Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Flagship Face-Off
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and fast charging, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ edges out the Sony Xperia 1 III. Its Kirin 9000 chipset and 66W charging offer a noticeable advantage. However, content creators and those valuing a more neutral color science will find the Xperia 1 III a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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) / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 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, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 22 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, November 01 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| SFS 1.0 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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) | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| 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, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Ceramic White, Ceramic Black | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NOP-AN00 | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 1400 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 40 Pro+
- Significantly faster 66W wired charging
- Potentially higher single-core CPU performance
- Versatile camera system with strong computational photography
- Software experience may not appeal to all users
- Display specs less detailed than the Xperia 1 III
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Unique 21:9 cinematic display
- Accurate color science for professional content creation
- Streamlined Android experience
- Slower charging speeds compared to the Mate 40 Pro+
- Snapdragon 888 can be prone to thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.1-inch 21:9 display with a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, offering a unique cinematic experience. While the Mate 40 Pro+’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Huawei typically prioritizes vibrant colors. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a true OLED panel, crucial for deep blacks and accurate color representation. The 21:9 aspect ratio on the Xperia 1 III is a key differentiator, catering to video consumption and multitasking, but may present compatibility issues with some apps. The lack of detailed display specs for the Mate 40 Pro+ makes a direct comparison challenging, but it likely focuses on maximizing color saturation for a more visually striking image.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are marketed as camera powerhouses, but their approaches differ. The Mate 40 Pro+’s camera system is known for its versatility, though specific sensor details are missing. The Xperia 1 III focuses on professional-grade video capabilities, offering features like 4K 120fps recording and real-time eye autofocus. The Xperia 1 III’s emphasis on color science and image processing aims for accuracy, appealing to photographers and videographers who prefer a neutral starting point. The Mate 40 Pro+ likely employs more aggressive image processing for vibrant, shareable photos. Without detailed sensor information for the Mate 40 Pro+, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance definitively, but Huawei’s history suggests strong computational photography capabilities.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The Sony Xperia 1 III utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ is powered by the Kirin 9000 5G (5nm), with a Cortex-A77 prime core at 3.13 GHz. While both are 5nm chips, the Kirin 9000’s higher clock speed suggests a potential edge in single-core performance. However, the Snapdragon 888’s Adreno 660 GPU is a strong contender for gaming. Both devices feature ample RAM, but the Xperia 1 III’s use of LPDDR5 is likely to provide faster memory access. Thermal management will be crucial; the Snapdragon 888 is known to run hot, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load, while the Kirin 9000’s thermal performance is less documented.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite differing charging approaches. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ boasts a significant advantage in charging speed with 66W wired charging, capable of rapidly replenishing the battery. It also offers 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Sony Xperia 1 III offers 30W wired charging with PD, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes, and supports wireless and reverse wireless charging, but lacks the Mate 40 Pro+'s sheer charging speed. The similar endurance ratings suggest that software optimization and power efficiency play a significant role in both devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ if you need a phone that excels in raw processing power, benefits from incredibly fast wired and wireless charging, and prioritizes a versatile camera system. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a cinematic 21:9 display, demand accurate color reproduction for professional photo and video work, and value a more streamlined Android experience without Huawei’s customizations.