Huawei nova 9 SE 5G vs Nokia XR21
The Huawei nova 9 SE 5G (2022) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, while the Nokia XR21 (2023) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G. Both devices score the same overall rating of 46/100. Key differences: the Nokia XR21 has the bigger battery (4800 mAh vs 4000); the main camera is 108 MP vs 64 MP; the Nokia XR21 has NFC for contactless payments, the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G doesn't; the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G is noticeably lighter (191g vs 231g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
Nokia XR21
What makes Huawei nova 9 SE 5G better?
- Faster charging: 66W vs 33W
- Better main camera: 108MP vs 64MP
- Lighter: 191g vs 231g
- Better camera (44/100 vs 43/100)
- Better portability (65/100 vs 24/100)
What makes Nokia XR21 better?
- Bigger battery: 4800 vs 4000 mAh
- Longer battery life (42/100 vs 32/100)
- Better display (67/100 vs 65/100)
Comparison verdict
The Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and the Nokia XR21 received the same MobileRank rating — 46/100. In the "battery" category, the Nokia XR21 leads (42/100 vs 32/100). In the "performance" category, both devices are on the same level — 46/100. In the "display" category, the Nokia XR21 and the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G are nearly equal (67/100 vs 65/100). In the "camera" category, the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and the Nokia XR21 are nearly equal (44/100 vs 43/100). In the "battery" category, the Nokia XR21 is a bit better (42/100 vs 32/100). In the "portability" category, the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G significantly outperforms the Nokia XR21 (65/100 vs 24/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Huawei nova 9 SE 5G | Nokia XR21 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | |
| AnTuTu | 592015 | 592015 | |
| Geekbench Single | 905 | 905 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 2101 | 2101 | |
| Display | 6.8" IPS LCD | 6.5" IPS LCD | |
| Resolution | 1080x2388 | 1080x2400 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 4800 mAh | |
| Charging | 66W | 33W | |
| Main camera | 108 MP | 64 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 8 MP | |
| Front camera | 16 MP | 16 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB | |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 12 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 550 nits | |
| NFC | no | yes | |
| Protection | — | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 164.6×75.6×7.9 mm | 168.0×78.6×10.5 mm | |
| Weight | 191 g | 231 g | |
| Launch price | — | — |
Camera comparison
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
- Main: 108MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 16MP
Nokia XR21
- Main: 64MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 16MP
Display comparison
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
- 6.8" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080x2388
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Nokia XR21
- 6.5" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080x2400
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Huawei nova 9 SE 5G
- 4000 mAh
- Wired: 66W
- No wireless charging
Nokia XR21
- 4800 mAh
- Wired: 33W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and Nokia XR21, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Equal performance based on benchmark results.
Benchmarks
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, both devices are on the same level — 46/100.
display
In the "display" category, the Nokia XR21 and the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G are nearly equal (67/100 vs 65/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and the Nokia XR21 are nearly equal (44/100 vs 43/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nokia XR21 is a bit better (42/100 vs 32/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G significantly outperforms the Nokia XR21 (65/100 vs 24/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G or the Nokia XR21?
Both devices scored 46/100. They are identical on performance — 46/100 for both. The clearest difference is portability: better on the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G (65/100 vs 24/100).
What is the rating of the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G and the Nokia XR21?
The Huawei nova 9 SE 5G has a MobileRank rating of 46/100, the Nokia XR21 — 46/100.
Should you choose the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G over the Nokia XR21?
Neither model stands out enough to recommend it for a specific use case: the clearest difference is portability — better on the Huawei nova 9 SE 5G (65/100 vs 24/100).