Huawei Nova 16 Ultra vs Vivo X500
The Huawei Nova 16 Ultra (2026) runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 9010s, while the Vivo X500 (2026) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9600M; launch prices were $695 and $820. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo X500 leads — 89/100 vs 78/100 (a 11-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo X500 has the bigger battery (7500 mAh vs 7000); the main camera is 200 MP vs 50 MP; the Vivo X500 is faster in AnTuTu (3,930,719 vs 1,229,229); the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is thinner (7.1mm vs 8.2mm).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Huawei Nova 16 Ultra
Vivo X500
What makes Huawei Nova 16 Ultra better?
- Faster charging: 100W vs 90W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 50MP
- Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 40W
- Cheaper at launch: $695 vs $820
- Better camera (94/100 vs 87/100)
- Longer battery life (87/100 vs 84/100)
- Better portability (57/100 vs 50/100)
What makes Vivo X500 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3930719 vs 1229229
- Better Geekbench Single: 3302 vs 1421
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10240 vs 4323
- Bigger battery: 7500 vs 7000 mAh
- Higher refresh rate: 144Hz vs 120Hz
- Lighter: 211g vs 220g
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 66/100)
- Better display (94/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra vs the Vivo X500, the Vivo X500 scores 11 points higher (89/100 vs 78/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo X500 leads (96/100 vs 66/100). Value score: Huawei Nova 16 Ultra — 70/100, Vivo X500 — 92/100; 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 Vivo X500 significantly outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra (96/100 vs 66/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo X500 is a bit better (94/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is a bit better (94/100 vs 87/100). In the "battery" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra and the Vivo X500 are nearly equal (87/100 vs 84/100). In the "portability" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is a bit better (57/100 vs 50/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Huawei Nova 16 Ultra | Vivo X500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | HiSilicon Kirin 9010s | MediaTek Dimensity 9600M | |
| AnTuTu | 1229229 | 3930719 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1421 | 3302 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 4323 | 10240 | |
| Display | 6.8" LTPO OLED | 6.6" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2856x1320 | 1260x2750 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz | |
| Battery | 7000 mAh | 7500 mAh | |
| Charging | 100W | 90W | |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 40W | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 64 MP | |
| Front camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | HarmonyOS 6.1 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 6000 nits | 4000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 163.0×78.0×7.1 mm | 157.0×75.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 220 g | 211 g | |
| Launch price | $695 | $820 |
Camera comparison
Huawei Nova 16 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 50MP
Vivo X500
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 64MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Huawei Nova 16 Ultra
- 6.8" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 2856x1320
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo X500
- 6.6" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1260x2750
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
Battery and charging
Huawei Nova 16 Ultra
- 7000 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 50W
Vivo X500
- 7500 mAh
- Wired: 90W
- Wireless: 40W
Overall performance score
We compared Huawei Nova 16 Ultra and Vivo X500, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo X500 leads Huawei Nova 16 Ultra by 68.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $125. Huawei Nova 16 Ultra was $125 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo X500 significantly outperforms the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra (96/100 vs 66/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo X500 is a bit better (94/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is a bit better (94/100 vs 87/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra and the Vivo X500 are nearly equal (87/100 vs 84/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is a bit better (57/100 vs 50/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra or the Vivo X500?
The Vivo X500 is noticeably better than the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra — the overall rating gap is 11 points.
What is the rating of the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra and the Vivo X500?
The Huawei Nova 16 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 78/100, the Vivo X500 — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra or the Vivo X500?
The Huawei Nova 16 Ultra leads on camera score (94/100 vs 87/100).
Which is more powerful: the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra or the Vivo X500?
The Vivo X500 leads on performance (96/100 vs 66/100).
Should you choose the Huawei Nova 16 Ultra over the Vivo X500?
The Huawei Nova 16 Ultra is a better fit for active users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life. The Vivo X500 is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.