Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ vs Mate 50 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Huawei continues to push the boundaries of mobile technology. The Mate 40 Pro+ was a flagship powerhouse, but the Mate 50 Pro brings significant upgrades. This comparison dives deep into both devices to help you choose the right one for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 50 Pro emerges as the winner, primarily due to its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offering improved performance and efficiency, alongside a brighter display. While the Mate 40 Pro+ remains a capable device, the Mate 50 Pro represents a clear generational leap.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ Huawei Mate 50 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2020, October 222022, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 01Available. Released 2022, September 28
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Huawei Kunlun Glass
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1212 x 2616 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 111.8 cm2 (~91.3% 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 (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9000 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 730
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesEMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 SFS 1.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
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-13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 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), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
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, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -BDS Satellite Message (sending only)
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White, Ceramic BlackBlack, Silver, Purple, Orange
ModelsNOP-AN00DCO-AL00, DCO-LX9
PriceAbout 1400 EURAbout 900 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 104h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 979921 (v9) GeekBench: 3839 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

  • Excellent camera system
  • Premium build quality
  • Fast charging
  • Capable Kirin 9000 chipset

  • Older chipset (less efficient)
  • Potentially lower display brightness
  • Limited software updates

Huawei Mate 50 Pro

  • Latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Brighter display
  • Improved battery efficiency
  • Enhanced camera processing

  • Higher price
  • 4G connectivity only

Display Comparison

The Mate 50 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 946 nits compared to the Mate 40 Pro+'s likely lower peak brightness (exact figures are harder to find). The 'Infinite' contrast ratio claim on the Mate 50 Pro suggests excellent image quality. Both offer OLED panels with vibrant colors and deep blacks, but the Mate 50 Pro's brightness gives it an edge for outdoor visibility.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems. The Mate 40 Pro+ was known for its periscope zoom lens. The Mate 50 Pro likely has improvements in image processing and low-light performance, leveraging the newer Snapdragon chipset's AI capabilities. Detailed camera specs are needed for a definitive comparison, but the Mate 50 Pro is expected to have an edge.

Performance

The Mate 50 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a substantial upgrade over the Mate 40 Pro+'s Kirin 9000. The Snapdragon offers better CPU and GPU performance, improved power efficiency, and enhanced AI capabilities. While the Kirin 9000 was impressive, the 8+ Gen 1 provides a noticeable performance boost in everyday tasks and demanding games.

Battery Life

Both devices offer similar charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless). The Mate 50 Pro's active use score of 10:36h and endurance rating of 104h suggest slightly better battery life, potentially due to the more efficient Snapdragon chipset.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ is a good option for users seeking a premium experience at a potentially lower price point now that it's older. The Mate 50 Pro is ideal for those prioritizing the latest technology, enhanced performance, and a brighter, more vibrant display, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mate 50 Pro support 5G?
No, the Mate 50 Pro is a 4G-only device, a consequence of Huawei's ongoing trade restrictions.
❓ Is the Kirin 9000 still a good chipset?
The Kirin 9000 is a capable chipset, but the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Mate 50 Pro offers significantly better performance and efficiency.