Huawei Mate 30 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term battery life and a consistently excellent camera experience, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro emerges as the winner. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra’s more versatile chipset options and faster charging capabilities appeal to power users and those invested in the Samsung ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 30 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
| 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, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 19. Released 2019, September 26 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) | 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.57 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~511 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Mali-G77 MP11Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 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) | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 103mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless | 45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green | Cosmic Grey, Cosmic Black, Cloud White |
| Models | LIO-L09, LIO-L29, LIO-AL00, LIO-TL00 | SM-G988B/DS |
| Price | About 1290 EUR | About 690 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.94 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 103h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -29.3 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 378950 (v7), 484529 (v8) GeekBench: 11936 (v4.4), 3038 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (103h endurance)
- Excellent camera performance, especially in low light
- Unique and visually striking design
- Lack of Google Mobile Services
- Chipset may not match Snapdragon 865 in raw power
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
- Faster 45W wired charging with PD3.0
- More versatile chipset options (Snapdragon or Exynos)
- Larger, brighter display with potential for 120Hz refresh rate
- Potentially lower battery life
- Exynos variant prone to thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra boasts a larger display, but the Huawei Mate 30 Pro holds its own with a measured peak brightness of 686 nits. While the S20 Ultra likely surpasses this, the Mate 30 Pro’s display is still exceptionally vibrant. Both feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. The S20 Ultra’s larger size and higher resolution (not specified in data, but known to be QHD+) are geared towards media consumption, while the Mate 30 Pro’s curved waterfall display offers a unique aesthetic. The S20 Ultra’s higher refresh rate (not specified in data, but known to be 120Hz) would provide smoother scrolling, a feature absent on the Mate 30 Pro.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor specs are missing, the Mate 30 Pro is renowned for its low-light performance and color science. The S20 Ultra, with its larger sensor (not specified, but known to be 108MP), offers greater detail and flexibility with its Space Zoom capabilities. The S20 Ultra’s multiple lenses provide a wider range of focal lengths, while the Mate 30 Pro focuses on refining its core camera experience. Image processing philosophies differ – Samsung tends towards more saturated and sharpened images, while Huawei aims for a more natural look. The inclusion of 8K video recording on the S20 Ultra (not specified, but standard) provides future-proofing.
Performance
The chipset battle pits Huawei’s Kirin 990 (7nm) against Samsung’s Exynos 990 (7nm+) and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The Snapdragon 865, with its Cortex-A77 cores, generally offers superior CPU performance compared to the Kirin 990’s Cortex-A76 setup. The Exynos 990’s performance is closer to the Kirin, but historically has been prone to thermal throttling under sustained load. The Kirin 990’s octa-core configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) is designed for a balance of power and efficiency, while the Snapdragon’s (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) prioritizes peak performance. The S20 Ultra’s potential for LPDDR5 RAM (not specified, but standard for the device) would also contribute to faster multitasking.
Battery Life
The Huawei Mate 30 Pro’s endurance rating of 103 hours is a significant advantage. While the S20 Ultra’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its larger display and more powerful processor likely result in lower endurance. The Mate 30 Pro supports 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging, while the S20 Ultra offers faster 45W wired charging with PD3.0 and 15W wireless charging (Qi). The S20 Ultra’s reverse wireless charging (4.5W) is slower than the Mate 30 Pro’s, but provides a convenient way to top up accessories. The Mate 30 Pro’s superior efficiency and faster wireless charging contribute to its overall battery advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro if you need exceptional battery life exceeding 100 hours of endurance, a consistently strong camera system optimized for everyday photography, and aren’t reliant on Google Mobile Services. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra if you prefer a larger, brighter display, the flexibility of either Snapdragon or Exynos processors, and faster 45W wired charging, alongside access to the full Google Play Store and Samsung’s feature-rich One UI.