Huawei Mate 30 vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

Released within months of each other, the Huawei Mate 30 and OnePlus 8 Pro represented distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The Mate 30, despite geopolitical challenges impacting its market access, boasted Huawei’s in-house Kirin 990 chipset and a focus on camera innovation. The OnePlus 8 Pro, meanwhile, leveraged Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 and a 120Hz display, targeting enthusiasts prioritizing performance and a smooth user experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the more practical choice. While the Mate 30’s camera system is compelling, the 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 delivers consistently strong performance, coupled with wider availability and a more open software ecosystem. The 8 Pro’s 30W wireless charging also edges out the Mate 30’s 27W.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 OnePlus 8 Pro
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) / 1800 / 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, 66 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2019, September. Released 2019, September2020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
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 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Triple40 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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
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 3.1, 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, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald GreenGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsTAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 550 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 30

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • Innovative camera system with spectral analysis
  • Potentially superior low-light photography

  • Lack of full Google Mobile Services
  • Software ecosystem limitations
  • Potentially lower sustained performance in demanding games

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Snapdragon 865 delivers strong and consistent performance
  • 120Hz display for a smoother user experience
  • Wider app compatibility and software updates

  • Slower wired charging compared to Mate 30
  • Image processing can be less dynamic than Mate 30
  • Reverse wireless charging is limited to 3W

Display Comparison

Both the Huawei Mate 30 and OnePlus 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate, while not explicitly stated in the provided data, is a key differentiator, offering a significantly smoother scrolling and gaming experience compared to the Mate 30’s likely 60Hz panel. While both likely utilize OLED technology, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s display is known for its color accuracy and brightness, making it superior for outdoor visibility. The Mate 30’s curved display edges, while aesthetically pleasing, can introduce accidental touches.

Camera Comparison

The provided data lacks detailed camera specifications, but both phones were flagship contenders in photography. The Mate 30 is known for its innovative camera system, including a large 1/1.7-inch sensor and a unique spectral analysis sensor. The OnePlus 8 Pro also boasts a versatile camera setup, including a 48MP main sensor and an ultrawide lens with a dedicated macro mode. While the Mate 30 likely excels in low-light photography and dynamic range, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s image processing tends to be more natural and consistent. The absence of detailed sensor information prevents a definitive judgment, but the Mate 30’s camera system was a key selling point at launch.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) utilizes a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, alongside three additional A77 cores, offering a potential advantage in multi-threaded tasks compared to the Mate 30’s Kirin 990. The Kirin 990 employs two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz, and two more at 2.09 GHz. While clock speeds are similar, the architectural improvements in the A77 cores of the Snapdragon 865 generally translate to better sustained performance. Both chips utilize 7nm+ fabrication, but Qualcomm’s optimization and GPU (Adreno 650 in the 865 vs Mali-G76 MP16 in the 990) give the OnePlus 8 Pro an edge in graphics-intensive applications and gaming. The 12GB of RAM in the higher-end OnePlus 8 Pro configuration further enhances multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The OnePlus 8 Pro supports 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), while the Mate 30 offers 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging. This means the Mate 30 can replenish its battery faster via wired connection, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s wireless charging is notably quicker. The 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro is a minor feature compared to the Mate 30’s reverse wireless capabilities, though the practical use case for reverse wireless charging remains limited.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 if you prioritize camera versatility and are comfortable navigating a software ecosystem without full Google Mobile Services. Its Kirin 990 offers strong performance, and the 40W wired charging is a significant advantage. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value raw performance, a fluid 120Hz display, and a clean, fast software experience with guaranteed updates. The Snapdragon 865 provides a more consistent gaming experience and benefits from wider app compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Mate 30 struggle with sustained gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 865?
While the Kirin 990 is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro generally exhibits better thermal management and sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 865’s more efficient architecture and GPU contribute to less throttling under heavy load.
❓ How significant is the lack of Google Mobile Services on the Huawei Mate 30 for everyday use?
The absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Mate 30 means you won’t have direct access to the Google Play Store or core Google apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. Huawei’s AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) offer alternatives, but app availability and compatibility can be limited. Sideloading apps is possible, but requires technical knowledge.
❓ Is the 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro actually useful?
The 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro is primarily a convenience feature for charging accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches. It’s significantly slower than standard wireless charging and isn’t intended for fully charging another phone.
❓ Which phone is better for video recording?
Both phones are capable of recording high-quality video. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro generally offers more stable video stabilization and a wider dynamic range in video recording, thanks to the Snapdragon 865’s image signal processor.