Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G vs Huawei P50 Pro: A Clash of Flagships

Huawei's flagship lineup has consistently delivered impressive hardware and innovative features. The Mate 40 Pro 4G and P50 Pro both boast powerful processors and stunning cameras, but cater to slightly different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which phone is the better choice.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The P50 Pro edges out the Mate 40 Pro thanks to its brighter display, dual chipset versatility (Kirin and Snapdragon), and potentially improved camera software. However, the Mate 40 Pro remains a strong contender with its excellent performance and established reputation. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G Huawei P50 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) / 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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
Launch
Announced2021, June 282021, July 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 09Available. Released 2021, August 12
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 (5 nm)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), 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, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
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), PDAF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, 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 (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4360 mAh
Misc
ColorsMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, YellowGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink
ModelsNOH-AL00, NOH-AL10JAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00
PriceAbout 800 EUR$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 76h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G

  • Excellent performance
  • Proven track record
  • Fast charging
  • Solid build quality

  • Software limitations (due to US sanctions)
  • Less vibrant display compared to P50 Pro
  • Older model

Huawei P50 Pro

  • Brighter display
  • Dual chipset versatility (Kirin & Snapdragon)
  • Potentially improved camera software
  • Sleek design

  • Software limitations (due to US sanctions)
  • May have slightly shorter software support lifespan
  • Price may be higher

Display Comparison

The P50 Pro takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 754 nits, significantly brighter than the Mate 40 Pro. While the Mate 40 Pro's display is excellent, the P50 Pro's higher brightness offers better outdoor visibility. The P50 Pro also boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, though this is a nominal value.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature impressive camera systems, but the P50 Pro is generally considered to have a slight edge. While detailed camera comparisons require extensive testing, the P50 Pro's software optimizations and potentially improved sensor technology give it a slight advantage in image quality and video recording. Both offer excellent zoom capabilities.

Performance

Both phones utilize the Kirin 9000 chipset, offering flagship-level performance. However, the P50 Pro's inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G provides added versatility and potentially improved compatibility with certain apps and services. The CPU configurations are similar, suggesting comparable everyday performance.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings of 76 hours. Charging speeds are comparable with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging on both devices. Reverse wireless charging is also available on both.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance and a proven track record. The Huawei P50 Pro is a better fit for those who value a vibrant display, a more versatile camera system, and the potential benefits of a dual-chipset approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones 5G compatible?
No, both the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G and Huawei P50 Pro are 4G-only devices due to US sanctions impacting Huawei's access to 5G technology.
❓ What about software updates?
Software updates are limited on both devices due to the US sanctions. Expect updates primarily focused on security patches and bug fixes, but major Android version upgrades are unlikely.