TurboVS
Huawei Nova 15 specifications and in-depth review

Huawei Nova 15

Manufacturer: Huawei

The Huawei Nova 15 is a mid-to-upper-range smartphone built around a 6.7″ OLED/AMOLED panel that runs at a 120Hz refresh rate with Always-On Display support and HDR10 compatibility. It carries a triple rear camera system led by a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, 3x optical zoom, and 4K video recording at 30fps, complemented by a 50MP front camera for selfies. The device measures 7.2 mm thin and weighs 196 g, with an IP65 rating providing a degree of protection against dust and water.

Under the hood, the Nova 15 runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 8020 processor built on a 7nm process node, paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM clocked at 4266 MHz and 512GB of internal storage. The chipset includes the Maleoon 920 GPU operating at 840 MHz with 256 shading units. Connectivity options cover 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC, and USB Type-C, while the 6000 mAh battery supports 100W fast charging and ships with a charger included. Stereo speakers, LDAC, aptX, and an infrared sensor round out a broad feature set.

Pros
  • The 6000 mAh battery paired with 100W fast charging means the device can recover quickly from low charge, and a charger is included in the box
  • An IP65 rating provides reliable protection against dust and water jets, adding durability for everyday use
  • The triple rear camera system covers a wide range of shooting scenarios, with OIS, 3x optical zoom, phase-detection and laser autofocus, RAW capture, and manual controls for exposure, ISO, focus, and white balance
  • Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC, and 5G connectivity ensure the device is equipped with up-to-date wireless standards
  • The 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 395 ppi pixel density, HDR10 support, and Always-On Display offers a well-rounded viewing experience
  • LDAC and aptX support alongside stereo speakers provide solid wireless audio output options
Cons
  • Wireless charging is not supported, limiting charging flexibility
  • There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, which may inconvenience users who rely on wired audio accessories
  • The USB port runs at USB 2.0 speeds despite the USB Type-C connector, which restricts wired data transfer performance
  • No external memory slot means users are limited to the built-in 512GB storage with no option to expand it
  • Emergency SOS via satellite and crash detection are absent, reducing safety-oriented utility compared to devices that include these features
Who is this for?

This device is well-suited to users who prioritize all-day battery endurance, given its 6000 mAh capacity and 100W fast charging that can quickly top it back up. The triple rear camera with OIS, 3x optical zoom, laser and phase-detection autofocus, RAW support, and a wide range of manual controls makes it a strong fit for photography enthusiasts who want flexible shooting options in a smartphone. The IP65 rating and 7.2mm slim profile also make it a practical daily driver for users who want a degree of weather resistance without bulk, while Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 5G connectivity serve those who demand up-to-date wireless performance.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who depend on wired audio accessories will find the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack a recurring inconvenience, and those who prefer wireless charging for a cable-free routine will need to look elsewhere. The USB 2.0 transfer speeds over the Type-C port make the device poorly suited for users who regularly move large files between a phone and a computer. Additionally, the lack of emergency SOS via satellite and crash detection means it is not the right fit for users who venture into remote areas or prioritize advanced safety features, and the absence of an expandable storage slot limits flexibility for those who routinely work with large local media libraries.

Design:

water resistance Water resistant
weight 196 g
thickness 7.2 mm
width 75.5 mm
height 161.9 mm
volume 88.00884 cm³
Ingress Protection (IP) rating IP65
has a rugged build ✕
can be folded ✕

The Huawei Nova 15 has a non-folding, standard-form design measuring 161.9 mm tall, 75.5 mm wide, and 7.2 mm thick, with a total volume of 88.00884 cm³ and a weight of 196 g. It carries an IP65 ingress protection rating, confirming it is water resistant, though it does not feature a rugged build.

