Screen size
Quick verdict
nova 16 leads the measured specs 10-3.
Measured wins
nova 15 Max
3
spec wins
Ties
9
equal specs
nova 16
10
spec wins
Overall winner
Screen size
Technology
nova 15 Max
GSM / HSPA / LTE
nova 16
GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
2G bands
nova 15 Max
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
nova 16
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands
nova 15 Max
HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
nova 16
HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands
nova 15 Max
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
Resolution
Refresh rate
equal specsPeak brightness
Pixel density
CPU speed
RAM
Storage
equal specsMain camera
equal specsFront camera
Battery
Wired charging
Weight
Thickness
IP rating
Wi‑Fi
equal specsBluetooth
USB
equal specs5G support
NFC
equal specs3.5mm jack
equal specsSD card
equal specsStereo speakers
equal specsnova 16
LTE
Speed
nova 15 Max
HSPA, LTE
nova 16
HSPA, LTE, 5G
5G bands
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
SA/NSA
Announced
nova 15 Max
2026, May 07
nova 16
2026, June 01
Status
nova 15 Max
Released May 2026
nova 16
Released Jun 6, 2026
Dimensions
nova 15 Max
163.3 x 78 x 8 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
nova 16
159.6 x 75.5 x 7.3 mm (6.28 x 2.97 x 0.29 in)
Weight
nova 15 Max
232 g (8.18 oz)
nova 16
199 g (7.02 oz)
Build
nova 15 Max
Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
nova 16
Glass front, plastic frame, aluminum back
SIM
nova 15 Max
· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
nova 16
Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Other
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets)
Type
nova 15 Max
OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, 4000 nits (peak)
nova 16
OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM
Size
nova 15 Max
6.84 inches, 114.8 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
nova 16
6.68 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution
nova 15 Max
1272 x 2756 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~444 ppi density)
nova 16
1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density)
Protection
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
Aluminosilicate glass
OS
nova 15 Max
EMUI 14.2
nova 16
HarmonyOS 6.1
Chipset
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
Kirin 9010S
Card slot
nova 15 Max
No
nova 16
No
Internal
nova 15 Max
256GB 8GB RAM
nova 16
256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Dual
nova 15 Max
50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", dual-pixel PDAF Auxiliary lens
nova 16
50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", Dual Pixel PDAF 50 MP, f/2.6, 88mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom
Features
nova 15 Max
LED flash, panorama, HDR
nova 16
Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video
nova 15 Max
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
nova 16
4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Single
nova 15 Max
8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
nova 16
50 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), 1/2.5"
Video
nova 15 Max
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
nova 16
4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Features
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
HDR, panorama
Loudspeaker
nova 15 Max
Yes, with stereo speakers
nova 16
Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack
nova 15 Max
No
nova 16
No
WLAN
nova 15 Max
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band
nova 16
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth
nova 15 Max
5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio)
nova 16
6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC (320-960 kbps HD audio)
Positioning
nova 15 Max
GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
nova 16
GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC, GLONASS
NFC
nova 15 Max
Yes
nova 16
Yes
Infrared port
nova 15 Max
Yes
nova 16
Yes
Radio
nova 15 Max
No
nova 16
No
USB
nova 15 Max
USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
nova 16
USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Sensors
nova 15 Max
Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
nova 16
Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Other
nova 15 Max
Virtual proximity sensing
nova 16
Virtual proximity sensing BDS Satellite Calling and Messaging - China only
Type
nova 15 Max
8500 mAh
nova 16
7000 mAh
Charging
nova 15 Max
40W wired 5W reverse wired
nova 16
100W wired, SCP, UFCS, PD, PPS, QC 5W reverse wired
Colors
nova 15 Max
Blush Gold, Lake Cyan, Golden Black
nova 16
Black, White, Blue/Pink, Blue
Models
nova 15 Max
CHZ-LX1
nova 16
EMA-AL00U
Price
nova 15 Max
-
nova 16
About 380 EUR