Huawei Mate 40 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Android Phones

The Huawei Mate 40, released in late 2020, represented a peak in Huawei’s smartphone capabilities before significant restrictions impacted its access to key components. Now, several years later, it faces off against the Google Pixel 6 Pro, launched in 2021, which showcases Google’s first in-house Tensor chip and a renewed focus on computational photography. This comparison examines whether the Mate 40’s established hardware still holds up against Google’s silicon and software integration.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing software support and a cutting-edge camera experience, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the better choice. While the Huawei Mate 40 boasts fast charging and a capable chipset, the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip and guaranteed updates offer a more future-proof and refined user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40 Google Pixel 6 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) / 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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2020, October 222021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, December 21Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.6 x 72.5 x 8.8 mm (Glass) / 9.2mm (Leather)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight188 g (Glass) / 184 g (Leather) (6.49 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionAsahi Dragontrail GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~402 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.7 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000E 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP22Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 85mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz 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 (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging40W wired 40W wireless 5W reverse wired23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, White, Black, Green, YellowCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsOCE-AN10GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 630 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
SAR EU0.49 W/kg (head)     0.76 W/kg (body)     -
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40

  • Faster 40W wired and wireless charging
  • Potentially higher peak CPU clock speed
  • 5W reverse wireless charging

  • Limited software support and updates
  • Uncertainty regarding long-term app compatibility
  • Less advanced computational photography

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Guaranteed software updates and Android features
  • Superior computational photography and image processing
  • Google Tensor chip with machine learning capabilities

  • Slower 23W wired and wireless charging
  • Potentially less raw CPU power in certain tasks
  • Larger size and weight

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 6 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, significantly impacting outdoor visibility compared to the Mate 40 (brightness data unavailable). Both displays offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels. While the Mate 40’s display specs are less detailed, the Pixel 6 Pro’s larger size and higher peak brightness provide a more immersive viewing experience, particularly in bright sunlight. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for variable refresh rates, enhancing battery efficiency, a feature not confirmed for the Mate 40.

Camera Comparison

The Google Pixel 6 Pro excels in computational photography thanks to the Tensor chip’s dedicated image processing unit. While specific sensor sizes aren’t provided for the Mate 40, the Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is renowned for its dynamic range and detail, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing prioritizes realistic colors and textures, while Huawei historically favored more saturated and vibrant images. The Mate 40’s camera system is still capable, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s software algorithms provide a significant advantage in post-processing and overall image quality. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 40 makes a direct sensor-to-sensor comparison difficult.

Performance

Both the Huawei Mate 40 and Google Pixel 6 Pro utilize 5nm fabrication processes for their respective chipsets – the Kirin 9000E and Google Tensor. However, the CPU architectures differ significantly. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor features 2x Cortex-X1 cores clocked at 2.80 GHz, designed for peak performance, alongside 2x Cortex-A76 cores at 2.25 GHz and 4x Cortex-A55 cores at 1.80 GHz. The Mate 40 employs 1x Cortex-A77 at 3.13 GHz, 3x Cortex-A77 at 2.54 GHz, and 4x Cortex-A55 at 2.05 GHz. While the Mate 40’s primary core has a higher clock speed, the Pixel 6 Pro’s Cortex-X1 cores offer superior single-core performance. The Tensor chip’s integrated machine learning capabilities also provide advantages in areas like image processing and voice recognition, areas where the Kirin 9000E relies more on traditional processing. Both phones utilize LPDDR4X RAM, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip is optimized for its specific memory configuration.

Battery Life

Both the Huawei Mate 40 and Google Pixel 6 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (capacity data missing for Mate 40). However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Mate 40 supports 40W wired and wireless charging, as well as 5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to charge much faster than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired and wireless charging. The Pixel 6 Pro supports PD3.0 and claims a 50% charge in 30 minutes, but the Mate 40’s 40W charging is demonstrably quicker for a full charge. The Mate 40’s wireless charging capability is also significantly faster than the Pixel 6 Pro’s.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40 if you prioritize fast 40W wired *and* wireless charging, and are comfortable with a potentially limited software ecosystem. It’s a strong option for users who value raw performance and don’t rely heavily on Google services. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a seamless Android experience, exceptional computational photography, and guaranteed software updates, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000E chipset still feel competitive in 2024, considering the advancements in mobile processors?
While the Kirin 9000E was a flagship-level chip in 2020, it’s now surpassed by newer processors like the Google Tensor and Snapdragon 8 Gen series. It remains capable for everyday tasks and even some gaming, but it will likely exhibit slower performance in demanding applications and may struggle with newer, more optimized games compared to the Pixel 6 Pro.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate 40 impact the user experience?
The absence of GMS means the Mate 40 doesn’t have native access to Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. Huawei provides its own ecosystem – HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) – with alternatives like the AppGallery, but app availability and compatibility can be limited. Users may need to sideload apps or rely on workarounds to access their favorite Google services.
❓ Is the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip more efficient than the Kirin 9000E, and does this translate to better battery life in real-world usage?
The Google Tensor chip is designed with a focus on machine learning tasks, which are often more efficient than traditional CPU/GPU processing. While both phones have similar endurance ratings, the Tensor chip’s efficiency in specific tasks like image processing and voice recognition likely contributes to a more balanced power consumption profile. However, the Mate 40’s faster charging mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage.