Huawei nova 9 vs Realme Neo8
The Huawei nova 9 (2021) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, while the Realme Neo8 (2026) runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5; launch prices were $499 and $429. By overall MobileRank rating, the Realme Neo8 leads — 77/100 vs 52/100 (a 25-point difference). Key differences: the Realme Neo8 has the bigger battery (8000 mAh vs 4300); the Realme Neo8 is faster in AnTuTu (3,222,272 vs 783,606); the Huawei nova 9 is noticeably lighter (175g vs 215g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Huawei nova 9
Realme Neo8
What makes Huawei nova 9 better?
- Lighter: 175g vs 215g
- Better portability (76/100 vs 47/100)
What makes Realme Neo8 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3222272 vs 783606
- Better Geekbench Single: 2833 vs 1017
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9119 vs 2943
- Bigger battery: 8000 vs 4300 mAh
- Faster charging: 80W vs 66W
- Higher refresh rate: 165Hz vs 120Hz
- Cheaper at launch: $429 vs $499
- Higher performance (91/100 vs 54/100)
- Better camera (56/100 vs 40/100)
- Longer battery life (71/100 vs 38/100)
- Better display (94/100 vs 79/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Huawei nova 9 vs the Realme Neo8, the Realme Neo8 scores 25 points higher (77/100 vs 52/100). In the "performance" category, the Realme Neo8 leads (91/100 vs 54/100). In the "camera" category, the Realme Neo8 leads (56/100 vs 40/100). In the "battery" category, the Realme Neo8 leads (71/100 vs 38/100). Value score: Huawei nova 9 — 26/100, Realme Neo8 — 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 Realme Neo8 significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (91/100 vs 54/100). In the "display" category, the Realme Neo8 notably outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (94/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Realme Neo8 notably outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (56/100 vs 40/100). In the "battery" category, the Realme Neo8 significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (71/100 vs 38/100). In the "portability" category, the Huawei nova 9 notably outperforms the Realme Neo8 (76/100 vs 47/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Huawei nova 9 | Realme Neo8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 783606 | 3222272 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1017 | 2833 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 2943 | 9119 | |
| Display | 6.6" OLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2340x1080 | 1272x2772 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 165 Hz | |
| Battery | 4300 mAh | 8000 mAh | |
| Charging | 66W | 80W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 16 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 6500 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | — | IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 160.0×73.7×7.8 mm | 162.0×77.1×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 175 g | 215 g | |
| Launch price | $499 | $429 |
Camera comparison
Huawei nova 9
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Front: 32MP
Realme Neo8
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 16MP
Display comparison
Huawei nova 9
- 6.6" OLED
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Realme Neo8
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1272x2772
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Battery and charging
Huawei nova 9
- 4300 mAh
- Wired: 66W
- No wireless charging
Realme Neo8
- 8000 mAh
- Wired: 80W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Huawei nova 9 and Realme Neo8, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Realme Neo8 leads Huawei nova 9 by 75.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $70. Realme Neo8 was $70 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Realme Neo8 significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (91/100 vs 54/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Realme Neo8 notably outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (94/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Realme Neo8 notably outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (56/100 vs 40/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Realme Neo8 significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 9 (71/100 vs 38/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Huawei nova 9 notably outperforms the Realme Neo8 (76/100 vs 47/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Huawei nova 9 or the Realme Neo8?
The Realme Neo8 significantly outperforms the Huawei nova 9 by 25 points (77/100 vs 52/100).
What is the rating of the Huawei nova 9 and the Realme Neo8?
The Huawei nova 9 has a MobileRank rating of 52/100, the Realme Neo8 — 77/100.
Which has the better camera: the Huawei nova 9 or the Realme Neo8?
The Realme Neo8 leads on camera score (56/100 vs 40/100).
Which is more powerful: the Huawei nova 9 or the Realme Neo8?
The Realme Neo8 leads on performance (91/100 vs 54/100).
Should you choose the Huawei nova 9 over the Realme Neo8?
The Realme Neo8 is a better fit for gamers and power users, budget-conscious buyers.