Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Mate 40 Pro 4G: A Clash of Flagships

Huawei's Mate series has consistently delivered impressive smartphones. The Mate 30 Pro 5G and Mate 40 Pro 4G represent distinct generations, each with its own strengths. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which phone is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 40 Pro 4G is the clear winner thanks to its significantly faster Kirin 9000 chipset, improved camera system, and faster charging. However, the Mate 30 Pro 5G remains a capable device, especially if 5G connectivity is a priority and you find it at a lower price.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G
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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ChinaCDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2019, September 19. Released 2019, October 232021, June 28
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, July 09
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, HDR10, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Mali-G78 MP24
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesHarmonyOS 2.0
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, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
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)50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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/6, dual-band, 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 wireless66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest GreenMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow
ModelsLIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10NOH-AL00, NOH-AL10
PriceAbout 1440 EURAbout 800 EUR

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • 5G Connectivity
  • Excellent OLED Display
  • Capable Camera System
  • Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Older Chipset
  • Slower Charging
  • No Google Play Services

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G

  • Superior Performance (Kirin 9000)
  • Advanced Camera System
  • Faster Charging
  • Improved Design

  • No 5G
  • No Google Play Services
  • Potentially Higher Price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mate 40 Pro 4G has a slightly higher refresh rate (90Hz vs 90Hz) and a marginally smaller punch-hole camera, resulting in a slightly more immersive viewing experience. Both offer excellent brightness and color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro 4G boasts a significantly improved camera system. Its larger main sensor, enhanced telephoto lens, and improved image processing algorithms result in better image quality, especially in low light. The Mate 30 Pro 5G's camera is still very good, but lacks the detail and dynamic range of its successor.

Performance

The Kirin 9000 in the Mate 40 Pro 4G is a substantial upgrade over the Kirin 990 5G. The 5nm process and improved architecture deliver significantly faster CPU and GPU performance, making the Mate 40 Pro 4G noticeably smoother for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Mate 30 Pro 5G is still capable, but shows its age in comparison.

Battery Life

The Mate 40 Pro 4G offers faster wired and wireless charging speeds (66W vs 40W and 50W vs 27W respectively), allowing for quicker top-ups. Battery capacity is similar between the two devices, and both offer all-day battery life with moderate usage. The reverse wireless charging is also faster on the Mate 40 Pro 4G.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is a good choice for users who prioritize 5G connectivity and are looking for a flagship experience at a potentially lower price point. The Mate 40 Pro 4G is ideal for those who demand top-tier performance, a cutting-edge camera, and faster charging speeds, even without 5G.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mate 40 Pro 4G support 5G?
No, the Mate 40 Pro 4G is a 4G-only device.
❓ Do these phones have Google Play Services?
Neither phone officially has Google Play Services due to trade restrictions. Users typically rely on workarounds or alternative app stores.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Mate 40 Pro 4G is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Kirin 9000 chipset.
❓ Is the camera difference noticeable in everyday use?
While both cameras are good, the Mate 40 Pro 4G's camera produces noticeably better images, especially in low light and with zoomed-in shots.