Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra represent peak Android ambition from two tech giants, albeit with different approaches. The Mate 40 Pro 4G, despite its 4G limitation, boasts Huawei’s powerful Kirin 9000 chipset, while the Mi 11 Ultra counters with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 and a focus on camera innovation. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 888 offers wider 5G compatibility, and the comparable battery endurance combined with faster wired and wireless charging provides a more convenient experience. While the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s Kirin 9000 is potent, the 4G limitation and software ecosystem concerns tip the scales.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, June 282021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, July 09Available. Released 2021, April 02
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
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), PDAF50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, YellowCeramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black)
ModelsNOH-AL00, NOH-AL10M2102K1G, M2102K1C
PriceAbout 800 EURAbout 1500 EUR
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.55 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G

  • Powerful Kirin 9000 chipset
  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Refined EMUI software experience

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Software ecosystem concerns (Google services unavailable)
  • Camera specs lack detail for comparison

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

  • 5G connectivity with Snapdragon 888
  • Faster 67W wired and wireless charging
  • Versatile and highly-rated camera system

  • Snapdragon 888 can be prone to throttling
  • MIUI software can be feature-rich but bloated
  • Large and heavy design

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 943 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Mate 40 Pro 4G (brightness data unavailable). Both devices feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. While the Mate 40 Pro 4G is known for its curved display, the Mi 11 Ultra’s flat panel may appeal to users who prefer less distortion and easier application of screen protectors. The lack of LTPO technology in either device means refresh rate scaling isn't as power-efficient as newer flagships.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography and videography, but approach it differently. While detailed sensor information is missing for the Mate 40 Pro 4G, Huawei’s image processing is renowned for its vibrant colors and strong dynamic range. The Mi 11 Ultra’s camera system is a standout feature, though specific sensor details are not provided. The Mi 11 Ultra’s focus on versatile zoom capabilities and advanced video recording modes gives it an edge for content creators. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 40 Pro 4G makes a direct comparison difficult, but Huawei’s reputation suggests a competitive offering.

Performance

Both the Kirin 9000 (Mate 40 Pro 4G) and Snapdragon 888 (Mi 11 Ultra) are built on a 5nm process, but their architectural differences are significant. The Snapdragon 888 utilizes the Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, potentially offering a slight edge in single-core performance compared to the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s Cortex-A77 prime core at 3.13 GHz. However, the Kirin 9000’s triple Cortex-A77 performance cores could provide strong multi-core performance. The Snapdragon 888’s integrated 5G modem is a key advantage, while the Mate 40 Pro 4G is limited to 4G LTE. Thermal management is a concern with the Snapdragon 888, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load, a factor not explicitly addressed in the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s data.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating comparable real-world battery life. However, the Mi 11 Ultra offers significantly faster charging speeds: 67W wired (0-100% in 36 minutes) and 67W wireless (0-100% in 39 minutes) compared to the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s 66W wired, 50W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless. This faster charging is a substantial convenience factor for the Mi 11 Ultra, allowing for quicker top-ups. The 10W reverse wireless charging on the Mi 11 Ultra is also more practical than the Mate 40 Pro 4G’s 5W offering.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G if you prioritize a unique, polished software experience (EMUI) and don't require 5G connectivity. Its 66W wired charging is also a strong point. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra if you need 5G support, a versatile and highly-rated camera system, and faster overall charging speeds, both wired and wireless. The Mi 11 Ultra is the better all-rounder for the modern user.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 Ultra suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than some previous generations, potentially leading to thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, the Mi 11 Ultra incorporates a sophisticated cooling system to mitigate this, and most users report acceptable performance, though not class-leading in sustained gaming scenarios. The Kirin 9000's thermal performance is less documented, making a direct comparison difficult.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4G impact the user experience?
The absence of GMS means you cannot directly access Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or the Play Store. Huawei provides its own ecosystem, AppGallery, and allows sideloading of apps, but compatibility and convenience are significantly reduced. This is a major consideration for users heavily reliant on Google services.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Mate 40 Pro 4G fast enough for daily use, or is the Mi 11 Ultra's 67W wireless charging a significant advantage?
While 50W wireless charging is respectable, the Mi 11 Ultra’s 67W wireless charging is considerably faster, reducing charging times by approximately 10-15 minutes for a full charge. This difference is noticeable for users who frequently rely on wireless charging.