Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Mate 30E Pro 5G: A Detailed Showdown

Huawei's Mate 30 series offered compelling flagship and near-flagship options. The Mate 30 Pro 5G and Mate 30E Pro 5G, while sharing a similar design and 5G connectivity, have subtle but important differences. This comparison will help you decide which model best suits your needs and budget.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 30 Pro 5G edges out the 30E Pro 5G thanks to its superior chipset (Kirin 990 vs 990E), which translates to slightly better performance and potentially improved AI capabilities. However, the 30E Pro 5G remains a strong contender, offering excellent value for its price.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub61, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China-
Launch
Announced2019, September 19. Released 2019, October 232020, October 22. Released 2020, November 01
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)198 g (6.98 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 990E 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Mali-G76 MP14
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest GreenBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green
ModelsLIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10LIO-AN00m
PriceAbout 1440 EURAbout 680 EUR

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • Superior Chipset (Kirin 990 5G)
  • Slightly Better Camera Performance
  • Premium Build Quality
  • Excellent Display

  • Higher Price
  • Software Support Concerns (Huawei's ecosystem limitations)

Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G

  • More Affordable
  • Excellent Value for Money
  • Good Camera System
  • 5G Connectivity

  • Slightly Less Powerful Chipset (Kirin 990E)
  • Potentially Less Refined Image Processing

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.66-inch OLED display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. While the panels are visually similar, the Mate 30 Pro 5G might have slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to its higher tier positioning. Both offer excellent viewing experiences.

Camera Comparison

Both phones boast a versatile triple-camera system. The Mate 30 Pro 5G generally has slightly better image processing and low-light performance due to the more advanced ISP within the Kirin 990. Both offer excellent zoom capabilities and impressive video recording.

Performance

The key differentiator lies in the chipset. The Mate 30 Pro 5G utilizes the Kirin 990 5G, a more powerful chip than the Kirin 990E in the Mate 30E Pro 5G. This translates to slightly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and potentially better performance in demanding games. The 990E is still capable, but the Pro version holds a noticeable advantage.

Battery Life

Battery capacity is similar, and both phones offer 40W wired charging, 27W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. Real-world battery life should be comparable, lasting a full day for moderate users.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is ideal for users who demand the absolute best performance and are willing to pay a premium. The Mate 30E Pro 5G is a great choice for those seeking a high-quality Huawei experience with 5G connectivity at a more accessible price point, prioritizing camera and design over raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the difference between the Kirin 990 and Kirin 990E?
The Kirin 990 is a slightly more powerful version of the 990E, featuring optimizations for AI and potentially better GPU performance. The 990E is a cost-reduced variant.
❓ Are there any software limitations with these Huawei phones?
Yes, due to US trade restrictions, these phones may have limited access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). Huawei's AppGallery is the alternative app store, and while it's improving, it doesn't offer the same breadth of apps as Google Play.