The upcoming Huawei Nova 14 series could be powered by the new Kirin 8010 chipset.
The chipset powering the Huawei Nova 14 series remains a mystery, but recent leaks suggest it could debut with the all-new Kirin 8010. Despite being part of the mid-range Kirin 8 series, this chip is rumored to deliver performance on par with the flagship-level Kirin 9020 found in the upcoming Mate 70 Pro.
Kirin 8010: What to Expect
According to tipster FixedFocus, the Kirin 8010 may adopt the same advanced packaging technology used in the Kirin 9020. This could result in a noticeable performance boost, potentially even outperforming the Kirin 9000s.
While Huawei has refined the Kirin 9020 for its Mate 70 lineup—integrating the industry’s first 3GPP Release 18 5G-A SoC for enhanced air-to-ground network connectivity—the 8010 is expected to bring a scaled-down yet powerful version of this innovation to the Nova 14 series. The Kirin 9020, for reference, is 20% more power-efficient than its predecessor.
Earlier rumors hinted at a Kirin 9-series chipset for the Nova 14, but this new leak aligns more closely with Huawei’s strategy of delivering premium features to mid-range devices.
Huawei has traditionally equipped its Nova standard and Pro models with Kirin 8 series chips, while reserving a more powerful Kirin 9 series processor for the Ultra variant. The same approach is likely for the upcoming Nova 14 lineup.
In other words, the Nova 14 and Nova 14 Pro could be powered by the rumored Kirin 8010, while the Nova 14 Ultra may pack the flagship-grade Kirin 9020 5G chipset.
The Nova 14 series was initially expected to launch this month, but according to recent Weibo leaks, the release may have been postponed to May—though the reason remains unclear.
Leaks also hint at a fresh design overhaul for the Nova 14, along with support for next-gen 5.5G networks and a multi-spectral lens system, similar to what’s rumored for the Mate 70 series.
Beyond design and performance, Huawei might also introduce significant camera enhancements across the Nova 14 models compared to their predecessors. However, none of these details have been officially confirmed, and the launch date remains under wraps.
More concrete information about the Nova 14 series is expected to surface in the coming weeks—stay tuned for updates.
