Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ represented a peak in Huawei's smartphone engineering before restrictions impacted its access to key components. Now, the Google Pixel 6 Pro, powered by Google's first-generation Tensor chip, enters the arena. This comparison dissects these two 5nm powerhouses, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and the overall user experience, acknowledging the Mate 40 Pro+'s age and the Pixel 6 Pro's software advantages.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the more sensible choice. While the Mate 40 Pro+ boasts faster 66W charging and a potentially higher peak CPU clock speed, the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip delivers superior AI-powered features and a guaranteed software support lifecycle, making it the more future-proof option.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ Google Pixel 6 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, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 01Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)210 g (7.41 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 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 SFS 1.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.4, 14mm (ultrawide), PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)-
Single-11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
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, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
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, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White, Ceramic BlackCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsNOP-AN00GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 1400 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

  • Significantly faster wired and wireless charging.
  • Potentially higher peak CPU performance.
  • Mature and refined hardware design.

  • Limited software update support.
  • Potential geopolitical concerns regarding Huawei.
  • Lack of guaranteed long-term app compatibility.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Superior AI-powered features (Magic Eraser, Motion Mode).
  • Guaranteed long-term software updates from Google.
  • Seamless Android experience.

  • Slower wired and wireless charging speeds.
  • Tensor chip may not match Kirin 9000 in raw benchmarks.
  • Larger form factor may not suit all users.

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 6 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Mate 40 Pro+’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Huawei flagships typically prioritize color accuracy and vibrancy. The Pixel 6 Pro’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, indicative of its OLED panel, delivers deep blacks. Both devices likely utilize high refresh rate panels, though the Pixel 6 Pro’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate for improved efficiency, a feature not confirmed for the Mate 40 Pro+.

Camera Comparison

The camera systems are a key differentiator. While the Mate 40 Pro+ is known for its advanced camera setup, details are limited. The Pixel 6 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, powered by the Tensor chip. The Tensor enables features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode, enhancing image quality and creative possibilities. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Without specific sensor details for the Mate 40 Pro+, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s software advantage is substantial.

Performance

Both the Kirin 9000 and Google Tensor are fabricated on a 5nm process, but their architectures differ significantly. The Kirin 9000 utilizes a Cortex-A77 based CPU cluster, with a prime core clocked at 3.13 GHz, aiming for peak performance. The Tensor chip, however, employs Cortex-X1 cores at 2.80 GHz, designed for sustained performance and AI tasks. The Tensor’s focus on machine learning gives it an edge in areas like voice recognition and image processing. While the Kirin 9000 may win in raw benchmark scores, the Tensor’s optimized software integration and AI capabilities translate to a smoother, more intelligent user experience. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the specific speed isn't provided.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Mate 40 Pro+). However, the charging speeds are vastly different. The Mate 40 Pro+ supports 66W wired charging, significantly faster than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging with PD3.0, capable of 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Mate 40 Pro+ also offers 50W wireless charging, dwarfing the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wireless charging. The Mate 40 Pro+ also includes 5W reverse wireless charging, a feature also present on the Pixel 6 Pro.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ if you prioritize raw processing power for demanding tasks and exceptionally fast wired and wireless charging, and are comfortable with a potentially limited software update path. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you value a seamless Android experience, cutting-edge AI features like Magic Eraser, and a guaranteed long-term software support commitment from Google, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 still hold up in terms of gaming performance compared to the Tensor chip in demanding titles like Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 9000 is a powerful chip, the Google Tensor’s optimized software and sustained performance capabilities, coupled with advancements in game optimization, likely provide a smoother and more consistent gaming experience in modern titles. The Tensor’s focus on AI can also contribute to improved resource management during gameplay.
❓ Given the age of the Mate 40 Pro+, are there concerns about app compatibility and security updates?
Yes, this is a significant concern. The Mate 40 Pro+ is several years old, and its software support is limited. Newer apps may not be fully optimized or even compatible, and security updates are less frequent, potentially leaving the device vulnerable to threats. The Pixel 6 Pro, with its guaranteed updates, mitigates these risks.
❓ How does the 50W wireless charging on the Mate 40 Pro+ compare to the real-world charging experience with the Pixel 6 Pro's 23W wireless charging?
The Mate 40 Pro+’s 50W wireless charging is substantially faster. Expect a full wireless charge in approximately 80-90 minutes on the Mate 40 Pro+, while the Pixel 6 Pro will take closer to 2-3 hours. This makes the Mate 40 Pro+ a better choice for users who heavily rely on wireless charging.
❓ Is the lack of 5G mmWave support on the Mate 40 Pro+ a significant drawback in areas where mmWave networks are available?
For users in areas with widespread mmWave 5G coverage, the Mate 40 Pro+'s lack of mmWave support is a drawback. mmWave offers significantly faster speeds and lower latency compared to sub-6GHz 5G. The Pixel 6 Pro supports mmWave, providing access to the fastest available 5G networks.