Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ vs Huawei P50 Pro: A Clash of Flagships

Huawei continues to push boundaries with its flagship devices. The Mate 40 Pro+ and P50 Pro both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different priorities. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone deserves your attention.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 40 Pro+ boasts a more versatile camera system and slightly superior performance thanks to its optimized Kirin 9000. However, the P50 Pro shines with its stunning display and potentially better software experience. It's a close call, but the Mate 40 Pro+ edges ahead for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ Huawei P50 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
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, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, July 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 01Available. Released 2021, August 12
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% 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 (1x3.13 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 5G (5 nm)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 SFS 1.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-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)50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF
Single-13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
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
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+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4360 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White, Ceramic BlackGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink
ModelsNOP-AN00JAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00
PriceAbout 1400 EUR$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 76h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

  • Exceptional camera versatility (especially zoom)
  • Slightly better performance
  • Fast charging
  • Premium build quality

  • Software limitations (Google services)
  • Potentially higher price
  • Curved display can be tricky with screen protectors

Huawei P50 Pro

  • Stunning display with high brightness
  • Excellent color science in photos
  • Refined design
  • Potentially better software experience

  • Lacks 5G connectivity (Snapdragon variant)
  • Less versatile camera zoom
  • Infinite contrast ratio is a marketing term

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays, but the P50 Pro's 754 nits max brightness gives it a noticeable edge in outdoor visibility. The P50 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deep blacks and vibrant colors, though this is a marketing term. The Mate 40 Pro+ has a slightly curved display, while the P50 Pro's is flatter, potentially making it easier to use with screen protectors.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro+’s camera system is its standout feature, with a periscope telephoto lens offering incredible zoom capabilities. The P50 Pro excels in color science and natural-looking images. Both phones capture excellent video, but the Mate 40 Pro+’s versatility gives it the edge for varied shooting scenarios.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Kirin 9000 chipset, but the Mate 40 Pro+ has a slightly optimized version. While both offer flagship-level performance, the Mate 40 Pro+ might exhibit marginally better responsiveness in demanding tasks. The P50 Pro's Snapdragon 888 4G variant is a capable performer, but lacks 5G connectivity.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings of 76 hours. Charging speeds are comparable at 66W wired and 50W wireless, ensuring quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ is ideal for users who prioritize camera versatility, top-tier performance, and don't mind potential software limitations. The Huawei P50 Pro is a great choice for those seeking a beautiful display, a refined design, and a more streamlined user experience, especially if 5G isn't a necessity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ have Google Play Services?
No, the Mate 40 Pro+ does not have Google Play Services. It relies on Huawei's AppGallery and HMS ecosystem.
❓ Is the P50 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio a significant advantage?
While it suggests excellent contrast, 'Infinite' is a marketing term. The P50 Pro's display is still very good, but don't expect a dramatically different experience compared to other high-end OLED panels.