Huawei Mate 30 vs Google Pixel 4 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and a clean software experience, the Google Pixel 4 XL emerges as the better choice. However, the Huawei Mate 30’s significantly faster 40W charging and potentially superior raw processing power make it a strong contender for power users and those less reliant on Google services.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 30 | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| 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, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 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, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-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) | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| 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, aptX HD |
| 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 | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | TAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00 | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | About 550 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 30
- Significantly faster 40W wired charging
- Potentially superior raw CPU performance with Kirin 990
- 27W wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities
- EMUI software may not appeal to all users
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Exceptional computational photography and image processing
- Clean and streamlined Android software experience
- Timely software updates and security patches
- Slower 18W wired charging
- No wireless or reverse wireless charging
Display Comparison
While specific display specs like resolution and panel type aren't provided, both phones target a premium experience. The Pixel 4 XL’s 73-hour endurance rating suggests a relatively efficient display, but the Mate 30’s potential for higher peak brightness (typical of Huawei flagships) could offer better outdoor visibility. The absence of high refresh rate technology on either device is notable, placing them behind newer flagships. Bezels are likely comparable, reflecting the design trends of 2019.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are marketed for their camera capabilities, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 4 XL leverages Google’s renowned computational photography, excelling in dynamic range and low-light performance. While the context data only states 'Photo / Video' for both, the Pixel’s strength lies in its software processing. The Mate 30 likely features a more traditional camera system, potentially with larger sensors and more manual control options. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a direct comparison difficult, but Huawei typically prioritizes hardware specifications. The Pixel 4 XL’s Super Res Zoom is a key advantage, offering impressive digital zoom capabilities.
Performance
The Huawei Mate 30’s Kirin 990 (7nm+) and the Pixel 4 XL’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) represent competing approaches to mobile silicon. The Kirin 990, built on a slightly refined 7nm+ process, theoretically offers a marginal efficiency advantage. However, the Snapdragon 855 benefits from Qualcomm’s mature software optimization. The Kirin 990’s CPU configuration – with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz – is designed for sustained performance, while the Pixel 4 XL’s Kryo 485 cores offer a balanced approach. The Mate 30’s 6GB or 8GB of RAM (not specified in the data) paired with the Kirin 990 should handle multitasking effectively, matching the Pixel 4 XL’s 6GB configuration. Thermal management will be key; the Kirin 990 has historically been prone to throttling under sustained load, a potential disadvantage for gamers.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, the Mate 30’s 40W wired charging is a significant advantage, allowing for a full charge in under an hour. The Pixel 4 XL’s 18W charging with PD2.0 is considerably slower. The Mate 30 also offers 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel 4 XL, providing greater flexibility for users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 30 if you need blazing-fast charging, prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding tasks, and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you prefer a streamlined Android experience, exceptional computational photography, and a phone that receives timely software updates, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed.