Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and charging speed, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G delivers a more balanced experience with excellent battery life, a clean software experience, and a competitive camera, making it the better choice for the average user.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 28 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 09 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 212 g (7.48 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 50 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), PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow | Mostly Black |
| Models | NOH-AL00, NOH-AL10 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 800 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G
- Significantly faster processor (Kirin 9000)
- Blazing-fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Potentially superior camera hardware
- May lack full Google Mobile Services (GMS)
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
- Excellent camera image processing
- Competitive battery life
- Slower processor (Snapdragon 765G)
- Significantly slower charging speed (18W)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a respectable 861 nits of peak brightness, ensuring good visibility outdoors. While the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Huawei flagships typically prioritize color accuracy and brightness. The Pixel 5a 5G’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio suggests an OLED panel, common in this price range, while the Mate 40 Pro 4G likely utilizes a similar technology. Bezels are likely comparable, given both phones aim for a premium aesthetic, but the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s curved display edges may offer a slightly more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones are capable, the Mate 40 Pro 4G likely holds an advantage in camera hardware. Huawei flagships traditionally feature larger sensors and more sophisticated optics. The Pixel 5a 5G excels in computational photography, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to produce excellent results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. However, the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s superior hardware, combined with Huawei’s image processing, could deliver greater detail and dynamic range. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 40 Pro 4G makes a precise comparison difficult, but its flagship status suggests a more advanced camera system overall.
Performance
The Kirin 9000 (5nm) in the Mate 40 Pro 4G represents a significant leap in processing power compared to the Snapdragon 765G (7nm) found in the Pixel 5a 5G. The Kirin’s octa-core configuration, featuring high-clocked Cortex-A77 cores, translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 7nm process of the Snapdragon 765G, while efficient, cannot match the density and efficiency of the 5nm Kirin. The Mate 40 Pro 4G likely benefits from faster RAM (LPDDR5x is probable) further enhancing its performance edge. Thermal management will be crucial; the Kirin 9000’s power demands could lead to throttling under sustained load, a potential area where the Snapdragon 765G’s lower TDP might offer an advantage.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes. The Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging, while supporting PD2.0, is significantly slower. The Mate 40 Pro 4G also offers 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Pixel 5a 5G. This charging disparity makes the Mate 40 Pro 4G the clear winner for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G if you demand the fastest possible processing speeds for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, and if 66W wired and 50W wireless charging are essential. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize a smooth, bloatware-free Android experience, long-term software support, and a consistently good camera without needing the absolute highest performance.