Huawei Mate 40E vs nova 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Charging
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing sustained performance and a more refined, albeit older, flagship experience, the Huawei Mate 40E 4G is the better choice. However, the nova 8 Pro 4G’s 66W charging, capable of a full charge in just 35 minutes, makes it ideal for those who value minimizing downtime and a more contemporary aesthetic.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 40E 4G | Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA 800 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 28 | 2021, April 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 29 | Available. Released 2021, June 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 72.5 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.85 x 0.35 in) | 163.3 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.43 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2376 pixels (~402 ppi density) | 1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.7 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10, 90Hz | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.58 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.40 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990E (7 nm+) | Kirin 985 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP14 | Mali-G77 (8-core) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 | Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) | - |
| 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, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) |
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K, 720p@240fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| 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 (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 40W wireless 5W reverse wired | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, White, Black | Black, Blue, Green, White |
| Models | OCE-AL50 | BRQ-AN00 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | - |
Huawei Mate 40E 4G
- Potentially more powerful CPU for demanding tasks
- Likely superior camera system with OIS
- 40W wireless charging support
- Older chipset architecture
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Slower charging speeds compared to the nova 8 Pro
Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G
- Significantly faster 66W wired charging
- More modern design and aesthetics
- Potentially better thermal efficiency
- Slightly less powerful CPU
- Potentially inferior camera performance
- No wireless charging
Display Comparison
While both devices feature OLED panels, detailed display specs are missing. However, given the Mate 40E’s flagship positioning, it likely boasts superior color accuracy and potentially higher peak brightness. The nova 8 Pro, with its more recent release, may benefit from slimmer bezels and a more modern aspect ratio. The absence of high refresh rate information suggests both are likely capped at 60Hz, a common trait for phones in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are unavailable, but the Mate 40E, as a former flagship, likely features a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The nova 8 Pro, while potentially lacking the same sensor size, may benefit from newer computational photography techniques. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is likely on the Mate 40E’s primary lens, offering a significant advantage in low-light photography and video recording. The usefulness of any 2MP macro or depth sensors on either device is questionable, offering minimal benefit over software-based solutions.
Performance
The Kirin 990E in the Mate 40E, fabricated on a 7nm+ process, offers a more complex CPU configuration – two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.86 GHz, two more Cortex-A76 cores at 2.36 GHz, and four efficiency cores. The nova 8 Pro’s Kirin 985, on a 7nm process, features a simpler arrangement: one Cortex-A76 at 2.58 GHz, three more at 2.40 GHz, and four Cortex-A55 cores. This suggests the Mate 40E has a theoretical edge in multi-core performance, particularly in sustained workloads. However, the Kirin 985’s 5G modem, while unused in the 4G variants, indicates a more modern architecture that *could* translate to improved efficiency in certain tasks. Thermal management will be crucial; the 990E is known to run warm under load, potentially leading to throttling, while the 985 may offer better sustained performance due to its more efficient design.
Battery Life
The Mate 40E offers 40W wired and wireless charging, alongside 5W reverse wired charging. The nova 8 Pro significantly ups the ante with 66W wired charging, achieving a 60% charge in 15 minutes and a full charge in 35 minutes. This is a substantial advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the nova 8 Pro effectively mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery size. The 5W reverse wired charging is a common feature on both, useful for charging accessories but not a primary charging method.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 40E 4G if you need a phone capable of handling demanding tasks for extended periods, appreciate a more mature software experience, and aren't overly concerned with the latest charging speeds. Buy the Huawei nova 8 Pro 4G if you prefer a sleek design, prioritize incredibly fast charging to get you back up and running quickly, and enjoy a more modern feature set, even if it means a slight performance compromise.