Alright, let's dive deep into a head-to-head comparison of the Xiaomi 12 Pro and the Huawei nova Y90. I'll be sure to keep it real and break down what these specs mean for you, the user, not just the engineers.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed look at how these two phones stack up, focusing on the practical implications of each spec:
| Feature | Xiaomi 12 Pro | Huawei nova Y90 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.6 × 74.6 × 8.2 mm | 163.3 × 74.7 × 8.4 mm | Nearly identical in size; the Y90 is just slightly thicker, but most people won't notice the difference. |
| Weight | 204g | 195g | The Y90 is noticeably lighter which can make it more comfortable for long use or for people with grip issues. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.73" | 6.7" | Almost identical screen size; no significant difference in terms of visible area. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1080x2388 | The 12 Pro's higher resolution offers a significantly sharper picture with more detail and clarity; noticeably better for high-res images/videos. |
| PPI | 521 | 391 | The 12 Pro will look crisper and less pixelated, making text and images appear smoother to the eye. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The 12 Pro's AMOLED screen has deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colours, making it a much more engaging visual experience compared to the Y90's IPS LCD. AMOLED is also more power efficient when using darker themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | The 12 Pro’s 120Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations, while the 90hz of the Y90 is still fluid but not as buttery smooth. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 0 nits | The 12 Pro’s much higher peak brightness makes it far more readable outdoors in direct sunlight. The Y90 lacks brightness data. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | The 12 Pro’s high-end chipset provides significantly faster processing, smoother multitasking, and much better gaming performance; the Y90 uses an entry-level chip that's suitable for basic use. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,177,498 | 249,000 | The 12 Pro has over three times the raw processing power; you’ll feel this difference every day, from app loading to gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 610 | The 12 Pro's superior GPU will handle graphically demanding games and tasks with ease, the Y90's is noticeably slower. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.28", 1.22µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 0.70µm | The 12 Pro has a physically larger sensor and a larger pixel size which can give it a slight edge in low-light performance. While the Y90 has a wider aperture, it struggles with the small sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, 1/3.14", 0.70µm | 8MP, f/2.0 | The 12 Pro has a much higher resolution front camera, resulting in more detailed selfies. |
| Additional Lenses | 50MP Wide Angle, 50MP Portrait | 2MP Secondary, 2MP Tertiary | The 12 Pro’s additional high-resolution wide-angle and telephoto lenses offer much more creative versatility when shooting; the Y90's extra lenses are low-quality depth sensors. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@24fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | The 12 Pro is capable of professional quality videos; the Y90 is more basic in its video capabilities. |
| DXOMark Mobile Score | 129 | N/A | The 12 Pro has been tested by DXOMark with good scores in all categories while the Y90 hasn't been reviewed. |
| Camera Features | Wide array of advanced features (OIS, RAW, etc.) | More basic features | The 12 Pro has extensive features for photography and videography, such as optical zoom and stabilization. The Y90 is very basic in comparison and lacks advanced features. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 5000mAh | The Y90 has a slightly larger battery; this may lead to a longer battery life depending on use, but not by much. |
| Charging | 120W Fast Charging | 40W Fast Charging | The 12 Pro's 120W charging is much faster, capable of fully charging in around 20 minutes; the Y90’s 40W charging is significantly slower. |
| Wireless Charging | 50W Fast Wireless | No wireless charging | The 12 Pro supports fast wireless and reverse wireless charging; the Y90 is limited to wired charging only. |
| Other | |||
| Operating System | Android 12 | Not Specified | The 12 Pro ships with Android 12, the Y90 uses a different OS. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 802.11ac | The 12 Pro's newer Wi-Fi standard offers better speeds and connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.0 | The 12 Pro's updated Bluetooth allows for better power efficiency and more advanced audio codecs such as aptX. |
| Storage | 128/256 GB (No SD Card) | 128 GB (No SD Card) | The 12 Pro provides an additional storage option (256 GB) with no support for expandable memory, while the Y90 is fixed at 128 GB with no SD card. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 4/6/8 GB | The 12 Pro offers up to 12 GB RAM for smoother multitasking, the Y90 provides options up to 8 GB. |
| Audio Features | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 mics | Basic features | The 12 Pro offers a premium audio experience with Dolby Atmos, while the Y90 only has basic audio features. |
| Security | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | The Y90's side fingerprint sensor is generally faster and more ergonomic. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The 12 Pro’s screen is protected with tougher glass; the Y90's screen material is unlisted. |
| Sensors | Extensive sensor suite (Gyroscope, Barometer, etc.) | Basic sensor suite | The 12 Pro has more advanced sensors, for more complex features. |
2. Key Insights
- Xiaomi 12 Pro: This is a performance powerhouse with a top-tier chipset, a stunning AMOLED display, and a versatile camera system. It excels in demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and high-resolution content consumption. The 120W fast charging is a game-changer for anyone who hates waiting.