Display:

Display type OLED/AMOLED
screen size 6.7"
pixel density 395 ppi
resolution 1084 x 2412 px
refresh rate 120Hz
touch sampling rate 300Hz
has branded damage-resistant glass ✓
supports HDR10 ✓
supports HDR10+ ✕
Always-On Display ✓
supports Dolby Vision ✕
Has a secondary screen ✕
has a touch screen ✓

The Huawei Nova 15 uses an OLED/AMOLED touchscreen measuring 6.7″ with a resolution of 1084 x 2412 px and a pixel density of 395 ppi. The display runs at a 120Hz refresh rate with a 300Hz touch sampling rate, and it is covered by branded damage-resistant glass. HDR10 is supported along with an Always-On Display mode, while HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a secondary screen are not included. There is no secondary screen on this device.

Performance:

internal storage 512GB
RAM 12GB
Chipset (SoC) name HiSilicon Kirin 8020
GPU name Maleoon 920
CPU speed 1 x 2.285 & 3 x 2.05 & 4 x 1.3 GHz
Geekbench 6 result (multi) 3570
Geekbench 6 result (single) 1350
GPU clock speed 840 MHz
Has integrated LTE ✓
RAM speed 4266 MHz
semiconductor size 7 nm
Supports 64-bit ✓
Has integrated graphics ✓
Uses big.LITTLE technology ✓
CPU threads 8 threads
Has NX bit ✓
Has TrustZone ✓
maximum memory bandwidth 68.2 GB/s
OpenCL version 2
memory channels 4
maximum memory amount 16GB
uses multithreading ✓
DDR memory version 5
shading units 256

The Huawei Nova 15 is powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 8020 chipset, built on a 7nm process and featuring an 8-thread CPU configuration running at up to 2.285 GHz via a big.LITTLE architecture, with integrated LTE and integrated graphics handled by the Maleoon 920 GPU clocked at 840 MHz with 256 shading units. The chip supports 64-bit processing, multithreading, NX bit, TrustZone, and OpenCL 2, and achieves Geekbench 6 scores of 1350 single-core and 3570 multi-core. Memory consists of 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM running at 4266 MHz across 4 channels, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 68.2 GB/s and a maximum supported memory amount of 16GB, while onboard storage stands at 512GB.

Cameras:

megapixels (main camera) 50 & 12 & 8 MP
wide aperture (main camera) 1.9 & 2.4 & 2.2f
Has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) main camera ✓
megapixels (front camera) 50MP
has built-in optical image stabilization ✓
video recording (main camera) 2160 x 30 fps
Has a dual-tone LED flash ✕
number of flash LEDs 2
has a BSI sensor ✕
has a CMOS sensor ✓
has continuous autofocus when recording movies ✓
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos ✓
supports slow-motion video recording ✓
has a built-in HDR mode ✓
has manual exposure ✓
has a flash ✓
optical zoom 3x
has manual ISO ✓
has a serial shot mode ✓
has manual focus ✓
has a front camera ✓
Has laser autofocus ✓
Shoots 360° panorama ✕
has manual white balance ✓
shoots raw ✓
has touch autofocus ✓
has manual shutter speed ✕
can create panoramas in-camera ✓
wide aperture (front camera) 2.4f
Has timelapse function ✓
Has a front-facing LED flash ✕
has a dual-lens (or multi-lens) front camera ✕
supports HDR10 recording ✕
supports Dolby Vision recording ✕
has a front-facing camera under the display ✕
Has a RGB LED flash ✕
has 3D photo/video recording capabilities ✕

The Huawei Nova 15 features a triple rear camera system with 50MP (f/1.9), 12MP (f/2.4), and 8MP (f/2.2) sensors, all backed by a CMOS sensor, optical image stabilization, and 3x optical zoom, with video recording capped at 4K (2160p) at 30fps. Autofocus options include phase-detection, laser, touch, and continuous autofocus during video, while manual controls cover exposure, ISO, focus, and white balance, though manual shutter speed is not available. The camera also supports HDR, burst mode, slow-motion recording, panorama, timelapse, and RAW capture, with two flash LEDs present, though no dual-tone or RGB flash is included. The 50MP front camera sits at f/2.4 and is a single-lens unit without an under-display placement or front-facing flash, and neither HDR10 nor Dolby Vision recording is supported, nor are 3D or 360-degree panorama shooting modes.

