Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ vs OnePlus 9 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a smooth, readily available software experience and a consistently excellent camera, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the winner. While the Mate 40 Pro+ boasts impressive hardware, software limitations and potential connectivity issues hinder its overall appeal. However, the Mate 40 Pro+ remains a compelling option for those seeking raw power and unique features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 22 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, November 01 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 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 |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| SFS 1.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 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) | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Ceramic White, Ceramic Black | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | NOP-AN00 | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 1400 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
- Potentially higher raw CPU performance with Kirin 9000
- Unique and distinctive design aesthetic
- Fast 66W wired charging
- Lack of full Google Mobile Services (GMS)
- Potential software compatibility issues
- Limited global availability
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Smooth and optimized OxygenOS based on Android
- Excellent camera system with Hasselblad color science
- Fast 65W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Snapdragon 888 can experience thermal throttling
- Design is more conventional
- Software updates may be less frequent than some competitors
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, providing excellent visibility in bright sunlight. While the Mate 40 Pro+’s display specifications aren’t explicitly provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for improved efficiency. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s higher measured brightness gives it an edge for outdoor usability, while the Mate 40 Pro+ may excel in color accuracy based on Huawei’s display calibration history.
Camera Comparison
Both phones prioritize photography and videography, but their approaches differ. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s collaboration with Hasselblad focused on color calibration and image processing. While specific sensor details aren’t provided for the Mate 40 Pro+, Huawei is known for large sensor sizes and advanced computational photography. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system benefits from Qualcomm’s Spectra 580 ISP, offering advanced image processing capabilities. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 40 Pro+ makes a direct sensor-to-sensor comparison difficult, but Huawei’s history suggests a strong emphasis on hardware-driven image quality.
Performance
Both the Kirin 9000 (5nm) and Snapdragon 888 (5nm) are built on a 5nm process, suggesting comparable efficiency. However, architectural differences are key. The Snapdragon 888 features the Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, designed for peak performance, while the Kirin 9000 utilizes a Cortex-A77 core at 3.13 GHz. The Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660 GPU is generally considered superior for gaming. The Kirin 9000’s performance is impressive, but the Snapdragon 888 benefits from Qualcomm’s extensive software optimization and wider developer support. Reports of Snapdragon 888 throttling under sustained load are a concern, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s cooling system mitigates this to a degree.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 86 hours, indicating similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The OnePlus 9 Pro offers 65W wired charging, reaching 100% in 29 minutes, and 50W wireless charging in 43 minutes. The Mate 40 Pro+ matches the 50W wireless charging and offers 66W wired charging, potentially slightly faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro. Both also include 5W reverse wireless charging. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s faster wired charging and wider compatibility with Power Delivery (PD) give it a slight advantage in convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding tasks, prefer a distinctive design, and are comfortable navigating a software ecosystem without full Google Mobile Services. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a streamlined Android experience, a consistently high-performing camera system, and fast charging capabilities with broad compatibility.