Huawei's flagship technology trickles down! Nova 16 SE goes on sale: Kirin 8020 chip + Red Maple imaging, starting at 2499 yuan.

Huawei nova 16 SE officially went on sale today, starting at 2,499 yuan. The new device's slogan is "Giant Whale Long Battery Life, Red Maple Accurate Imaging."

As the latest member of the nova series, the nova 16 SE brings several technologies previously seen mostly on flagship models—such as Red Maple true-color imaging, Kirin chips, and satellite communication—down to the 2,500 yuan price segment.

The new phone comes in four color options: Starry Black, Cherry Blossom Clear Sky, Sky White, and Dawn Orange. It features a 6.84-inch ultra-bright display with a resolution of 2756x1272, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM dimming, and a peak brightness of up to 8000 nits.

Imaging is a major highlight of the Huawei nova 16 SE, as the first-generation Red Maple true-color imaging, previously exclusive to flagships, makes its debut on an SE model.

The new phone sports a 50MP RYYB main camera on the rear, paired with a Red Maple true-color lens that automatically corrects color shifts in complex environments such as backlighting and mixed lighting, bringing skin tones and landscape colors closer to what the human eye perceives and improving the success rate of casual shots.

In terms of performance, the Huawei nova 16 SE is powered by the Kirin 8020 chip, deeply integrated with HarmonyOS 6.1, delivering a 52% overall performance boost over the previous generation.

The device packs a massive 8500mAh Huawei Giant Whale battery with support for 66W wired fast charging, ensuring extended endurance for heavy usage and long outings.

Additionally, the Huawei nova 16 SE supports two-way BeiDou satellite messaging, allowing users to send images and location information via satellite in environments without ground network coverage.

Other features include 5A-speed experience, Wi-Fi 7, SparkLink audio transmission, and dual-frequency GPS plus tri-band BeiDou navigation.