Huawei has expanded its smartphone lineup with the launch of the Nova 14 series, with the Ultra model standing out as the flagship offering. This premium device marks a significant milestone as the first bar-style smartphone to come preloaded with HarmonyOS 5, showcasing Huawei's continued innovation despite ongoing challenges in the global market.
The Mystery Chipset Revealed
While Huawei was notably silent about the processor powering the Nova 14 Ultra during its official announcement, a teardown shared on Chinese social media has confirmed it runs on the new Kirin 8020 chipset. This processor appears to be an underclocked version of the Kirin 9020 that will feature in the upcoming Mate 70 series. The Kirin 8020 maintains the same 1+3+4 CPU configuration but with slightly reduced clock speeds: a prime core at 2.29GHz, three performance cores at 2.05GHz, and four efficiency cores at 1.3GHz. Graphics processing is handled by the Maleoon 920 GPU with two processing units clocked at 840MHz. Notably, the chipset features a 30% larger package area compared to previous models, making it similar in size to the Kirin 9010 found in the Pura 70 series.
Premium Display Technology
The Nova 14 Ultra showcases Huawei's commitment to display excellence with its 6.81-inch OLED panel featuring curved edges and a resolution of 2860×1272 pixels. The screen incorporates LTPO technology, enabling an adaptive refresh rate that ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz for optimal power efficiency. Eye comfort is enhanced with 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming to reduce strain during extended use. Perhaps most impressive is the display's peak brightness of 5,500 nits, ensuring exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight while maintaining color accuracy across varying lighting conditions.
Advanced Camera System
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Nova 14 Ultra's sophisticated quad-camera array. The system features a 50MP main sensor with variable aperture (f/1.4–f/4.0) and optical image stabilization, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS and 3.7x optical zoom, a 13MP ultra-wide macro lens, and a 1.5MP multispectral color sensor. Huawei's signature RYYB color filter is employed across all three primary lenses, enhancing light capture capabilities. The device supports impressive zoom capabilities of up to 100x digital zoom for distant subjects.
The front camera setup is equally impressive, combining a 50MP ultra-sensitive portrait camera with an 8MP zoom portrait lens supporting 2x optical and 5x digital zoom. This configuration enables detailed selfies with natural depth effects. Both front and rear cameras can record 4K video and offer a comprehensive range of shooting modes including HDR Vivid, night mode, macro video, and AI-assisted photography.
HarmonyOS 5 and AI Features
As the first non-foldable smartphone to ship with HarmonyOS 5 out of the box, the Nova 14 Ultra leverages Huawei's Pangu AI model and incorporates DeepSeek technology to enhance system responsiveness. The upgraded Celia assistant supports natural voice interactions and gesture control, while built-in editing features like Magic Eraser and AI Magic Cutout enable quick, AI-assisted photo adjustments without requiring third-party applications.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The Nova 14 Ultra offers comprehensive connectivity options, including dual-band Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.2 with LDAC and L2HC audio codecs, and NFC for contactless payments. A standout feature is the dual-mode satellite messaging capability via BeiDou and TianTong networks, allowing users to send both text and image-based location sharing even when outside of cellular coverage. This satellite connectivity is integrated directly into the Kirin 8020 chipset.
Powering the device is a substantial 5,500mAh battery with support for 100W Huawei SuperCharge Turbo technology. The phone comes bundled with Huawei's new Ice Crystal All-in-One 100W charger for rapid charging on the go. Despite these powerful specifications, the Nova 14 Ultra maintains a slim profile at just 7.78mm thick and weighs approximately 204 grams.
Huawei Nova 14 Ultra Key Specifications
- Display: 6.81-inch OLED, 2860×1272 resolution, 1-120Hz LTPO, 5,500 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Kirin 8020 (1×2.29GHz + 3×2.05GHz + 4×1.3GHz)
- GPU: Maleoon 920 (2 units @840MHz)
- Operating System: HarmonyOS 5
- Main Camera: 50MP main (f/1.4-f/4.0, OIS), 50MP periscope telephoto (3.7x optical zoom, OIS), 13MP ultra-wide macro, 1.5MP multispectral
- Front Camera: 50MP ultra-sensitive + 8MP zoom portrait (2x optical zoom)
- Battery: 5,500mAh with 100W SuperCharge Turbo
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E/7, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, BeiDou and TianTong satellite messaging
- Dimensions: 7.78mm thick, 204g
- Price: Starting at CNY 4,199 (~USD $582)
Pricing and Availability
The Nova 14 Ultra is initially launching in China with sales beginning on May 23, 2023. The base model with 256GB storage and Kunlun Glass protection starts at CNY 4,199 (approximately USD $582). The 512GB variant is priced at CNY 4,499 (around USD $624), while the top-tier 1TB version costs CNY 4,999 (approximately USD $694). Color options include Floating Gold, Floating White, Flowing Purple, and Obsidian Black. International availability has not yet been announced.