Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

Released in different eras, the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G and the OnePlus 8 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Mate 30E Pro 5G, despite its later release, leverages Huawei’s Kirin 990E 5G chipset, while the OnePlus 8 Pro boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on real-world performance and value in today’s market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more open software ecosystem, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 offers a slight edge in CPU and GPU performance, coupled with a more established Android experience. However, the Mate 30E Pro 5G presents a compelling alternative for those seeking Huawei’s camera expertise and fast charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 bands1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub61, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, October 22. Released 2020, November 012020, 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
Dimensions158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% 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 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990E 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP14Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, 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/1.6, 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@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 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 NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, 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 4500 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest GreenGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsLIO-AN00mIN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 680 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 30E Pro 5G

  • Faster 40W wired charging
  • Stronger wireless charging (27W)
  • Huawei’s renowned camera processing

  • Potential software limitations due to lack of GMS
  • Kirin 990E 5G slightly less powerful than Snapdragon 865

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • More powerful Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Cleaner Android experience
  • Wider app compatibility

  • Slower wired charging (30W)
  • Lower wireless charging speed (30W)
  • Less powerful reverse wireless charging

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and panel type (OLED is assumed for both) are missing. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s larger screen size (6.78 inches vs. the Mate 30E Pro 5G’s 6.53 inches) offers a more immersive viewing experience. Without specific data on color accuracy or refresh rate, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s larger canvas is a notable advantage.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having strong camera systems, but specifics are limited. The absence of sensor size details makes a direct comparison difficult. However, Huawei is renowned for its image processing algorithms, and the Mate 30E Pro 5G likely benefits from this expertise. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system is versatile, but without detailed specifications, it’s hard to assess its advantage. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is assumed on both, but the aperture and sensor size of the main lenses would be crucial for low-light performance. We'll assume the OnePlus 8 Pro has a more versatile camera system due to its wider availability of detailed reviews.

Performance

The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) features a Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, while the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G utilizes a Kirin 990E 5G (7nm+) with a slightly higher clocked Cortex-A76 (2.86 GHz). However, the Snapdragon 865’s architecture and Adreno 650 GPU generally provide superior sustained performance and gaming capabilities. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s availability with up to 12GB of RAM, paired with LPDDR5, further enhances its multitasking prowess. While the Kirin 990E 5G is no slouch, the Snapdragon 865 is the more potent performer, especially in graphically intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. The OnePlus 8 Pro supports 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), while the Mate 30E Pro 5G offers 40W wired charging and 27W wireless charging. The Mate 30E Pro 5G’s faster wired charging is a clear advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s 3W reverse wireless charging is significantly lower than the Mate 30E Pro 5G’s reverse wireless capability, making the Huawei device more useful for charging accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G if you prioritize fast 40W wired and 27W wireless charging, and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software and potential limitations due to the lack of full Google Mobile Services. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a cleaner Android experience, a slightly more powerful processor for demanding tasks, and a wider range of app compatibility without GMS concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990E 5G chipset in the Mate 30E Pro 5G experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990E 5G is a capable chipset, it's known to be more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865. This means that sustained performance during long gaming sessions may decrease as the phone heats up. The OnePlus 8 Pro, with its Snapdragon 865 and potentially better thermal management, is likely to maintain higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 30E Pro 5G impact app availability and usability?
The absence of GMS means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store and core Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. Huawei provides its own app ecosystem (AppGallery) and allows sideloading of apps, but compatibility can be an issue. While many popular apps have been ported or workarounds exist, the experience isn't as seamless as on a GMS-enabled device like the OnePlus 8 Pro.
❓ What is the real-world difference in charging speed between the 40W wired charging of the Mate 30E Pro 5G and the 30W wired charging of the OnePlus 8 Pro?
The Mate 30E Pro 5G’s 40W charging is noticeably faster. While the OnePlus 8 Pro reaches 50% charge in 23 minutes, the Mate 30E Pro 5G will likely achieve a similar percentage in less time. This translates to less time tethered to a charger, which is a significant benefit for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.