Asus ROG Phone 5s vs. Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Features

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G, despite its age, remains a compelling all-rounder, while the Asus ROG Phone 5s is a dedicated gaming powerhouse. This comparison dissects their core differences, focusing on chipset architecture, charging speeds, and overall user experience, to determine which device best suits your needs in 2024.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with excellent camera capabilities and fast charging, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G is the better choice. However, gamers demanding peak performance and specialized features will find the Asus ROG Phone 5s the superior option, despite its software limitations.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G Asus ROG Phone 5s
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 - Version 1
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 1
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4
Launch
Announced2021, June 282021, August 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 09Available. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)238 g (8.40 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantRGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, YellowPhantom Black, Storm White
ModelsNOH-AL00, NOH-AL10ZS676KS
PriceAbout 800 EURAbout 1030 EUR

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G

  • Faster Wireless Charging (50W)
  • Superior Camera System (Expected)
  • More Balanced Overall Experience

  • Potentially Lower Peak Gaming Performance
  • No High Refresh Rate Display (Likely)

Asus ROG Phone 5s

  • Superior Gaming Performance (Snapdragon 888+)
  • High Refresh Rate Display (Likely)
  • Advanced Cooling System

  • No Wireless Charging
  • Less Polished Software Experience
  • Potentially Lower Camera Quality

Display Comparison

While both devices feature excellent displays, specifics are limited in the provided data. The ROG Phone 5s, typical of Asus ROG phones, likely boasts a higher refresh rate (144Hz is common) compared to the Mate 40 Pro 4G, offering smoother visuals in fast-paced games. The Mate 40 Pro 4G’s display is known for its color accuracy, but without nit brightness data, a direct comparison is difficult. Bezels are likely comparable, given both are flagship-level devices, but the ROG Phone 5s’ design prioritizes screen real estate for immersive gaming.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro 4G is expected to excel in camera performance, leveraging Huawei’s image processing expertise. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, Huawei flagships typically feature large sensors for superior low-light performance. The ROG Phone 5s, while capable, prioritizes gaming over camera innovation. The Mate 40 Pro 4G’s image processing likely emphasizes color accuracy and dynamic range, while the ROG Phone 5s may lean towards a more vibrant, gaming-focused aesthetic. The absence of details on OIS and lens apertures makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Mate 40 Pro 4G is likely the stronger all-around camera system.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 5s utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.99 GHz. This architecture prioritizes peak performance, crucial for demanding games. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G’s Kirin 9000 (5nm) employs a Cortex-A77 based CPU, offering a strong but slightly less aggressive performance profile. While both are 5nm, the Snapdragon 888+’s Cortex-X1 core provides a performance edge. The ROG Phone 5s benefits from Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU, known for its gaming prowess, while the Kirin 9000’s Mali-G78 MP24 GPU is capable but generally trails behind. Thermal management is critical; the ROG Phone 5s incorporates advanced cooling solutions to mitigate throttling under sustained load, a common issue with the Snapdragon 888+.

Battery Life

Both devices offer impressive charging speeds. The Asus ROG Phone 5s boasts 65W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G matches this with 66W wired charging, and crucially adds 50W wireless charging – a feature absent on the ROG Phone 5s. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s wireless charging capability provides added convenience. The ROG Phone 5s offers 10W reverse wired charging, while the Mate 40 Pro 4G provides 5W reverse wireless charging, making the Mate 40 Pro 4G more versatile for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G if you need a versatile flagship with a strong camera system, reliable performance for everyday tasks, and the convenience of 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, customizable controls with AirTriggers, and a high refresh rate display, even if it means sacrificing some camera versatility and dealing with a less polished software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888+ in the ROG Phone 5s suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888+ is known to generate heat under sustained load. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s incorporates a robust cooling system, including vapor chamber cooling and potentially external fan attachments, to mitigate throttling and maintain consistent performance during long gaming sessions. While some throttling is inevitable, it's generally well-managed.
❓ How does the Kirin 9000's performance compare to the Snapdragon 888+ in real-world application usage, beyond just gaming benchmarks?
For everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback, the Kirin 9000 provides a smooth and responsive experience. While the Snapdragon 888+ has a theoretical performance advantage, the difference is less noticeable in these scenarios. The Kirin 9000 excels in power efficiency, potentially leading to slightly better battery life during typical usage.
❓ Is the lack of 5G connectivity on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G a significant drawback in 2024?
The absence of 5G is a consideration, but its impact depends on your location and carrier coverage. In areas with limited 5G availability, the 4G connectivity of the Mate 40 Pro 4G will likely be sufficient. However, if you live in an area with widespread 5G coverage and frequently use data-intensive applications, the ROG Phone 5s’ 5G support may be more beneficial.