Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Luxury Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design represented a peak in Huawei’s hardware capabilities, blending cutting-edge specs with a luxury aesthetic. The OnePlus 9 Pro, arriving shortly after, aimed to disrupt the market with its Hasselblad-tuned camera and competitive pricing. This comparison dissects these two 5nm titans, revealing which offers the superior experience in 2024.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience and readily available software, the OnePlus 9 Pro emerges as the more practical choice. While the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design boasts impressive charging speeds and a unique design, its software limitations and potential network connectivity issues due to ongoing restrictions diminish its overall appeal.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design OnePlus 9 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) / 1800 / 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, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 04Available. Released 2021, March 30
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 10.1 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.40 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
Weight234 g (8.25 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzLTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-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)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 SFS 1.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, 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/1.8, 18mm (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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz 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 (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
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, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, infrared thermometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White, Ceramic Black, Collector EditionMorning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
ModelsNOP-AN00LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127
PriceAbout 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 RS Porsche Design

  • Unmatched 66W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds
  • Unique and luxurious Porsche Design aesthetic
  • Powerful Kirin 9000 5G chipset

  • Limited software ecosystem due to lack of full Google Mobile Services
  • Potential network connectivity issues due to geopolitical factors
  • Less readily available globally

OnePlus 9 Pro

  • Streamlined Android experience with OxygenOS
  • Hasselblad-tuned camera system for accurate colors
  • Wider availability and support

  • Slightly slower charging speeds compared to Huawei
  • Snapdragon 888 can experience thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Design is less distinctive than the Porsche Design model

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design’s display specs aren’t explicitly provided, Huawei historically prioritizes color accuracy and vibrancy. Both likely utilize OLED panels, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s higher measured brightness gives it an edge in direct sunlight. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s adaptive refresh rate (likely LTPO) contributes to better power efficiency, a factor not detailed for the Mate 40 RS.

Camera Comparison

The OnePlus 9 Pro’s collaboration with Hasselblad focused on color science and image processing, aiming for more natural and accurate tones. While specific sensor details aren’t provided for the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design, Huawei’s strength lies in computational photography and image stabilization. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera system benefits from a larger main sensor (assumed, based on market positioning) and advanced OIS, providing better low-light performance and video stabilization. The Mate 40 RS Porsche Design likely excels in zoom capabilities, a Huawei hallmark, but the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more consistent and user-friendly camera experience.

Performance

Both devices are powered by 5nm chipsets, but the architectures differ significantly. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, designed for peak performance, while the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design utilizes the Kirin 9000 with a Cortex-A77 based core at 3.13 GHz. While the Kirin’s clock speed is higher, the Snapdragon 888’s newer architecture and Adreno 660 GPU generally translate to superior sustained performance and gaming capabilities. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the OnePlus 9 Pro’s optimized software and thermal management likely result in less throttling during extended demanding tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones boast an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the charging speeds are where they diverge. The Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design supports a blistering 66W wired charging, capable of fully charging the device significantly faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging (29 minutes to 100%). Furthermore, the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design offers 50W wireless charging, substantially faster than the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to 100%). Both offer 5W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design if you prioritize ultimate charging speed (66W wired, 50W wireless) and a distinctive, luxury 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 with Hasselblad-tuned cameras, excellent performance, and broader app compatibility, all at a more accessible price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 chipset in the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 9000 is a powerful chipset, it's known to be more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9 Pro, especially under sustained heavy loads. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s more advanced cooling system and optimized software contribute to better sustained performance.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design impact the user experience?
The absence of GMS means users cannot directly access Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps without workarounds. Huawei’s AppGallery offers alternatives, but the app selection is limited, and compatibility issues can arise. This significantly impacts the convenience and functionality for users heavily reliant on the Google ecosystem.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the OnePlus 9 Pro truly comparable to the 50W wireless charging on the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design, given the different charging protocols?
While both support 50W wireless charging, the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design's implementation is generally faster in real-world testing. This is likely due to Huawei’s optimized charging protocol and power delivery system. The OnePlus 9 Pro takes 43 minutes to 100% while the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design is faster.