Huawei Mate 40E 4G vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software support, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice. Its exceptional image processing and guaranteed updates outweigh the Mate 40E’s raw processing power, especially given the Huawei’s limitations with Google Mobile Services.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40E 4G | Google Pixel 5a 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 28 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 29 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 72.5 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.85 x 0.35 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.7 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990E (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP14 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 85mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K, 720p@240fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| 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, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 40W wireless 5W reverse wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, White, Black | Mostly Black |
| Models | OCE-AL50 | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei Mate 40E 4G
- Significantly faster 40W wired and wireless charging
- Potentially higher raw CPU performance with Kirin 990E
- Reverse wireless charging capability
- Lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) – requires workarounds
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- No 5G connectivity
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Excellent camera quality with Google’s image processing
- Guaranteed software updates and security patches
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Less powerful chipset compared to Kirin 990E
- No wireless charging
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G’s 6.34-inch OLED display achieves a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, providing excellent visibility even outdoors. While the Mate 40E’s display specifications aren’t provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 5a’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is noticeable in 2024, but the Pixel 5a’s brightness advantage is a significant win for outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G’s camera prowess stems from Google’s computational photography expertise. While sensor sizes aren’t specified, the Pixel’s image processing consistently delivers excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. The Mate 40E’s camera system, while capable, relies more on hardware specifications. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively compare, but the Pixel 5a’s software optimizations give it a clear edge in real-world image quality. The absence of a telephoto lens on both phones limits optical zoom capabilities.
Performance
The Huawei Mate 40E 4G’s Kirin 990E (7nm+) chipset features a complex CPU configuration – a combination of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores – aiming for high performance. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) offers a more balanced approach. While the Kirin 990E may edge out the Snapdragon 765G in raw CPU benchmarks, the Snapdragon’s Adreno 620 GPU provides a more consistent gaming experience. The Kirin 990E’s thermal management is a potential concern, as it was known to throttle under sustained load, while the Snapdragon 765G generally runs cooler. The Pixel 5a’s 5G modem is a key advantage, offering future-proof connectivity.
Battery Life
Both the Huawei Mate 40E 4G and Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating comparable battery life. However, their charging capabilities differ significantly. The Mate 40E supports 40W wired charging, 40W wireless charging, and even 5W reverse wireless charging – a feature absent on the Pixel 5a. The Pixel 5a is limited to 18W wired charging with PD2.0. This means the Mate 40E can replenish its battery much faster, offering a significant convenience factor. While both offer similar endurance, the Mate 40E’s charging speed is a substantial advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40E 4G if you need a phone with exceptionally fast wired and wireless charging, and are comfortable operating without full Google Mobile Services access. Its Kirin 990E offers strong performance for demanding tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a streamlined Android experience, a consistently excellent camera, and the convenience of 5G connectivity, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed and raw CPU horsepower.