphics GPU | Maleoon 920 2cu | Maleoon 920 |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 2.29 GHz | 2.29 GHz |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| AnTuTu Score | 742,000 | 742,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 1,350 | 1,350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 3,570 | 3,570 |
| CPU Description | 1x2.29 GHz + 3x2.05 GHz + 4x1.3 GHz | 1x2.29 GHz + 3x2.05 GHz + 4x1.3 GHz |
| Processor Type | Octa-Core | Octa-Core |
| 64-Bit Processor | Yes | Yes |
| RAM Capacity | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR5 Best value | LPDDR4X |
| AnTuTu version | v10 | v10 |
Design
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Body Colors | Black, White, Blue, Pink | Black, White, Purple, Green |
| Body Thickness | 7.2 mm | 7.2 mm |
| Body Width | 75.5 mm | 75.5 mm |
| Body Height | 161.8 mm | 161.9 mm |
| Weight | 196.5 g | 196 g Best value |
| Usable Surface | 88.6 % | 88.6 % |
| Body Materials | Glass, Plastic | Glass, Plastic, Metal Best value |
| Resistance Features | IP65 | IP65 |
| Waterproof Depth | 2 m | — |
Battery
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 6,000 mAh | 6,000 mAh |
| Battery Type | Si-Carbon Li-Ion | Si-Carbon Li-Ion |
| Fast Charge Power | 100 W | 100 W |
| Battery Features | Fast Charging, Reverse Charging, Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator, Charger Included | Fast Charging, Reverse Charging, Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator, Charger Included |
Display
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| Display Technology | OLED | LTPO OLED Best value |
| Display Diagonal | 6.7″ | 6.7″ |
| Display Horizontal Resolution | 1,084 px | 1,084 px |
| Display Vertical Resolution | 2,412 px | 2,412 px |
| Display Pixel Density | 395 ppi | 395 ppi |
| Display Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 300 Hz | 300 Hz |
| Display Features | Aluminosilicate Glass, HDR Vivid, Hole-Punch Notch, DCI-P3, LTPO, 2160Hz PWM, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Scratch Resistant, Frameless, SGS Certified, One Billion Colors | Aluminosilicate Glass, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Hole-Punch Notch, SGS Certified, DCI-P3, Scratch Resistant, Dual-Edge Display, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Frameless, LTPO, Always-On Display |
Sensors
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor Placement | Side | Side |
Sensor
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Features | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity Sensor, Light Sensor, Virtual Proximity Sensing, Cooling System | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity Sensor, Light Sensor, Cooling System, Virtual Proximity Sensing |
Software
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | HarmonyOS 6 | HarmonyOS 6 |
| OS Family | HarmonyOS | HarmonyOS |
| OS Version | 6.1 Best value | 6 |
Connectivity
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| SIM Configurations | Dual Nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM | Dual Nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Cellular Bands | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 2G CDMA BC0, 2G CDMA B2, 2G CDMA B3, 2G CDMA B5, 2G CDMA B8, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B3, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B8, 3G UMTS B19, 3G UMTS 800, 3G UMTS B850, 3G UMTS B900, 3G UMTS 1700 AWS, 3G UMTS 1900, 3G UMTS 2100, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B34, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 5G NR bands unspecified | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 2G CDMA BC0, 2G CDMA B2, 2G CDMA B3, 2G CDMA B5, 2G CDMA B8 |
| Cellular Technologies | GSM, HSPA, LTE, 5G | GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g |
| Wi-Fi Features | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 6.0 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE, L2HC | A2DP, LE, L2HC |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC |
| Connectivity Features | USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, USB Host 2.0, USB Type-C, NFC, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, Infrared, VoLTE, Virtual Proximity Sensing, Satellite Connectivity | Virtual Proximity Sensing, Infrared, NFC, USB Type-C, USB 2.0, USB OTG, Computer Sync, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB Host 2.0, Satellite Connectivity |
| USB Version | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
Audio
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Features | Stereo Speakers, L2HC | Stereo Speakers, A2DP, LE, L2HC |
Technical
| Specification | nova 16z | nova 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Model numbers | PKN-AL00 | PSN-AL00 |
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