Huawei has refreshed its Nova family in China with four new phones, but the Nova 16 Ultra and Nova 16 Pro are the ones doing the heavy lifting. Both lean into the same formula Huawei has used to keep the Nova line relevant: big batteries, fast charging, flagship-style cameras, and a price tag that undercuts the company’s true premium models.
The Huawei Nova 16 Ultra and Nova 16 Pro also go after the same mid-premium rivals from Honor, Oppo, and Vivo, where camera features and battery size are key selling points. Huawei is trying to win on hardware breadth here, not just on one headline feature, and that usually resonates better than marketing fluff with a spec sheet attached.
Nova 16 Ultra and Nova 16 Pro specs
Both phones use a 6.84-inch OLED display with a 2856 x 1320 resolution, 1-120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, and Kunlun Glass protection. They also run HarmonyOS 6.1 and use Huawei’s Kirin 9010S chipset, with a 7,000mAh battery and 100W wired charging on each model.
- Nova 16 Ultra: 50MP RYYB main camera with OIS, 50MP RYYB periscope telephoto camera with OIS, 50MP ultra-wide macro camera, Red Maple colour sensor, and 50MP front camera with Red Maple color lens
- Nova 16 Pro: 200MP main camera, 50MP periscope telephoto camera, and 50MP ultra-wide macro camera
- Shared imaging features: 4K video recording, AI-powered imaging tools, AI-assisted composition, portrait enhancements, and telephoto image optimization
Where the Nova 16 Ultra pulls ahead
The Ultra is the one Huawei dressed up for the spec hunters. It adds 50W wireless charging, 7.5W reverse wireless charging, Tiantong satellite calling, satellite paging, two-way BeiDou satellite messaging, IP68 and IP69 protection, Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, infrared remote control, and an aluminium alloy body. The Pro still gets two-way BeiDou satellite messaging, but its IP65 rating makes the gap pretty clear.
That kind of feature stacking is becoming familiar in China’s upper-midrange segment. Brands are increasingly using satellite connectivity and tougher water resistance as badges of seriousness, even if most buyers never leave mobile coverage. Huawei knows the game: give the Ultra enough bragging rights to justify the premium, then let the Pro do the volume work.
Nova 16 Ultra and Nova 16 Pro prices
- Nova 16 Ultra 256GB: 4,699 CNY (~$655)
- Nova 16 Ultra 512GB: 5,199 CNY (~$725)
- Nova 16 Ultra 1TB: 5,799 CNY (~$810)
- Nova 16 Pro 256GB: 3,899 CNY (~$545)
- Nova 16 Pro 512GB: 4,399 CNY (~$615)
- Nova 16 Pro 1TB: 4,999 CNY (~$700)
The Nova 16 Ultra comes in Starry Black, Sky Blue, and White. The Nova 16 Pro arrives in Starry Black, Sky Blue, White, and Frost Purple. Huawei has not said when either phone will leave China, which keeps the launch firmly aimed at the domestic market for now.
If Huawei does decide to export the lineup, the Ultra looks like the easier sell on paper, but the Pro may be the smarter one to watch. It keeps most of the big-ticket hardware and trims just enough to land closer to the pricing sweet spot where Chinese rivals fight hardest.