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Short Overview
PROS
- 1 Impressive 8500 mAh battery with 66W fast charging.
- 2 Stunning 6.84-inch 120Hz OLED display with high peak brightness.
- 3 IP65 dust and water resistance adds durability.
CONS
- 1 No 3.5mm headphone jack.
- 2 Lacks a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
- 3 Relatively heavy build at 229g.
Prices
Questions and opinions
It features a 6.84-inch 120Hz OLED display with a resolution of 1272 x 2756 pixels.
The phone is equipped with the Kirin 8020 chipset.
Yes, it supports 66W wired fast charging for its 8500 mAh battery.
Yes, it has an IP65 rating for dust and low-pressure water jet resistance.
The Huawei nova 16 SE, released in August 2026, presents itself as a robust contender in the smartphone market, blending a premium feel with practical features. Its design features a glass front, a sturdy plastic frame, and an aluminum back, giving it a solid feel, albeit at a somewhat substantial weight of 229g. The device is also built to withstand daily elements, boasting an IP65 rating for dust and low-pressure water jet resistance, adding peace of mind for users.
Front and center is the stunning 6.84-inch OLED display, offering a high resolution of 1272 x 2756 pixels and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. With 1 billion colors and 2160Hz PWM dimming, visuals are expected to be exceptionally vivid and comfortable for extended viewing. A remarkable peak brightness of 8000 nits is advertised, though it’s important to note this is measured at an isolated spot during video playback. The display is further protected by Aluminosilicate glass, enhancing its durability against scratches and minor impacts.
Under the hood, the Huawei nova 16 SE is powered by the Kirin 8020 chipset, an octa-core processor paired with the Maleoon 920 2cu GPU, ensuring capable performance for multitasking, demanding applications, and gaming. Running on HarmonyOS 6.1, the user experience is designed to be fluid and integrated within the Huawei ecosystem. The phone comes with a generous 8GB of RAM across all storage variants (128GB, 256GB, or 512GB), providing ample space for apps and files, although the absence of a card slot means storage is not expandable.
For photography, the device features a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture and dual-pixel PDAF, promising detailed and sharp images. It’s accompanied by an auxiliary lens, though specific details are not provided. The main camera supports features like LED flash, HDR, panorama, and can record videos up to 4K at 30fps with gyro-EIS for stabilization. The 32 MP wide selfie camera, with an f/2.2 aperture, is equally capable, offering 4K video recording at 30fps, making it suitable for high-quality video calls and self-portraits.
One of the Huawei nova 16 SE’s standout features is its massive 8500 mAh Si/C Li-Ion battery, designed to provide exceptional endurance. This large capacity is complemented by 66W wired fast charging, allowing for quick power-ups, and even supports 5W reverse wired charging to power other devices. Connectivity options are comprehensive, including Wi-Fi 6/7, Bluetooth 6.0 with HD audio support, a full suite of navigation systems, NFC, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Stereo speakers enhance the audio experience, but the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack is absent. Security is handled by a convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor.