Huawei Nova 16 series arrives with OLED displays, RYYB cameras, and 100W fast charging

Alongside the flagship models Nova 16 Ultra and Pro, Huawei also introduced its premium mid-range device–Nova 16 and 16z–in China. These phones have a noticeable upgrade in battery life and charging speed, along with a satellite communication feature currently available only in China. In this article, I will talk about these new premium mid-range phones in detail, including the expected Huawei Nova 16 and 16z price in Nepal, specifications, and availability. 

Huawei Nova 16 and 16z Overview

Camera and Battery

Starting with the camera and battery, the Nova 16 and 16z have different setups, which is the key difference between the two models. For both phones, Huawei opts for a dual camera setup with a 50MP f/1.9 main sensor paired with a telephoto lens. They also come with the Red Maple color sensor so that the shots you take retain their natural tone. 

However, the Nova 16 has a larger 50MP f/2.6 RYYB periscope telephoto lens with 3.7x optical zoom, whereas the Nova 16z has a smaller 12MP f/2.4 RYYB telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Thanks to Huawei's RYYB technology, these lenses capture 40% more light for better low-light shots. At the front, both phones use a punch-hole setup housing a 50MP f/2.5 selfie sensor for taking selfies and video calls.

In terms of battery, the Nova 16 packs 7000mAh, while the Nova 16z comes with a smaller 6000mAh silicone carbon battery. However, both support 100W wired charging and 5W reverse-wired charging. Despite the capacity difference, Huawei claims the device will easily last for more than a day of casual use. 

Performance and Software

Under the hood, Nova 16 uses the latest Kirin 9010S that we have seen in the Pura series, whereas the Nova 16z uses the older Kirin 8020 Chip that we saw in last year's Huawei Nova 15. So you can expect a relatively good gaming experience in the Nova 16, while you might face thermal throttling and inconsistent frame rates for heavy games in the Nova 16z. 

To manage the Nova 16's thermals, Huawei also incorporated a thin VC mid-frame that enables rapid heat dissipation directly from the Kirin 9010s chipset across the device's entire body. This setup is paired with the Ark Engine to prevent thermal throttling in the Nova 16, ensuring the phone maintains a constant frame rate during long hours of high-graphics gameplay. But Huawei doesn't explicitly mention this for the Nova 16z. 

Memory-wise, both phones come with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. For software, they run on HarmonyOS 6.1 for seamless day-to-day performance. Though Huawei doesn't specify the updates they will offer on these phones, from past experience you can expect up to 2 major OS upgrades and up to 3 years of security patches.

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Design and Display

Moving on, design is another factor that sets these two phones apart. Here, the Nova 16 arrives with a cleaner look in “Clear Blue”, “Sky White”, “Iridescent mother-of-Pearl and “Starry Night Black” finishes, whereas the Nova 16z has dropped the ”Clear Blue" variant. And for protection against dust and water, they also have an IP65 rating. 

In terms of design, the Nova 16 retains the same oval eye layout for the rear camera island as its predecessor, the Nova 15. The island sports the dual-lens Red Maple sensor and LED flash. In contrast, the Nova 16z comes with the rectangular island placed vertically that houses the square layout for the dual-lens and Red Maple sensor, while the top and bottom of the island have two LED flashes. 

Up front, both phones have OLED panels with FHD+ resolution, delivering crisp, sharp visuals while in use. But the catch is that the Nova 16z has a larger display at 6.7 inches, while the other one has a 6.68-inch screen. Here, both phones come with aluminosilicate glass protection. In addition, both phones have a 120Hz refresh rate so you can scroll smoothly. Alongside it, you also get high-frequency 2160Hz PWM dimming to reduce eye strain during extended use. 

Huawei Nova 16 and 16z Specifications:

Huawei Nova 16 and 16z Price in Nepal and Availability

In China, the Nova 16 base 12/256GB model is priced at CNY 2,999 (~$418, INR 42,999), while the Nova 16z costs CNY 2,399 (~$335, INR 33,999). Similarly, the top-tier 12/1TB variant of the Nova 16 is priced at CNY 3,999 (~$558, INR 56,999), and the 16z 12/512GB variant costs CNY 2,799 (~$390, INR 39,999). If this launches here, we expect the Huawei Nova 16 & 16z to start at NPR 98,999 and NPR 92,999 for the baseline model, respectively.