Getting an affordable flagship is the best way to get very high performances at a modest price in 2018. Meizu 16, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Huawei Nova 3 belong to this category of devices and they come with flagship-level hardware even though they carry a midrange-like price. This comparison will help you find which one is the best and which has the best value for money.
Meizu 16 vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro vs Huawei Nova 3
| Meizu 16 | Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro | Huawei Nova 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 150.5 x 73.2 x 7.3 mm, 152 grams | 154.9 x 74.8 x 7.6 mm, 177 grams | 157 x 73.7 x 7.3 mm, 166 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6 inches, 1080 x 2160p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, Super AMOLED | 6.21 inches, 1080 x 2248p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, Super AMOLED | 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 409 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 2.8 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 2.8 GHz | Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 970 octa-core 2.4 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 8.1 Oreo, Flyme OS | Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI 10 | Android 8.1 Oreo, EMUI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 + f/2.6 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 + 12 MP f/1.8 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 16 + 24 MP f/1.8 and f/1.8 Dual 24 + 2 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3010 mAh, Fast charging with Quick Charge 4.0 | 3000 mAh, Fast charging with Quick Charge 4.0 | 3750 mAh, Fast Charging 18W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
If you are looking for the most impressive design, you should grab either a unit of the Huawei Nova 3 or Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro. Indeed, the former carries the highest screen-to-body ratio thanks to its very narrow chin, and it comes with a stunning glass back available in gradient color variants. The latter has an in-display fingerprint reader, so it sports a totally clean back, except for the vertical dual camera setup on the top left corner.
Display
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has the most stunning display because it is able to provide a better color accuracy. Indeed, it has DCI-P3 coverage and it is HDR10-compliant, and it also has a Super AMOLED panel. Huawei Nova 3 has the most disappointing display, a classic IPS with an average quality, while Meizu 16 sits in the middle.
Specs & Software
If you want the fastest and smoothest device, we recommend you the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro for both its hardware components and its huge software optimization. It is equipped with the octa-core Snapdragon 845 chipset by Qualcomm, up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. I also like the software of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro more because it is customized by MIUI. Meizu 16 is almost at the same level and it features exactly the same hardware side, but its custom UI is Flyme OS. Huawei Nova 3 is a step back with a less powerful Kirin 970.
Camera
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has the best hardware performance as well as the best camera department, with two 12 MP rear cameras, 2x optical zoom, and OIS. It captures a stunning detail even in low-light conditions and it can even record 4K videos at 60 fps. The second place goes to Huawei Nova 3 with an above average rear camera and a dual front camera.
Battery
Meizu 16 and Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro did not satisfy us so much when it came to battery life. They have below-average batteries compared with today’s standards. But Huawei Nova 3 is convincing thanks to its bigger 3750 mAh battery which can last for one day even with a pretty intensive use.
Price
These devices’ prices range from about €400 to about €500. Meizu 16 and Huawei Nova 3 are currently available on the €400/$453 price range and Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro costs about €500/$567 but you can also find it at €450/$510 thanks to online street prices. The device I like more is definitely the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, but not for its battery life. If you want a long lasting phone, then choose Huawei Nova 3.
Meizu 16 vs Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro vs Huawei Nova 3: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
PROs
- Great design
- High performance
- Great display quality
- In-display fingerprint scanner
- Excellent camera
CONS
- Smaller battery
Meizu 16
PROs
- Good performance
- Nice cameras
- In-display fingerprint reader
- Affordable
CONS
- Small battery
Huawei Nova 3
PROs
- Amazing design
- Wide display
- Big battery
- micro SD slot
- Four cameras
CONS
- Worse performance