Operating system:

has camera/microphone privacy options ✓
has dark mode ✓
has battery health check ✓
Has customizable notifications ✓
supports split screen ✓
gets direct OS updates ✕
Can be used as a PC ✕
Has sharing intents ✓
has a child lock ✓
Supports widgets ✓
has voice commands ✓
Tracks the current position of a mobile device ✓
is a multi-user system ✓

The Huawei Nova 15 offers a solid set of software features, including dark mode, customizable notifications, widgets, voice commands, sharing intents, split-screen multitasking, and multi-user support. Privacy-conscious users will find camera and microphone access controls on board, alongside a child lock and device tracking for locating the phone. A battery health check tool is also available. However, the device does not receive direct OS updates from the vendor and cannot be used as a PC.

Battery:

battery power 6000 mAh
has wireless charging ✕
Supports fast charging ✓
charging speed 100W
comes with a charger ✓
has a removable battery ✕
has a battery level indicator ✓
has a rechargeable battery ✓

The Huawei Nova 15 houses a 6000 mAh rechargeable battery with a battery level indicator and supports 100W fast charging, with a charger included in the box. The battery is non-removable and does not support wireless charging.

Audio:

has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack ✕
has stereo speakers ✓
has aptX ✓
has LDAC ✓
has aptX HD ✕
has aptX Adaptive ✕
has aptX Lossless ✕
Has a radio ✕

The Huawei Nova 15 includes stereo speakers and supports both aptX and LDAC for higher-quality wireless audio transmission, though aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless are not available. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack and no built-in radio on this device.

Connectivity & Features:

has 5G support ✓
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
SIM cards 2 SIM
Bluetooth version 6
has an external memory slot ✕
Has USB Type-C ✓
USB version 2
has NFC ✓
Has a fingerprint scanner ✓
has emergency SOS via satellite ✕
has crash detection ✕
is DLNA-certified ✕
has a gyroscope ✓
supports ANT+ ✕
Has a heart rate monitor ✕
has GPS ✓
has a compass ✓
supports Wi-Fi ✓
Has an infrared sensor ✓
has an accelerometer ✓
has a cellular module ✓
Has a barometer ✕
has an HDMI output ✕
Uses 3D facial recognition ✕
Has an iris scanner ✕
Stylus included ✕
supports Galileo ✓
Has motion tracking ✕
Has optical tracking ✕
Has a built-in projector ✕

The Huawei Nova 15 supports 5G connectivity and accommodates two SIM cards, with wireless networking covering Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, and 7. Bluetooth 6 is on board alongside NFC and a USB Type-C port running at USB 2.0 speed, though there is no external memory slot or HDMI output. Sensors include a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, infrared sensor, and GPS with Galileo support, while a fingerprint scanner handles biometric authentication — 3D facial recognition and an iris scanner are not present. Features such as crash detection, emergency SOS via satellite, a heart rate monitor, barometer, ANT+, DLNA certification, motion tracking, optical tracking, and a built-in projector are all absent from this device.

Miscellaneous:

has a video light ✓
Has sapphire glass display ✕
Has a curved display ✕
Has an e-paper display ✕

The Huawei Nova 15 includes a video light for recording in low-light conditions. The display is flat rather than curved, and the device uses neither sapphire glass nor an e-paper display.

Final Verdict

The Huawei Nova 15 is a well-rounded smartphone that brings together a capable triple rear camera system, a sharp 6.7″ OLED display, and modern wireless standards in a slim, IP65-rated build. Its most compelling asset is the combination of a 6000 mAh battery with 100W fast charging, which addresses one of the most common pain points in everyday smartphone use. While the absence of wireless charging, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and direct OS updates are real limitations that will matter to some users, the device's broader feature set makes it a practical and capable daily companion for users who value camera versatility, strong connectivity, and reliable battery life.

Popular Comparisons

Huawei Nova 15
Huawei Nova 15
VS
Apple iPhone 17
Apple iPhone 17