Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G emerges as the more practical choice. Its broader availability, established software support, and competitive camera system outweigh the Mate 40 RS’s faster charging and distinctive design, especially considering the software limitations imposed on Huawei devices.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - SM-G998U1 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - SM-G998U1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G998B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 22 | 2021, January 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, November 04 | Available. Released 2021, January 29 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 75.5 x 10.1 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.40 in) | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm (6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 234 g (8.25 oz) | 227 g (Sub6), 229 g (mmWave) (8.01 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus support | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 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 (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - InternationalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm) | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 | Mali-G78 MP14 - InternationalAdreno 660 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| SFS 1.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-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/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| 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 |
| Radio | No | FM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, infrared thermometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Ceramic White, Ceramic Black, Collector Edition | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown, Navy |
| Models | NOP-AN00 | SM-G998B, SM-G998B/DS, SM-G998U, SM-G998U1, SM-G998W, SM-G998N, SM-G9980 |
| Price | About 1400 EUR | $ 240.01 / C$ 353.20 / £ 202.99 / € 264.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 384.99 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 998.00 |
| 512GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 1,179.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 459.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 657150 (v8) GeekBench: 3518 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design
- Blazing-fast 66W wired charging
- Unique Porsche Design aesthetic
- Powerful Kirin 9000 5G chipset
- Limited software support due to US sanctions
- Availability is restricted
- Display likely inferior to S21 Ultra in brightness
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Excellent camera system with versatile features
- Bright and vibrant display
- Widespread availability and software support
- Slower charging speeds (25W wired)
- Exynos 2100 can exhibit thermal throttling
- Higher price point for some configurations
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra’s display dominates with a measured peak brightness of 1023 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 40 RS’s display specifications aren’t detailed, it’s unlikely to match the S21 Ultra’s peak output. The S21 Ultra’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The S21 Ultra’s adaptive refresh rate (not specified in the data, but standard for the model) further enhances smoothness, a feature likely absent in the Mate 40 RS.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped with advanced camera systems, but the S21 Ultra’s versatility is noteworthy. While both are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S21 Ultra’s sensor details (not provided) are likely to include a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Mate 40 RS’s camera system is likely optimized for Huawei’s distinct color science, while the S21 Ultra aims for a more natural look. The absence of detail regarding the Mate 40 RS’s sensor sizes makes a direct comparison difficult, but the S21 Ultra’s reputation for consistent image quality gives it an advantage.
Performance
Both devices utilize 5nm fabrication processes, but the chipsets differ significantly. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a choice between the Exynos 2100 (international) and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (USA/China). The Snapdragon 888 generally exhibits superior thermal management and sustained performance. The Huawei Mate 40 RS, powered by the Kirin 9000 5G, features a Cortex-A77 based CPU architecture, while the S21 Ultra utilizes the newer Cortex-X1 and A78 cores. This architectural advantage gives the S21 Ultra a theoretical edge in single-core performance, as evidenced by the 2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 prime core versus the Mate 40 RS’s 3.13 GHz Cortex-A77. However, real-world performance will depend on software optimization and thermal throttling.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating solid battery life. While the Mate 40 RS’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 66W wired charging significantly outpaces the S21 Ultra’s 25W charging. This translates to a much faster 0-100% charge time for the Mate 40 RS. The 50W wireless charging on the Mate 40 RS is also considerably faster than the S21 Ultra’s 15W Qi wireless charging. However, faster charging doesn’t necessarily equate to longer battery life; the S21 Ultra’s endurance rating suggests efficient power management.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design if you prioritize a unique, head-turning design, exceptionally fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, and are comfortable navigating the limitations of Huawei’s software ecosystem. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if you value a consistently excellent camera experience, a vibrant and bright display, widespread availability, and a fully-featured Android experience with guaranteed software updates.