Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw speed and charging convenience, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G edges out the Sony Xperia 1 III. Its Kirin 9000 offers competitive performance, and the 66W wired charging is significantly faster than the Xperia 1 III’s 30W. However, the Xperia 1 III’s creator-focused features and potentially longer software support make it a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 28 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 09 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 212 g (7.48 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 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) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 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 | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| 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), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NOH-AL00, NOH-AL10 | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 800 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G
- Significantly faster 66W wired charging
- Potentially stronger multi-core CPU performance with Kirin 9000
- 50W Wireless Charging
- Limited to 4G connectivity
- Software support concerns due to US sanctions
- Camera details are less readily available
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Professional-grade camera features and video recording capabilities
- High display brightness for outdoor visibility
- Snapdragon 888 5G offers 5G connectivity
- Slower 30W wired charging
- Snapdragon 888 can be prone to thermal throttling
- Less aggressive pricing compared to older Mate 40 Pro models
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III features a 6.5-inch display capable of reaching 620 nits of peak brightness, making it more visible in direct sunlight than many competitors. While the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s display specs aren’t provided, Huawei typically employs OLED panels with excellent color accuracy. The Xperia 1 III’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, delivers deep blacks. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is notable, focusing instead on color accuracy and cinematic presentation, a key aspect of the Xperia 1 III’s design philosophy.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are marketed for their camera capabilities, but approach it differently. The Xperia 1 III emphasizes video recording with features geared towards professional filmmakers. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the Xperia 1 III’s variable telephoto lens is a standout feature, offering greater flexibility in framing shots. The Mate 40 Pro 4G is known for its excellent image processing and low-light performance, though details on sensor size and aperture are needed for a complete comparison. The absence of information on the Mate 40 Pro’s camera features makes a direct comparison difficult, but Huawei’s history suggests a focus on computational photography.
Performance
Both devices utilize 5nm fabrication processes, but the chipsets differ significantly. The Sony Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 5G features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, designed for peak performance. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G’s Kirin 9000 employs a more complex core configuration with a single 3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 core, alongside three additional Cortex-A77 cores. While clock speed isn’t everything, the Kirin 9000’s architecture suggests strong multi-core performance. Both devices benefit from ample RAM, though the specific LPDDR version isn’t specified, impacting memory bandwidth and overall responsiveness. Thermal management will be crucial; the Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, while the Kirin 9000’s thermal performance is less widely documented.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing charging capabilities. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G’s 66W wired charging is a significant advantage, promising a full charge in under an hour. The Xperia 1 III’s 30W wired charging, while supporting Power Delivery (PD) and reaching 50% in 30 minutes, is considerably slower. Both devices offer wireless and reverse wireless charging, adding convenience, but the Mate 40 Pro’s 50W wireless charging is substantially faster than the Xperia 1 III’s unspecified wireless charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G if you need blazing-fast charging, a powerful processor for everyday tasks, and don’t rely heavily on 5G connectivity. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a content creator who values a professional-grade camera experience, a high-brightness display for outdoor use, and a more minimalist software approach.