Huawei Mate 30 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10 5G: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Launched within months of each other, the Huawei Mate 30 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10 5G represented the peak of Android flagship ambition in 2019/2020. Both devices aimed to deliver cutting-edge 5G connectivity, powerful performance, and impressive camera capabilities. However, they took different approaches, with Huawei relying on its in-house Kirin chipset and Xiaomi opting for Qualcomm's Snapdragon. This comparison dissects those differences to determine which phone holds up better today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more open software experience, the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 offers a slight edge in CPU and GPU performance, while the 854 nits peak brightness provides a more visible outdoor experience. However, the Mate 30 5G’s 40W wired charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities are compelling advantages.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 5G Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub61, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2019, September. Released 2019, October2020, February 13. Released 2020, February 14
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistant-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Triple40 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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4780 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest GreenCoral Green, Twilight Grey, Peach Gold
ModelsTAS-AN00, TAS-TN00M2001J2G, M2001J2I, Mi 10
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 290 EUR
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 109h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 578056 (v8) GeekBench: 3322 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 30 5G

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially unique camera aesthetic and processing
  • Integrated 5G modem in the Kirin 990 5G

  • Lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS)
  • Potentially lower peak display brightness
  • Slightly older CPU architecture

Xiaomi Mi 10 5G

  • Snapdragon 865 offers better overall performance
  • Brighter 854 nits display
  • Full Android experience with GMS
  • PD3.0 support for faster wired charging compatibility

  • Slower wired charging compared to Mate 30 5G
  • Slower reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially less distinctive camera processing

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 854 nits peak brightness compared to an unstated value for the Mate 30 5G. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, but the Mi 10’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage. While neither specification details refresh rates, the Mi 10’s panel is likely to offer a smoother experience if it supports a higher refresh rate, a common feature in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with capable camera systems, but details are limited to 'Photo / Video' for both. However, the market positioning suggests the Mate 30 5G likely emphasizes computational photography and a distinct color science, a hallmark of Huawei’s camera approach. The Mi 10 5G, on the other hand, likely leans towards a more natural image processing style. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Mi 10 5G’s larger sensor size (likely) would provide better low-light performance.

Performance

At the heart of the comparison lies the chipset battle: Huawei’s Kirin 990 5G versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G. Both are fabricated on a 7nm+ process, but the Snapdragon 865 utilizes the newer Cortex-A77 architecture in its prime cores (1x2.84 GHz) compared to the Mate 30 5G’s Cortex-A76 (2x2.86 GHz). This architectural advantage, combined with Qualcomm’s optimized GPU, gives the Mi 10 5G a slight edge in sustained performance and gaming. The Mi 10 5G also benefits from faster LPDDR5 RAM, contributing to quicker app loading and multitasking.

Battery Life

Both the Huawei Mate 30 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10 5G achieve an endurance rating of 109 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the charging capabilities differ significantly. The Mate 30 5G supports 40W wired charging, 27W wireless charging, and even reverse wireless charging. The Mi 10 5G offers 30W wired charging with PD3.0 support, 30W wireless charging, and a slower 5W reverse wireless charging. This means the Mate 30 5G can charge faster via both wired and wireless methods, and its reverse wireless charging is more practical for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 5G if you prioritize fast charging speeds, a unique camera aesthetic, and don't mind potential software limitations due to the lack of Google Mobile Services. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G if you prefer a more conventional Android experience, slightly better gaming performance, and a brighter display for outdoor visibility. Both phones offer excellent value in the current market.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Mate 30 5G suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chip, it's known to be more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865, especially under sustained load. The Mi 10 5G’s superior thermal management allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods during gaming.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 30 5G impact the user experience?
The absence of GMS means you won't have direct access to Google apps like the Play Store, Gmail, or YouTube. Huawei provides its own ecosystem – AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) – as alternatives, but app availability and compatibility can be limited. Sideloading apps is possible, but less convenient.
❓ Is the 30W wireless charging on the Mi 10 5G significantly faster in real-world use than the 27W on the Mate 30 5G?
While the difference is only 3W, the Mi 10 5G’s wireless charging is often more efficient due to Qualcomm’s optimized charging algorithms. This can translate to slightly faster overall wireless charging times, though the difference isn’t dramatic.
❓ Does the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G support higher frame rates (e.g., 90fps) in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 5G is capable of supporting higher frame rates in many games, including PUBG Mobile. However, achieving 90fps depends on the game’s settings and optimization. The Mate 30 5G, while capable, may struggle to maintain consistently high frame rates due to thermal limitations.