Huawei Nova 16 launches June 1 — Pro Max replaces Ultra in lineup shake-up
Huawei has a Nova 16 launch event penciled in for June 1, 2026, according to Chinese insider @GuoJing — and the series is arriving with some of the biggest structural changes the line has seen in years. The company is dropping the Ultra name and replacing it with Pro Max, a format borrowed from the Mate 80 Pro Max, while bumping specs across the board with Kirin 9-series chips and substantially larger batteries.
No official announcement has come from Huawei yet, so treat the date as unconfirmed. @GuoJing shared a short video clip showing what appears to be a presentation stage with a large green promotional banner referencing "Nova 16 Series" — enough to make the June 1 claim credible, if not airtight.
A video still from @GuoJing shows a presentation stage with a Nova 16 Series promotional banner.
The lineup
Three models are expected: Standard, Pro, and Pro Max. The Pro Max is the headliner, pairing a Kirin 9-series processor with a 7,000mAh battery — a significant jump from the previous generation. The base model is reported to carry a 6,000mAh cell. Both are said to feature a 6.78-inch display running at 1.5K resolution and 120Hz, a slight size increase over the Nova 15's 6.7-inch panel.
Camera hardware leaks point to a 50MP main sensor alongside a 50MP periscope telephoto, though sensor size hasn't been confirmed. The design reportedly takes cues from the Pura 90 Pro flagships, with gradient color finishes described as a dual red maple look. A 10th-anniversary special edition Nova model is also expected to appear at the same event.
The Nova 16 series is expected to adopt gradient finishes similar to those on the Pura 90 Pro flagships.
Availability outside China
This is where it gets complicated for US and UK buyers. Huawei's recent launches have been heavily Asia- and Middle East-focused, and the Nova 15 series had minimal presence in British retail — most UK purchases went through third-party importers rather than official channels. There's no confirmation yet that the Nova 16 will reach Western markets in any official capacity.
HarmonyOS has matured since 2025, so the lack of Google services is less of a dealbreaker than it once was for some users — but it remains a real friction point for anyone switching from Android. If you're interested, Huawei Central is tracking the story closely. The Nova 15 Max launched at around €449 in Europe, giving a rough ceiling for what the standard model might cost if it does make it West.
