Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G vs. Mate 30 Pro 5G: Decoding the Differences

Released within the same generation, the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G present a fascinating case study in incremental refinement. While both represent Huawei’s 2019 flagship vision, the Mate 30E Pro 5G arrived later, offering a potentially more accessible entry point to the series. This comparison dissects the subtle hardware variations – primarily the chipset – to determine which device delivers the best experience for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G represents the better value. Despite utilizing the Kirin 990E, performance is virtually indistinguishable from the Kirin 990-powered Mate 30 Pro 5G in most real-world scenarios. The price difference, when available, makes the 30E Pro the more sensible choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
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) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub61, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / 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
Announced2020, October 22. Released 2020, November 012019, September 19. Released 2019, October 23
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)198 g (6.98 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10OLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990E 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP14Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
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, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest GreenBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green
ModelsLIO-AN00mLIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10
PriceAbout 680 EURAbout 1440 EUR

Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G

  • Potentially better value for money
  • Slightly more efficient chipset (Kirin 990E)
  • Identical camera system to the Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • May receive software updates slightly later
  • Potentially lower resale value

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • Original flagship model, potentially prioritized for software features
  • Slightly higher peak performance (though minimal)
  • Strong brand recognition as the initial Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • Generally more expensive
  • Performance gains over the 30E Pro 5G are minimal

Display Comparison

Both the Mate 30E Pro 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G feature a 6.53-inch OLED display with a waterfall edge design. While specific nit brightness figures aren't provided, both are expected to deliver excellent contrast and vibrant colors typical of Huawei’s displays. The absence of a high refresh rate (like 90Hz or 120Hz) is a shared characteristic, focusing instead on power efficiency. Bezels are similarly minimal on both devices, contributing to an immersive viewing experience. Color accuracy is likely comparable, leveraging Huawei’s display calibration expertise.

Camera Comparison

Both phones share a similar camera system headlined by a 40MP Ultra Vision camera with a large sensor and a wide f/1.8 aperture. A 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and an 8MP ultrawide lens complete the setup. Image processing algorithms are likely identical, delivering consistent results in terms of color science and dynamic range. The absence of detailed sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but both are expected to excel in various lighting conditions. The 2MP depth sensing camera on both models offers limited utility beyond basic bokeh effects.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipset: the Mate 30E Pro 5G utilizes the Kirin 990E 5G (7nm+), while the Mate 30 Pro 5G features the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). Both CPUs share the same core configuration – a dual-core Cortex-A76 cluster at 2.86GHz, another dual-core Cortex-A76 at 2.36GHz, and a quad-core Cortex-A55 cluster at 1.95GHz. The 'E' designation in the 990E suggests a slightly tweaked design for efficiency, potentially resulting in marginally lower peak performance but improved thermal management. However, in practical usage, the difference is negligible. Both devices benefit from integrated 5G modems, ensuring fast connectivity. Both likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, impacting memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

Both the Mate 30E Pro 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G pack a 4200mAh battery. Both support 40W SuperCharge wired charging, capable of replenishing the battery from 0 to 100% in approximately 70-80 minutes. 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are also common features. The slightly more efficient Kirin 990E in the 30E Pro 5G *could* translate to marginally longer battery life, but this difference is unlikely to be significant in real-world usage. The fast charging capabilities are the primary factor influencing user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G if you prioritize value and are comfortable with a potentially slightly less optimized chipset without sacrificing daily performance. Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G if you find it at a comparable price or are a power user seeking every last ounce of performance, even if the gains are marginal, and potentially benefit from any minor software optimizations initially prioritized for the original Pro model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990E in the Mate 30E Pro 5G throttle under sustained load, like during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990E is a slightly refined version of the Kirin 990, both chipsets are capable of handling demanding tasks. Thermal throttling is more dependent on the phone's cooling system than the chipset itself. Both the Mate 30E Pro 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G utilize similar cooling solutions, so throttling behavior should be comparable. Expect some performance reduction after prolonged gaming, but not to a degree that significantly impacts the experience.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Kirin 990 and Kirin 990E noticeable in everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback?
No, the performance difference is virtually imperceptible in everyday tasks. Both chipsets are more than capable of handling these workloads with ease. The optimizations in the Kirin 990E primarily focus on efficiency, not raw performance, meaning you won't notice a difference in responsiveness or smoothness during typical usage.
❓ Given the lack of Google Mobile Services, how does the user experience differ on these devices compared to phones with GMS?
Both the Mate 30E Pro 5G and Mate 30 Pro 5G launched without Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to the US trade restrictions. This means no pre-installed Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or the Play Store. Huawei’s AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) serve as alternatives. Users can sideload apps, but compatibility isn’t guaranteed. The experience requires adaptation and may not be ideal for users heavily reliant on GMS.