Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design, released in 2019, represented a peak in Huawei’s design and engineering prowess, blending luxury aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. The Sony Xperia 1 III, arriving in 2021, doubles down on Sony’s expertise in imaging and entertainment, targeting content creators and enthusiasts. This comparison revisits these titans to determine which still holds up in today’s market, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a blend of style and performance, the Sony Xperia 1 III emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset, coupled with a robust 82-hour endurance rating, provides a more modern and reliable experience than the older Kirin 990 5G, despite the Mate 30 RS’s luxurious design.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design Sony Xperia 1 III
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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 3, 28, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
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 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2019, September. Released 2019, November2021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), leather/glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 9.3 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.37 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
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)12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, RedFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
ModelsLIO-N29, LIO-AN00P, LIO-AN00XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
PriceAbout 1700 EUR€ 505.26 / $ 903.43
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design

  • Unique and luxurious Porsche Design aesthetic
  • Fast 40W wired charging
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities

  • Older Kirin 990 5G chipset
  • Potentially limited software support
  • Less efficient power consumption

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
  • Exceptional battery life (82h endurance)
  • Professional-grade video recording features

  • Less distinctive design compared to the Mate 30 RS
  • Wireless charging is present but not as fast as Mate 30 RS
  • Higher price point at launch

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.1-inch display capable of reaching 620 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 30 RS’s display specifications are less readily available, its focus was on color accuracy and a premium feel. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, delivers deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards professional content consumption and creation, while the Mate 30 RS aimed for a luxurious viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices emphasize camera capabilities, but approach it differently. The Xperia 1 III is geared towards professional-grade video recording, leveraging Sony’s Alpha camera technology. While specific sensor details for the Mate 30 RS are less prominent in the provided data, it focused on a versatile quad-camera system. The Xperia 1 III’s strength lies in its real-time tracking, 4K 120fps video recording, and advanced color science. The Mate 30 RS likely excels in still photography with its Leica-branded lenses, but the Xperia 1 III’s video capabilities are a clear differentiator. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution auxiliary cameras on both devices, the core imaging performance favors the Xperia 1 III for video-centric users.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei Mate 30 RS utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores. The Sony Xperia 1 III, however, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). This 5nm process node provides significant advantages in thermal efficiency and power consumption compared to the 7nm+ Kirin 990. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core also offers a performance boost over the Kirin 990’s A76 cores. While both phones feature 5G connectivity, the Snapdragon 888’s modem is generally considered more reliable and efficient. The Xperia 1 III will offer a smoother, more sustained performance, especially during demanding tasks like gaming.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 III achieves an impressive endurance rating of 82 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Mate 30 RS offers 40W wired charging, 27W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, the Xperia 1 III’s 30W wired charging with PD (Power Delivery) and 50% charge in 30 minutes provides a competitive charging experience. The Xperia 1 III’s battery efficiency, stemming from the Snapdragon 888’s 5nm process, contributes significantly to its longer endurance. The Mate 30 RS’s wireless charging capabilities are a convenience feature, but the Xperia 1 III’s overall battery performance is superior.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design if you prioritize a unique, head-turning design and appreciate the prestige of the Porsche Design branding. It’s a statement piece for those who value aesthetics above all else. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a content creator or enthusiast who demands top-tier video recording capabilities, a long-lasting battery, and a more consistently performing processor. It’s the tool for those who prioritize functionality and reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Mate 30 RS suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 990 5G, while a capable chipset, is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly in demanding games. The 7nm+ process isn't as efficient as the 5nm process used in the Snapdragon 888, leading to higher temperatures and reduced performance over time. The Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 will maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the Sony Xperia 1 III’s video recording compare to other flagship phones released in 2023/2024?
The Xperia 1 III remains a strong contender for video recording, even compared to newer flagships. Its 4K 120fps recording, real-time tracking, and advanced color science are still highly competitive. While newer phones may offer features like 8K recording, the Xperia 1 III’s overall video quality and ease of use are still excellent.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 30 RS a major limitation in 2024?
Yes, the absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS) remains a significant drawback for the Mate 30 RS. While Huawei has developed its own ecosystem (HMS), it lacks the widespread app support and seamless integration of GMS. Users may need to rely on workarounds to access popular apps like Google Maps and Gmail.