Asus ROG Phone 3 vs. Huawei Mate 30: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with a strong camera and elegant design, the Huawei Mate 30 remains a compelling choice. However, the Asus ROG Phone 3 decisively wins for gamers and power users demanding maximum performance and extended battery life, despite its more utilitarian aesthetic.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 30 | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 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, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green | Black Glare |
| Models | TAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00 | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 30
- Elegant design and premium build quality
- Strong camera performance and image processing
- Convenient wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Less powerful chipset compared to the ROG Phone 3
- Potentially limited gaming performance
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 865+
- Long battery life and fast charging support
- Gaming-specific features like AirTriggers
- Bulky design and less refined aesthetics
- Camera likely not a primary focus
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a significantly brighter display at 719 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Mate 30 (brightness not specified). While both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, the ROG Phone 3’s focus on gaming suggests a higher refresh rate panel (likely 90Hz or 120Hz, though not specified) for smoother visuals, a feature absent in the Mate 30. The ROG Phone 3’s infinite contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, enhancing the gaming experience. Bezels are likely larger on the ROG Phone 3 due to the larger display and gaming-focused design.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. The Mate 30 likely prioritizes image processing and color science, leveraging Huawei’s established camera expertise. Without sensor size details, it’s difficult to definitively compare image quality. The ROG Phone 3’s camera is likely tuned for general use, but doesn’t appear to be a primary selling point. The absence of detailed camera specs suggests the ROG Phone 3 focuses on other areas, while the Mate 30 likely offers a more refined photographic experience.
Performance
The ROG Phone 3’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset, with its Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 3.10 GHz, offers a clear performance advantage over the Mate 30’s Kirin 990. The Snapdragon 865’s Adreno 650 GPU is substantially more powerful than the Kirin 990’s Mali-G76 MP16, translating to higher frame rates and more detailed graphics in demanding games. While both chips are built on a 7nm+ process, the Snapdragon 865 benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations for sustained performance and thermal management. The ROG Phone 3’s larger battery and advanced cooling system further mitigate throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 120 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, the ROG Phone 3’s 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4 support is faster than the Mate 30’s 40W wired charging, potentially offering quicker top-ups. The Mate 30’s 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging provide added convenience, while the ROG Phone 3 offers 10W reverse *wired* charging. The ROG Phone 3’s larger battery capacity (not specified, but likely larger than the Mate 30’s) contributes to its endurance, especially during demanding tasks like gaming.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 30 if you need a versatile flagship with a capable camera system, excellent build quality, and convenient wireless charging. It’s ideal for users who value a premium, polished experience. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, long battery life, and features specifically tailored for mobile gaming, such as the AirTriggers and high refresh rate display. It’s built for enthusiasts who demand the best in mobile gaming.