Asus ROG Phone 5s vs. Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro, despite its age, remains a compelling all-rounder, while the Asus ROG Phone 5s is a dedicated gaming powerhouse. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on how their differing philosophies translate into real-world performance and user experience, especially given the Mate 40 Pro's current price positioning.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with excellent photography and long battery life, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro offers compelling value. However, gamers and power users demanding peak performance and specialized gaming features will find the Asus ROG Phone 5s the superior choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro Asus ROG Phone 5s
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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 1
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, August 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 01Available. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)238 g (8.40 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantRGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
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), PDAF64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
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 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
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
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, YellowPhantom Black, Storm White
ModelsNOH-NX9, NOH-AN00, NOH-AN01ZS676KS
PriceAbout 790 EURAbout 1030 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 97h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.9 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 686835 (v8) GeekBench: 3704 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (97h endurance)
  • Fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Strong all-around performance with Kirin 9000

  • Lacks high refresh rate display for gaming
  • Software ecosystem limitations due to US sanctions

Asus ROG Phone 5s

  • Snapdragon 888+ delivers superior gaming performance
  • Fast 65W wired charging with detailed timing
  • Gaming-centric features and accessories

  • Battery life likely shorter than Mate 40 Pro
  • Less emphasis on camera innovation

Display Comparison

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro boasts a display capable of 807 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. While the ROG Phone 5s’s brightness isn’t specified, its focus is on refresh rate for gaming. The Mate 40 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel, but lacks the high refresh rates common in gaming phones like the ROG Phone 5s (assumed 120Hz or 144Hz based on ROG Phone lineage). This difference impacts motion clarity during fast-paced gaming, favoring the Asus device. The Mate 40 Pro’s display is geared towards accurate color reproduction for media consumption, while the ROG Phone 5s prioritizes responsiveness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but approach photography differently. The Mate 40 Pro is known for its photographic prowess, though specific sensor details are omitted. The ROG Phone 5s, while capable, prioritizes gaming features over camera innovation. The Mate 40 Pro’s image processing likely emphasizes color accuracy and dynamic range, while the ROG Phone 5s may lean towards more vibrant, social media-friendly images. Without detailed sensor information for the Mate 40 Pro, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but Huawei’s history suggests a focus on computational photography and high-quality image output.

Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 5s leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.99 GHz, designed for peak performance. This contrasts with the Huawei Mate 40 Pro’s Kirin 9000 5G (5nm) which utilizes a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-A77 cores. While the Kirin 9000’s architecture is complex, the Snapdragon 888+’s Cortex-X1 core provides a significant advantage in single-core tasks and gaming. Both utilize 5nm fabrication, but Qualcomm’s optimizations generally lead to better sustained performance and thermal management. The ROG Phone 5s is built for prolonged, high-intensity gaming sessions, while the Mate 40 Pro offers strong all-around performance.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro achieves an impressive 97-hour endurance rating, indicating exceptional battery life. It supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and even 5W reverse wireless charging. The Asus ROG Phone 5s offers 65W wired charging with detailed timing (70% in 30 minutes, 100% in 52 minutes) and 10W reverse wired charging. While the ROG Phone 5s charges quickly, the Mate 40 Pro’s wireless charging and overall endurance give it an edge for users who value convenience and longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro if you need a versatile flagship with a fantastic camera system, exceptional battery endurance (97h endurance rating), and fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, rapid 65W charging with detailed timing metrics (70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min), and a feature set tailored to mobile esports.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 chip in the Mate 40 Pro overheat during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 9000 is a powerful chip, it's known to throttle under sustained load. The Mate 40 Pro's thermal design isn't optimized for prolonged gaming like the ROG Phone 5s, so expect some performance reduction after extended play. The Snapdragon 888+ in the ROG Phone 5s is generally more efficient and handles heat better.
❓ How does the charging speed of the ROG Phone 5s compare to other gaming phones?
The ROG Phone 5s's 65W charging is competitive within the gaming phone segment. The 70% in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes timings are typical for this wattage. While some phones offer faster charging, the ROG Phone 5s prioritizes thermal management during charging to preserve battery health.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro a significant issue in 2024?
The absence of GMS remains a hurdle for some users. While Huawei's AppGallery has expanded, it still lacks some popular apps. Workarounds like using third-party app stores exist, but they aren't as seamless as using GMS. This is a key consideration for users heavily reliant on Google services.