Huawei Nova 16s vs Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra
The Huawei Nova 16s (2026) runs on the Kirin 8020, while the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $430 and $799. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads — 89/100 vs 67/100 (a 22-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra has the bigger battery (7400 mAh vs 7000); the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (4,602,290 vs 1,121,894); the Huawei Nova 16s is noticeably lighter (199g vs 227g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Huawei Nova 16s
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra
What makes Huawei Nova 16s better?
- Lighter: 199g vs 227g
- Cheaper at launch: $430 vs $799
- Better portability (67/100 vs 35/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 4602290 vs 1121894
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 1389
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 4125
- Bigger battery: 7400 vs 7000 mAh
- Faster charging: 120W vs 100W
- Higher refresh rate: 144Hz vs 120Hz
- Higher performance (99/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 61/100)
- Longer battery life (92/100 vs 72/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Huawei Nova 16s vs the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra scores 22 points higher (89/100 vs 67/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads (99/100 vs 64/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads (78/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads (92/100 vs 72/100). Value score: Huawei Nova 16s — 60/100, Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra — 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 iQOO 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (99/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra is a bit better (99/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (78/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (92/100 vs 72/100). In the "portability" category, the Huawei Nova 16s significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra (67/100 vs 35/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Huawei Nova 16s | Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Kirin 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 1121894 | 4602290 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1389 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 4125 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.7" OLED | 6.8" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1280x2800 | 1440x3168 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz | |
| Battery | 7000 mAh | 7400 mAh | |
| Charging | 100W | 120W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 50W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 50 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB / 24GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 16 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 8000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 159.6×75.5×7.3 mm | 163.7×76.8×8.7 mm | |
| Weight | 199 g | 227 g | |
| Launch price | $430 | $799 |
Camera comparison
Huawei Nova 16s
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 50MP
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Huawei Nova 16s
- 6.7" OLED
- Resolution: 1280x2800
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra
- 6.8" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
Battery and charging
Huawei Nova 16s
- 7000 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- No wireless charging
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra
- 7400 mAh
- Wired: 120W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Huawei Nova 16s and Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads Huawei Nova 16s by 75.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $369. Huawei Nova 16s was $369 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (99/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra is a bit better (99/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (78/100 vs 61/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s (92/100 vs 72/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Huawei Nova 16s significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra (67/100 vs 35/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Huawei Nova 16s or the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra?
The Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Huawei Nova 16s by 22 points (89/100 vs 67/100).
What is the rating of the Huawei Nova 16s and the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra?
The Huawei Nova 16s has a MobileRank rating of 67/100, the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Huawei Nova 16s or the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra?
The Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads on camera score (78/100 vs 61/100).
Which is more powerful: the Huawei Nova 16s or the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra?
The Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra leads on performance (99/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Huawei Nova 16s over the Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra?
The Huawei Nova 16s is a better fit for active users. The Vivo iQOO 15 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.