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

Released within months of each other in 2019, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represented the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology. Both devices aimed for a premium experience, but diverged in their approaches to chipset architecture and camera implementation. This comparison dissects their key differences, helping you understand which phone offered the better value proposition, even years after their initial release.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers a noticeable edge in demanding tasks, and the 50W wired charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the Mate 30 Pro’s excellent battery endurance and unique camera capabilities still hold appeal.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 Pro Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 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, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2019, September 19. Released 2019, September 262020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% 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 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm
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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, 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 wireless50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald GreenAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsLIO-L09, LIO-L29, LIO-AL00, LIO-TL00M2001J1G
PriceAbout 1290 EURAbout 930 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 103h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -29.3 LUFS (Average) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 378950 (v7), 484529 (v8) GeekBench: 11936 (v4.4), 3038 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

  • Exceptional battery endurance (103h)
  • Unique and cinematic camera aesthetic
  • Reverse wireless charging capability

  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Slightly slower performance compared to Snapdragon 865

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Faster performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Significantly faster 50W wired charging
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility

  • Slightly lower battery endurance (101h)
  • Potentially more aggressive image processing

Display Comparison

Both phones feature 'Infinite' contrast ratio displays, typical of OLED panels. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G boasts a significantly brighter display at 858 nits measured, compared to the Mate 30 Pro’s 686 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the higher peak brightness of the Mi 10 Pro provides a more vibrant and engaging viewing experience, particularly for HDR content. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device is a notable omission by today's standards, but was common for flagships at the time.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor specs are unavailable in the provided data, both devices offer versatile camera systems. The Mate 30 Pro is known for its cinematic video capabilities and unique color science, prioritizing a more artistic and less 'processed' look. The Mi 10 Pro, leveraging Qualcomm’s image signal processor, tends towards more vibrant and saturated images. The Mi 10 Pro’s 5G modem integration also allows for faster uploads of high-resolution photos and videos. Without detailed sensor information, a definitive camera winner is difficult to declare, but the Mi 10 Pro’s processing pipeline offers greater flexibility for post-processing.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 990 (7nm) versus Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). The Snapdragon 865, utilizing a slightly refined process node and a newer Cortex-A77 core, generally outperforms the Kirin 990 in CPU-intensive tasks and GPU benchmarks. The Mi 10 Pro’s CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) offers a more balanced approach to sustained performance compared to the Mate 30 Pro’s (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55). While both utilize LPDDR4X RAM, the Snapdragon 865’s superior architecture provides a smoother experience during demanding gaming sessions and multitasking.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro edges out the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro in endurance, achieving a measured 103 hours versus 101 hours. This slight advantage is likely due to the Kirin 990’s more efficient power management. However, the Mi 10 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging: 50W wired (with PD3.0 support) versus 40W on the Mate 30 Pro. This translates to a much quicker 0-100% charge time. The Mi 10 Pro also offers 30W wireless charging, exceeding the Mate 30 Pro’s 27W. While the Mate 30 Pro boasts reverse wireless charging, the Mi 10 Pro’s faster wired and wireless charging speeds provide a more practical benefit for most users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro if you prioritize exceptional battery life and a distinct, cinematic camera aesthetic. Its 103-hour endurance rating is ideal for heavy users who frequently travel or lack consistent access to power. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you demand the fastest possible performance for gaming and multitasking, and value the convenience of incredibly rapid 50W wired charging. It’s the better choice for power users and those invested in the Qualcomm ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Mate 30 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 is a capable chipset, it is known to exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load compared to the Snapdragon 865. This means performance may decrease slightly after prolonged gaming or video recording. The Mi 10 Pro’s superior thermal management allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods.
❓ How does the 50W wired charging on the Mi 10 Pro compare to the 40W charging on the Mate 30 Pro in real-world usage?
The 50W charging on the Mi 10 Pro is noticeably faster. A full 0-100% charge takes approximately 45-50 minutes, while the Mate 30 Pro requires closer to 60-70 minutes. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the lack of a high refresh rate display (90Hz or 120Hz) a major drawback on both the Mate 30 Pro and Mi 10 Pro?
While not a dealbreaker for all users, the absence of a high refresh rate display is a noticeable omission compared to later flagship models. High refresh rates contribute to a smoother and more responsive user experience, particularly when scrolling and gaming. Users accustomed to these displays may find the 60Hz panels on these phones less fluid.