The Huawei nova 15 Max is a large-screen mid-range phone built around a big battery. Huawei announced it at a launch event in Bangkok on May 7, 2026. It is the first Max model in the nova series. In Europe, the official price is €449. That buys the only version, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The phone is sold in Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but not in the US.
Design and display
The phone measures 163.3 x 78 x 7.98 mm and weighs about 232 grams. A large round camera module with a red accent ring sits on the back. Inside, a high-strength aluminum alloy frame adds strength, and Huawei says the phone earned a five-star SGS drop-resistance rating. It is also rated IP65 for dust and water resistance.
The 6.84-inch OLED panel has a resolution of 2756 x 1272 pixels, or 444 ppi. It runs at up to 120 Hz and reaches 4000 nits of peak brightness. In addition, it uses 2160 Hz PWM dimming to reduce flicker in low light. An extra X button on the side opens apps, widgets or an emergency call.
Performance
Huawei does not list the chipset on its spec sheet. However, hands-on reports and benchmark data point to the Kirin 8000. The Chinese Enjoy 90 Pro Max uses the same chip. It is a 7 nm octa-core chip with a top CPU clock of 2.4 GHz. The phone has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, with no microSD slot. Connectivity is limited to 4G LTE, so there is no 5G support. On the other hand, it offers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and an infrared blaster for remote control.
Cameras
The main rear camera has a 50 MP RYYB sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and a 1/1.56-inch size. It uses phase-detection autofocus but relies on AI stabilization rather than optical stabilization. A 2 MP secondary camera with an f/2.4 aperture joins it. On the front, an 8 MP f/2.0 camera handles selfies. Both the rear and the front cameras record up to 4K video.
Battery and charging
The silicon-carbon battery has a typical capacity of 8500 mAh, which Huawei calls its largest yet. Huawei rates it for up to 48 hours of calls and 27 hours of local video playback. The phone supports 40 W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo wired charging. It can also charge other devices over a cable at 5 W. However, there is no wireless charging.
Software and updates
The nova 15 Max ships with EMUI 14.2. Like other recent Huawei phones sold outside China, it does not include Google Mobile Services. Apps come from Huawei AppGallery instead. Huawei has not published an update policy for this model.
Should you buy the Huawei nova 15 Max?
The nova 15 Max suits buyers who want a big OLED screen and long battery life for less. Its IP65 rating, stereo speakers and infrared blaster add everyday value. Still, the lack of 5G and Google services limits its appeal in many markets. If you need them, consider rivals such as the OnePlus Nord CE6 or the POCO X8 Pro Max.
