Huawei Nova 3 vs Xiaomi Mi 8 specs comparison

We have two new smartphones in the Philippines, the Huawei Nova 3 and the Xiaomi Mi 8. These two devices pack flagship-grade specs but at a price that is well below Php30K. So which one looks better on paper? Let’s find out in this specs comparison.

Summary of advantages

Huawei Nova 3:
* Slightly larger display w/ higher PPI count
* Higher starting storage
* Expandable storage
* Higher rear camera resolution
* Higher front camera resolution
* FM Radio
* Larger battery
* Thinner and lighter

Xiaomi Mi 8:
* Corning Gorilla Glass 5
* Higher clock speed
* Multiple storage variants
* NFC

When it comes to the display, both almost have the same screen size, resolution, PPI count, and aspect ratios. Although they have different display types as the Nova 3 has an IPS display, while the Mi 8 has a Samsung AMOLED. Which one is better depends on the user’s preference but both can provide a good viewing experience (See the pros and cons of different display panels here). But when it comes to glass protection, the Mi 8 wins with its Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

The two also have different chipsets, in this case, its the HiSilicon Kirin 970 versus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. Both are flagship chips from their respective manufacturers. While we’re yet to benchmark both devices, we can take a look at their cousins, the Huawei P20 Pro and Xiaomi Mix 2S, to have an idea how the chipsets perform. In our reviews, the P20 Pro got an AnTuTu score of 206,099 while the Mix 2S performed better at 219,131. We can expect the same level of synthetic performance, although it’s very unlikely that we’ll feel the difference in real-life scenarios.

The storage is where the Nova 3 has the most advantage as it already starts at 128GB with microSD card support. The Mi 8, on the other hand, starts at a non-expandable 64GB. It has a 128GB model, but you’ll have to shell out an extra Php2K.

As for the cameras, the Nova 3 definitely looks better on paper with four cameras and higher resolution. However, that is not to say that the Mi 8 doesn’t shoot good photos. In fact, it scored a good 99 points on DxO Mark rankings, same as the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. We’re also hoping to see the Nova 3 in DxO Mark to see how it stacks up.

For the battery, the Nova 3 has a higher battery capacity than the Mi 8. Both devices also have support for fast charging. Theoretically, the former could provide a longer battery life but we’ll confirm once we’ve reviewed both devices.

The Huawei Nova 3 is priced at Php25,990USD 443INR 37,545EUR 422CNY 3,225 and will be available in Huawei authorized stores and retailers nationwide on August 11. The Xiaomi Mi 8, on the other hand, is also priced at Php25,990USD 443INR 37,545EUR 422CNY 3,225 for the 64GB model, and Php27,990USD 477INR 40,434EUR 454CNY 3,474 for the 128GB. It is now available for purchase in Xiaomi’s authorized stores.

Given the specs and budget, which one will you choose – the Nova 3 or the Mi 8? Let us know in the comments below.