Huawei Mate 30 vs. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance

The Huawei Mate 30, released in 2019, represented a peak in Huawei’s smartphone capabilities before restrictions impacted its access to Google services. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022, a refresh of the popular 'Fan Edition', offers a more recent Snapdragon processor and the full Google ecosystem. This comparison examines whether Samsung’s updated offering surpasses the Mate 30’s original strengths, particularly for users seeking a balance of performance and value.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 is the better choice. While the Huawei Mate 30 boasts impressive 40W wired and 27W wireless charging, the S20 FE 2022’s Snapdragon 865, coupled with access to the Google Play Store, provides a more versatile and future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate 30	Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022

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	LTE
5G bands	-	SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2019, September. Released 2019, September	2022, April 01
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, April 01

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)	159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm (6.29 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	196 g (6.91 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size	6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, HDR10	Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	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 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 12, One UI 4.1

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 3.0	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, 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)	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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)	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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	32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG

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, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
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, compass
	-	Virtual proximity sensing Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)

Battery
Charging	40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless	25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green	Cloud White, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Navy
Models	TAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00	SM-G781NK, SM-G781NK22
Price	About 550 EUR	About 520 EUR

Huawei Mate 30

Significantly faster wired and wireless charging (40W/27W)
Innovative camera features at launch
Potentially more unique design aesthetic

Lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS)
Older chipset and software support
Potential difficulty finding replacement parts

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022

Full Google Play Store access and Android ecosystem
More powerful Snapdragon 865 processor
5G connectivity
Better long-term software support

Slower charging speeds (25W wired, 15W wireless)
May not have the same camera innovation as the Mate 30 at its launch
Plastic back (depending on region)

Display Comparison

While specific display specs aren't provided, both phones utilize 7nm+ fabrication, suggesting a focus on efficiency. The S20 FE 2022 likely benefits from advancements in display technology since the Mate 30’s release, potentially offering higher peak brightness and improved color accuracy. The S20 FE’s 120Hz refresh rate (a common feature for the FE line) would provide a smoother scrolling experience than the Mate 30’s likely 60Hz panel. Bezels are expected to be slimmer on the S20 FE due to its later release date.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 30’s camera system was highly regarded at its launch, but the S20 FE 2022 benefits from software advancements. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Snapdragon 865’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) offers improved image processing capabilities. The S20 FE’s likely inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the main sensor would provide sharper images and smoother video recording. The Mate 30’s strength lies in its innovative camera features, but the S20 FE’s more modern image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor size (based on market trends) likely deliver more consistent results in various lighting conditions. We'd expect the S20 FE to excel in video recording.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) features a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, a slight edge over the Mate 30’s 2.86 GHz Cortex-A76. However, the Snapdragon 865 utilizes three Cortex-A77 cores versus the Mate 30’s two A76 cores, providing a potential advantage in multi-threaded tasks. Both utilize four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The Snapdragon 865 also integrates a more powerful Adreno 650 GPU, offering superior graphics performance for gaming. The S20 FE’s LPDDR5 RAM likely provides faster memory bandwidth than the Mate 30’s LPDDR4X, further enhancing performance.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 30’s 40W wired charging is significantly faster than the S20 FE 2022’s 25W wired charging with PD3.0. The Mate 30 also offers 27W wireless charging, dwarfing the S20 FE’s 15W Qi wireless charging. However, the S20 FE’s battery efficiency, coupled with the Snapdragon 865’s power management, could offset the charging speed difference in real-world usage. The Mate 30’s faster charging allows for quicker top-ups, while the S20 FE’s potentially optimized power consumption could lead to comparable or even slightly longer battery life depending on usage patterns.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 if you prioritize exceptionally fast charging speeds (40W wired, 27W wireless) and are comfortable operating without native Google Mobile Services, potentially relying on workarounds. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 if you value a seamless Android experience with full Google Play Store access, strong 5G connectivity via the Snapdragon 865, and a more readily available software update path.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the lack of Google Mobile Services on the Huawei Mate 30 significantly impact usability?

Yes, the absence of GMS is a major drawback for many users. While Huawei’s AppGallery has grown, it lacks the breadth and depth of the Google Play Store. Users may need to rely on workarounds to install popular apps like Google Maps and YouTube, which can be cumbersome and potentially pose security risks.

❓ How does the Snapdragon 865 in the S20 FE 2022 handle demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?

The Snapdragon 865, paired with the Adreno 650 GPU, delivers excellent gaming performance. The S20 FE 2022 can comfortably run PUBG and Genshin Impact at high settings with stable frame rates. While thermal throttling can occur during extended gaming sessions, the Snapdragon 865 generally manages heat more effectively than the Kirin 990.

❓ Is the 25W charging on the S20 FE 2022 slow compared to the Mate 30's 40W?

While 25W is slower than 40W, it's still a respectable charging speed. A full charge from 0-100% on the S20 FE 2022 will take around 60-75 minutes. The difference in charging time isn't drastic, and the S20 FE’s potentially better battery optimization can mitigate the impact.

❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 2022 continue to receive software updates?

Samsung typically provides several years of software updates for its flagship and FE devices. The S20 FE 2022 is likely to receive Android updates and security patches for at least another year or two, offering better long-term support than the Huawei Mate 30.