Huawei held its major smart product launch event in Chengdu today, officially unveiling the highly anticipated nova 16 Pro and nova 16 Ultra smartphones. Endorsed by the popular group Teens in Times (TNT), these new devices focus on a ‘summer aesthetics’ theme. They come packed with high-end features like next-generation Kunlun Glass and a ground-breaking 200MP Red Maple camera system. Pricing starts at 3,899 yuan, and official sales will begin on June 5 at 10:08 AM.
Here’s a breakdown of the official pricing for both models:
The nova 16 Pro:
– 256GB storage: 3,899 yuan (approx. $538 USD)
– 512GB storage: 4,399 yuan (approx. $607 USD)
– 1TB storage: 4,999 yuan (approx. $690 USD)
The premium nova 16 Ultra:
– 256GB storage: 4,699 yuan (approx. $648 USD)
– 512GB storage: 5,199 yuan (approx. $717 USD)
– 1TB storage: 5,799 yuan (approx. $800 USD)
According to He Gang, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, the nova 16 Pro will be available in four stylish colorways: Sky White, Mother-of-Pearl, Clear Sky Blue, and Starry Black. It uses velvet AG glass on the back panel to deliver an exceptionally smooth, warm, and delicate tactile feel. The phone features an aviation-grade aluminum alloy frame with an ultra-slim profile of just 7.1mm. The front display is protected by Kunlun Glass, providing a remarkable 10x improvement in drop resistance.
For the Ultra version, Huawei went a step further, using a unique vegan leather and glass stitching back design crafted with a one-piece molding process. It comes in Starry Black, Clear Sky Blue, and Sky White, and is backed by robust IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings.
The standout feature of both phones is undoubtedly the camera system. The nova 16 Pro and Ultra feature the industry’s exclusive 200MP Red Maple camera setup, highlighted by a massive 1/1.28-inch RYYB ultra-large main sensor. It features a wide f/1.8 aperture and is supported by OIS and AIS image stabilization. The zoom capabilities are handled by a 50MP RYYB periscope telephoto lens (1/2.5-inch) that offers a 3.7x optical zoom, while the macro and ultra-wide shooting is managed by a 50MP lens with a 118-degree field of view. The rear camera module also incorporates a dedicated Red Maple color spectrum sensor and a laser autofocus sensor.
On the front, the nova 16 Pro is the first to debut a front-facing 50MP Red Maple imaging system. The front camera features a large 1/2.5-inch sensor and supports 0.8x to 5x zoom. The left-side Red Maple color sensor is equipped with a 1.5-million multi-spectral channel to restore natural color tones accurately in selfie shots. Both models also feature AI image editing tools out of the box, including professional portrait retouching, 3D dynamic photos, magic object removal/movement, AI color styling, and Xiaoyi smart editing.
Performance-wise, the nova 16 Pro and Ultra introduce a brand-new Ice Bridge cooling architecture, boosting thermal efficiency by 25%. Under the hood, both models are powered by the premium Kirin 9010S chip running the new HarmonyOS 6.1 operating system. This combination yields a 10% increase in overall system performance and a 12% boost in desktop UI smoothness. Gamers can expect silky-smooth 120fps gameplay on major MOBA and FPS mobile games, with smoothness increased by 41% and 46% compared to the previous generation. The devices also feature game quick-start technology, reducing load times by up to five times.
The display is another major highlight. The nova 16 Pro boasts a gorgeous 6.84-inch screen with a high resolution of 2856*1320. It supports a 1-120Hz LTPO dynamic self-adaptive refresh rate, and its 1% APL peak brightness can hit a mind-blowing 6,000 nits, making it the brightest screen ever on a nova smartphone. Powering the device is a massive 7,000mAh Whale battery—the largest capacity battery in the history of the nova line.
To top it all off, the nova 16 Pro supports 100W SuperCharge wired fast charging, 5A quick speed, and is fully compatible with HiCar and HiPlay spatial audio. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7, NearLink (StarFlash), and Beidou satellite messaging, while the Ultra variant adds 50W wireless charging support.
On the software side, the HarmonyOS 6.1 operating system offers 3D video wallpapers, Remy 3D voice-enabled photos, full-scene smart notes, calendar integration for school schedules, and Xiaoyi math problem-solving. Users can also convert photos into bean-art templates and call upon the Xiaoyi AI assistant to generate 3D models for collaborative creation.
