Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G vs Mate 30 Pro 5G: A Clash of Flagship Titans

Huawei's Mate series has consistently delivered premium smartphones, but choosing between generations can be tricky. We're pitting the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G against the Mate 30 Pro 5G to determine which offers the better experience, considering their unique strengths and weaknesses.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 40 Pro 4G boasts a significantly faster Kirin 9000 chipset, faster charging, and a generally improved camera system. However, the Mate 30 Pro 5G remains a compelling option, especially if 5G connectivity isn't a priority and you find a good deal.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G 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, 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 bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2021, June 282019, September 19. Released 2019, October 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 09Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)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
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)198 g (6.98 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 (5 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Mali-G76 MP16
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 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 RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
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), PDAF40 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@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (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/6, dual-band, 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
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, YellowBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green
ModelsNOH-AL00, NOH-AL10LIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10
PriceAbout 800 EURAbout 1440 EUR

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G

  • Faster Kirin 9000 Chipset
  • Superior Camera System
  • Faster Charging (Wired & Wireless)
  • Slightly Better Display
  • Reverse Wireless Charging

  • No Google Play Services (requires workarounds)
  • 4G only (no 5G)
  • Potentially Higher Price

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • Still a Powerful Processor
  • Excellent Camera Performance
  • Good Battery Life
  • More Affordable (potentially)
  • Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Slower Charging
  • Older Chipset
  • No Google Play Services (requires workarounds)
  • 5G Connectivity Limited

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mate 40 Pro 4G has a slightly higher resolution (2340 x 1080 vs 2400 x 1080) and a 90Hz refresh rate compared to the Mate 30 Pro 5G's 90Hz. While the difference is subtle, the Mate 40 Pro 4G edges out in display quality.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro 4G's camera system is a significant upgrade. It features a larger primary sensor, improved zoom capabilities, and enhanced image processing. While the Mate 30 Pro 5G's camera is still very capable, the Mate 40 Pro 4G consistently delivers better image quality, especially in low light.

Performance

The Kirin 9000 in the Mate 40 Pro 4G is a clear winner here. Its 5nm process and improved architecture provide a substantial performance boost over the Mate 30 Pro 5G's 7nm+ Kirin 990 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Mate 40 Pro 4G.

Battery Life

The Mate 40 Pro 4G has a slightly larger battery capacity (4400 mAh vs 4200 mAh) and significantly faster charging speeds (66W wired vs 40W wired, 50W wireless vs 27W wireless). This translates to longer battery life and quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance, top-tier camera capabilities, and faster charging. The Mate 30 Pro 5G is a good choice for those seeking a still-excellent flagship experience at a potentially lower price, and who don't need 5G.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mate 40 Pro 4G have Google Play Services?
No, neither phone officially has Google Play Services due to trade restrictions. Users need to rely on workarounds like Huawei AppGallery or third-party app stores.
❓ Is the Mate 30 Pro 5G worth buying now?
Yes, if you can find it at a significantly reduced price and don't need 5G, the Mate 30 Pro 5G remains a capable flagship with a great camera and display.