Huawei Mate 30 Pro vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max: A Detailed Flagship Showdown
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term software support and a streamlined ecosystem, the iPhone 11 Pro Max remains the safer bet. However, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro delivers faster charging, a potentially more versatile camera system, and a competitive chipset, making it a strong choice for those willing to navigate the software limitations.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 30 | Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max |
| 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, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2218 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE 1.6 Gbps DL, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2161, A2220 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2019, September 10 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, September 20 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 158 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 226 g (7.97 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 4m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density) | 1242 x 2688 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm+) | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF |
| Triple | 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.54", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| 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, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| 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, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3969 mAh, non-removable (15.04 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green | Matte Space Gray, Matte Silver, Matte Gold, Matte Midnight Green |
| Models | TAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00 | A2218, A2161, A2220, iPhone12,5 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 233.00 / C$ 369.75 / £ 226.95 / € 249.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.16 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 256GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 874.46 |
| 512GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 1,004.31 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 435.00 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 485.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -81.5dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 459713 (v7), 536883 (v8) GeekBench: 13870 (v4.4), 3503 (v5.1) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 30
- Significantly faster wired and wireless charging (40W/27W)
- Potentially more versatile camera system with advanced zoom
- Competitive performance with the Kirin 990 chipset
- Lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) and potential software limitations
- Long-term software support is less certain than Apple's
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
- Mature and well-supported iOS ecosystem
- Excellent video recording capabilities and stabilization
- Strong resale value and long-term software updates
- Slower charging speeds compared to the Mate 30 Pro
- Limited customization options compared to Android
Display Comparison
The iPhone 11 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 820 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 30 Pro’s peak brightness isn’t explicitly stated, Huawei’s displays are typically competitive. Both utilize OLED panels offering infinite contrast ratios, but the iPhone’s color accuracy is renowned. The Mate 30 Pro’s curved display edges offer a more immersive visual experience, though some users may find them prone to accidental touches. The iPhone’s flat display is more practical for precise interactions.
Camera Comparison
Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is known for its natural-looking images and excellent video stabilization. The Mate 30 Pro, however, emphasizes detail and dynamic range, often producing images with a more dramatic look. While both offer multiple lenses, the Mate 30 Pro’s camera system is often lauded for its low-light performance and zoom capabilities. The absence of detailed sensor information for the Mate 30 Pro makes a direct comparison difficult, but its image processing algorithms are a key differentiator.
Performance
Both devices employ 7nm+ fabrication processes for their respective chipsets – the Apple A13 Bionic and the Huawei Kirin 990. The A13’s hexa-core architecture (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) prioritizes single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and UI fluidity. The Kirin 990’s octa-core configuration (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) aims for a balance between performance and efficiency. While benchmark scores often favor the A13, the Kirin 990 is no slouch, offering ample power for demanding tasks. The iPhone 11 Pro Max’s 4GB of RAM is a potential limitation compared to the Mate 30 Pro’s configurations, but Apple’s software optimization mitigates this.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max achieve an impressive endurance rating of 102 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Mate 30 Pro significantly outpaces the iPhone in charging speed. Its 40W wired charging can replenish the battery from 0-100% much faster than the iPhone’s 50% in 30-minute PD2.0 charging. Furthermore, the Mate 30 Pro offers 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro if you need exceptionally fast 40W wired and 27W wireless charging, and value a camera system focused on detail and dynamic range. Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max if you prefer a mature, well-supported operating system, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and a consistently reliable user experience.