Huawei Nova 16 SE vs Redmi K90
The Huawei Nova 16 SE (2026) runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 8020, while the Redmi K90 (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite; launch prices were $345 and $401. By overall MobileRank rating, the Redmi K90 leads — 76/100 vs 60/100 (a 16-point difference). Key differences: the Huawei Nova 16 SE has the bigger battery (8500 mAh vs 7100); the Redmi K90 is faster in AnTuTu (3,077,585 vs 1,146,138); the Redmi K90 is noticeably lighter (206g vs 229g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Huawei Nova 16 SE
Redmi K90
What makes Huawei Nova 16 SE better?
- Bigger battery: 8500 vs 7100 mAh
- Cheaper at launch: $345 vs $401
- Better display (84/100 vs 82/100)
What makes Redmi K90 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3077585 vs 1146138
- Better Geekbench Single: 3013 vs 1389
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9287 vs 4125
- Faster charging: 100W vs 66W
- Lighter: 206g vs 229g
- Higher performance (91/100 vs 65/100)
- Better camera (58/100 vs 37/100)
- Longer battery life (72/100 vs 70/100)
- Better portability (55/100 vs 42/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Huawei Nova 16 SE vs the Redmi K90, the Redmi K90 scores 16 points higher (76/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Redmi K90 leads (91/100 vs 65/100). In the "camera" category, the Redmi K90 leads (58/100 vs 37/100). Value score: Huawei Nova 16 SE — 54/100, Redmi K90 — 80/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Redmi K90 notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 SE (91/100 vs 65/100). In the "display" category, the Huawei Nova 16 SE and the Redmi K90 are nearly equal (84/100 vs 82/100). In the "camera" category, the Redmi K90 notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 SE (58/100 vs 37/100). In the "battery" category, the Redmi K90 and the Huawei Nova 16 SE are nearly equal (72/100 vs 70/100). In the "portability" category, the Redmi K90 is a bit better (55/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Huawei Nova 16 SE | Redmi K90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | HiSilicon Kirin 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| AnTuTu | 1146138 | 3077585 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1389 | 3013 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 4125 | 9287 | |
| Display | 6.8" OLED | 6.6" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2756x1272 | 2510x1156 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 8500 mAh | 7100 mAh | |
| Charging | 66W | 100W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 20 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | HarmonyOS 6.1 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 8000 nits | 3500 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.3×78.0×8.0 mm | 157.5×75.3×8.0 mm | |
| Weight | 229 g | 206 g | |
| Launch price | $345 | $401 |
Camera comparison
Huawei Nova 16 SE
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Front: 32MP
Redmi K90
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 20MP
Display comparison
Huawei Nova 16 SE
- 6.8" OLED
- Resolution: 2756x1272
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Redmi K90
- 6.6" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2510x1156
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Huawei Nova 16 SE
- 8500 mAh
- Wired: 66W
- No wireless charging
Redmi K90
- 7100 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Huawei Nova 16 SE and Redmi K90, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Redmi K90 leads Huawei Nova 16 SE by 62.8% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $56. Huawei Nova 16 SE was $56 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Redmi K90 notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 SE (91/100 vs 65/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Huawei Nova 16 SE and the Redmi K90 are nearly equal (84/100 vs 82/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Redmi K90 notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 SE (58/100 vs 37/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Redmi K90 and the Huawei Nova 16 SE are nearly equal (72/100 vs 70/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Redmi K90 is a bit better (55/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Huawei Nova 16 SE or the Redmi K90?
The Redmi K90 is noticeably better than the Huawei Nova 16 SE — the overall rating gap is 16 points.
What is the rating of the Huawei Nova 16 SE and the Redmi K90?
The Huawei Nova 16 SE has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Redmi K90 — 76/100.
Which has the better camera: the Huawei Nova 16 SE or the Redmi K90?
The Redmi K90 leads on camera score (58/100 vs 37/100).
Which is more powerful: the Huawei Nova 16 SE or the Redmi K90?
The Redmi K90 leads on performance (91/100 vs 65/100).
Should you choose the Huawei Nova 16 SE over the Redmi K90?
The Huawei Nova 16 SE is a better fit for active users. The Redmi K90 is a better fit for gamers and power users, budget-conscious buyers.