Huawei Mate 30 5G vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range 5G Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing software support and camera consistency, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice. While the Huawei Mate 30 5G boasts faster charging and a potentially more powerful chipset on paper, the Pixel 5a 5G’s software experience and reliable image processing offer a more polished overall experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 30 5G | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, October | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.54", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green | Mostly Black |
| Models | TAS-AN00, TAS-TN00 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 650 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 30 5G
- Significantly faster wired and wireless charging (40W/27W)
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Kirin 990 5G
- Reverse wireless charging capability
- Limited access to Google services due to geopolitical restrictions
- Software updates are less frequent and reliable
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed software updates
- Excellent camera performance with Google’s computational photography
- Bright and clear display with good outdoor visibility
- Slower charging speeds (18W)
- Less powerful chipset compared to the Kirin 990 5G
- Design is less premium than the Mate 30 5G
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 5a 5G’s display achieves a peak brightness of 861 nits, significantly brighter than what was typical for the Mate 30 5G’s panel (though exact nits are not specified). While the Mate 30 5G likely offered vibrant colors, the Pixel 5a 5G’s higher brightness ensures better visibility outdoors. Both displays feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator for usability in bright conditions.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G excels in computational photography, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to produce consistently excellent results, even in challenging lighting conditions. While the Mate 30 5G’s camera system was competitive for its time, it lacks the software refinement of the Pixel. The Pixel 5a 5G’s image processing prioritizes dynamic range and accurate color reproduction, while the Mate 30 5G may lean towards more saturated colors. The absence of detailed sensor information for the Mate 30 5G makes a direct sensor size comparison impossible, but Google’s software advantage is a significant factor.
Performance
The Huawei Mate 30 5G’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+) chipset, with its octa-core configuration featuring two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.86 GHz, theoretically offers more raw processing power than the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). However, the Snapdragon 765G’s architecture, with its Kryo 475 cores, is optimized for efficiency. The Kirin 990 5G’s performance advantage may be less noticeable in real-world tasks due to thermal throttling, a common issue with high-powered chipsets in constrained phone designs. The Pixel 5a 5G benefits from Qualcomm’s software optimizations, providing a smoother, more consistent experience.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei Mate 30 5G and Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the Mate 30 5G’s 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging capabilities are significantly faster than the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W wired charging with PD2.0. This means the Mate 30 5G can replenish its battery much more quickly, a crucial advantage for users who frequently need to top up their device. The Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes efficiency, while the Mate 30 5G prioritizes charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 30 5G if you need the fastest possible charging speeds (40W wired, 27W wireless) and are comfortable with a potentially limited software ecosystem. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a clean Android experience, guaranteed software updates, and a consistently excellent camera, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power and charging speed.