- Huawei nova Y90: This phone is a more budget-friendly option focused on basic usage. Its larger battery is a slight plus, but it lacks the processing power, display quality, and camera features of the Xiaomi 12 Pro. Its main strengths are its cheaper price and acceptable battery life.
Competitive Advantages:
- Xiaomi 12 Pro: Superior performance, dramatically better display quality (resolution, brightness, color), more versatile and higher-quality camera system, much faster charging, premium audio experience.
- Huawei nova Y90: Lower price, slightly larger battery capacity, possibly longer battery life.
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi 12 Pro: Significantly more expensive, no expandable storage.
- Huawei nova Y90: Much slower performance, a lower-quality display, a basic camera system, and lacks features found in more premium devices.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Xiaomi 12 Pro: Best for tech enthusiasts, gamers, content creators, and anyone who values premium performance, display quality, and camera versatility. It's ideal for users who want a top-of-the-line experience and don't mind paying extra for it.
- Use Cases: High-end gaming, editing 4K video, consuming HDR content, professional photography and videography.
- Huawei nova Y90: Best for budget-conscious users who need a reliable phone for basic tasks like calling, messaging, and browsing. It's a good option for those who prioritize battery life over performance and advanced features.
- Use Cases: Social media browsing, basic photography, everyday use, making calls, messaging, simple games.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to help you decide:
- What is your budget? The Xiaomi 12 Pro is significantly more expensive, the Huawei nova Y90 is cheaper.
- How important is performance and high-quality display? If you want a phone that handles demanding tasks and displays high-resolution video and photos with clarity, you'll want the 12 Pro. The Y90 has lower performance and display quality.
- What is the primary purpose of the phone? If you want a device for basic tasks such as phone calls, messaging and social media, then the Huawei nova Y90 will be adequate. If you want to take high quality pictures and videos and play demanding games, then you will want the Xiaomi 12 Pro.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "I need a workhorse phone for gaming and media." Choose the Xiaomi 12 Pro. It offers high performance, a great screen, and top quality cameras, making it perfect for high-end use.
- Scenario 2: "I just want a reliable phone for daily use that doesn't break the bank." Choose the Huawei nova Y90. It will do the job for the most basic of tasks.
- Scenario 3: "I'm a hobbyist photographer/videographer." Choose the Xiaomi 12 Pro. It has the more powerful camera system and produces high quality photos and videos.
Final Choice
If I had to choose, I would go with the Xiaomi 12 Pro. While the Huawei nova Y90 is an adequate budget option, the experience provided by the 12 Pro is far superior in pretty much every category. The massive upgrade in performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, coupled with the fantastic AMOLED display and the great triple-50MP camera system makes this a no brainer for me. I really value the fast charging because I hate waiting for my phone to charge, and the fact that it supports wireless charging is great. While the Y90 has a bigger battery, I think the advantages of the 12 Pro, with its more efficient performance, make the extra battery capacity of the Y90 a non-issue. If I was on a tight budget, and I only needed a basic phone, I may opt for the Y90, but otherwise, for my use case, I'd choose the Xiaomi 12 Pro all day.
