Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android flagship engineering from their respective manufacturers. While both devices command a premium price, they approach the high-end market with distinct philosophies – Huawei prioritizing a refined, luxury experience and Xiaomi focusing on raw power and cutting-edge camera technology. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone delivers the best overall package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and rapid charging, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra emerges as the stronger contender. Its 67W wired and wireless charging, coupled with a comparable endurance rating, offers a more convenient experience. However, the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design’s unique design and Kirin 9000’s efficiency still hold appeal for specific users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, November 04Available. Released 2021, April 02
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 75.5 x 10.1 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.40 in)164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight234 g (8.25 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak)
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 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 SFS 1.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display
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)-
Single-20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, 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 Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic White, Ceramic Black, Collector EditionCeramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black)
ModelsNOP-AN00M2102K1G, M2102K1C
PriceAbout 1400 EURAbout 1500 EUR
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.55 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design

  • Unique Porsche Design aesthetic
  • Potentially more efficient Kirin 9000 chipset
  • Fast 66W wired charging

  • Limited access to Google services
  • Lack of detailed camera specifications
  • Slower wireless charging than Mi 11 Ultra

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Industry-leading 67W wired and wireless charging
  • Open Android experience with Google services

  • Snapdragon 888 can be prone to throttling
  • Larger and heavier design
  • Potential for software bloat

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 943 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Mate 40 RS, for which brightness data is unavailable. While both likely utilize high-quality AMOLED panels, the Mi 11 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a superior ability to render deep blacks. The absence of refresh rate information for the Mate 40 RS suggests it may not match the smoother experience potentially offered by a higher refresh rate panel on the Mi 11 Ultra, a common feature in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra’s camera system is its defining feature. While specific sensor details are missing, the emphasis on ‘Photo / Video’ suggests a versatile and high-performing setup. The Mate 40 RS Porsche Design also focuses on camera capabilities, but without detailed specifications, it’s difficult to assess its strengths. The Mi 11 Ultra’s larger sensor size (likely) and advanced image processing algorithms will likely result in superior low-light performance and dynamic range. The absence of information regarding the Mate 40 RS’s lens apertures and OIS capabilities hinders a direct comparison.

Performance

Both the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra are powered by 5nm chipsets, but their architectures differ significantly. The Mi 11 Ultra’s Snapdragon 888 5G features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, designed for peak performance, while the Mate 40 RS utilizes the Kirin 9000 5G with a Cortex-A77 prime core at 3.13 GHz. While the Kirin’s clock speed is higher, the Cortex-X1 in the Snapdragon 888 generally offers superior single-core performance. The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat under sustained load, potentially leading to throttling, a factor the Kirin 9000’s architecture might mitigate. Both devices utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the specific speed isn’t provided, impacting overall system responsiveness.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the charging speeds are where the Mi 11 Ultra truly shines. Its 67W wired charging, capable of a full charge in 36 minutes, and 67W wireless charging (39 minutes) significantly outperform the Mate 40 RS’s 66W wired, 50W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging capabilities. This faster charging translates to less downtime and greater convenience for Mi 11 Ultra users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design if you value a distinctive, luxurious design aesthetic and prefer a potentially more efficient chipset in the Kirin 9000, even if it means navigating the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra if you prioritize a class-leading camera system, exceptionally fast charging speeds (both wired and wireless), and a more open Android experience with guaranteed access to Google services.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 in the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design suffer from the same thermal throttling issues as the Snapdragon 888?
While the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load, the Kirin 9000’s architecture and 5nm process may offer better thermal efficiency. However, without extensive testing, it’s difficult to definitively say whether throttling is a significant issue on the Mate 40 RS, but it's generally considered to be less prone to it than the Snapdragon 888.
❓ 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 the Play Store. Huawei provides its own ecosystem, AppGallery and HMS Core, as alternatives, but app availability and compatibility can be limited. Sideloading apps is possible, but requires technical knowledge and carries security risks.
❓ Is the 100% charge time for the Mi 11 Ultra's wireless charging truly 39 minutes, or is that under ideal conditions?
The 39-minute 100% wireless charge time for the Mi 11 Ultra is likely measured under optimal conditions (e.g., cool ambient temperature, compatible charger). Real-world charging times may vary depending on factors like battery temperature and simultaneous device usage.