Huawei Mate 30 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

Launched within months of each other in 2019, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represented the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology. Both devices aimed to deliver a premium experience, but approached it with different philosophies – Huawei focusing on camera innovation and software refinement, while Xiaomi prioritized raw performance and 5G connectivity. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you understand which phone holds up better today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset offers a slight edge in CPU and GPU performance, coupled with faster 50W wired charging and a comparable battery endurance rating. However, the Mate 30 Pro’s camera system remains highly competitive.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30 Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2019, September. Released 2019, September2020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight196 g (6.91 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistant-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~389 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.62 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
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, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm
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-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
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 2.0, 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, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald GreenAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsTAS-L09, TAS-L29, TAS-AL00, TAS-TL00M2001J1G
PriceAbout 550 EURAbout 930 EUR
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 30

  • Exceptional low-light camera performance
  • Refined software experience (though limited by ecosystem)
  • Competitive wireless charging speed (27W)

  • Slightly slower processor compared to Snapdragon 865
  • Limited access to Google services
  • Slower wired charging (40W)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Faster 50W wired charging with PD3.0
  • Seamless 5G connectivity

  • Camera image processing may not appeal to all users
  • Software experience can be less refined than Huawei
  • Reverse wireless charging is slower (5W)

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts a brighter display, peaking at 858 nits, compared to the Mate 30 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. While both utilize OLED technology, the Mi 10 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is a notable omission by today’s standards, but both offer vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles. The Mi 10 Pro’s brightness advantage is particularly beneficial for outdoor visibility.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor specs are missing, the Mate 30 Pro is renowned for its exceptional low-light capabilities and dynamic range, largely attributed to its sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Mi 10 Pro’s camera system, while also capable, leans towards a more natural color profile. Both offer versatile camera setups, but the Mi 10 Pro’s 5G connectivity allows for faster uploads of high-resolution photos and videos. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Mate 30 Pro’s reputation for camera prowess is well-established.

Performance

Both phones employ 7nm+ fabrication processes, but the chipsets differ significantly. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 features a newer Cortex-A77 core (2.84 GHz) compared to the Mate 30 Pro’s Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz). While clock speeds are similar, the architectural improvements in the A77 provide a performance advantage. The Snapdragon 865 also integrates a more powerful Adreno 650 GPU, offering superior graphics performance. Both devices feature ample RAM, but the Mi 10 Pro’s support for faster LPDDR5 RAM could contribute to snappier multitasking. The Kirin 990’s neural processing unit (NPU) is strong, but the Snapdragon 865’s overall system-on-chip (SoC) performance is generally superior.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 101 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified in the provided data). However, the charging speeds are a key differentiator. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro supports 50W wired charging with PD3.0, significantly faster than the Mate 30 Pro’s 40W wired charging. The Mi 10 Pro also offers 30W wireless charging, exceeding the Mate 30 Pro’s 27W. While both support reverse wireless charging, the Mi 10 Pro’s 5W output is less powerful than the Mate 30 Pro’s. The Mi 10 Pro’s faster charging capabilities provide a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro if you prioritize a unique camera experience with exceptional low-light performance and are comfortable with the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you value raw processing power, faster charging speeds, and seamless 5G connectivity, making it ideal for gamers and power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the Mate 30 Pro struggle with sustained performance under heavy load?
While the Kirin 990 is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 Pro generally exhibits better thermal management and sustained performance during prolonged gaming sessions or demanding tasks. The Kirin 990 can experience some throttling under extreme conditions, potentially leading to frame rate drops.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro affect the user experience?
The absence of GMS means the Mate 30 Pro doesn't come with pre-installed Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or the Play Store. Huawei provides its own ecosystem, Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), and an app gallery, but app availability is limited compared to the Play Store. Users may need to sideload apps or rely on alternative app stores.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro truly useful in areas with limited 5G coverage?
While 5G coverage is still expanding, the Mi 10 Pro’s 5G support future-proofs the device for faster network speeds as coverage improves. Even in areas with limited 5G, the phone will seamlessly switch between 5G and 4G networks, providing a consistent connection.
❓ What are the real-world benefits of the Mi 10 Pro's PD3.0 fast charging support?
PD3.0 (Power Delivery) allows the Mi 10 Pro to negotiate optimal charging voltages and currents with compatible chargers, resulting in faster and more efficient charging. It also supports charging other devices, like laptops, with the same charger.