Huawei Nova 12i vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Huawei Nova 12i vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 5000mAh vs…
Huawei
Huawei Nova 12i
$699
2categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
9categories won
2 categories tied · 13 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Huawei Nova 12i, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Huawei Nova 12i if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.
Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.
Huawei Nova 12i provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1299.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Huawei Nova 12i vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 391 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 650 nits | 2400 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | — | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 315,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 1470 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | — | 16 GB |
| Maximum storage | — | 1TB |
Camera
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | — | 200 MP |
| Rear cameras | — | 4 |
| Optical zoom | — | 5x |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP | 12 MPWinner |
| Max video | 1080p@30fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 40 W | 60 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | No | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 199 gWinner | 214 g |
| Thickness | 8 mm | 7.9 mm |
| Water resistance | IP53 | IP68 |
| Build | — | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 14 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | — | 7 years |
| Security updates | — | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Huawei Nova 12i | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $1,299 |
Huawei Nova 12i
Huawei Nova 12i showcases flagship-inspired Super Star Orbit Ring styling, a 108MP high-resolution camera, 5000mAh battery with 40W Huawei SuperCharge Turbo, and EMUI 14 with customizable lock screens.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
- Software
- 14
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a premium 6.9-inch flagship built for power users and creators. Priced at $1299, it pairs a heavily upgraded Snapdragon processor and 60W charging with a versatile quad-camera array and the signature built-in S Pen stylus.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Main camera
- 200MP
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
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