Huawei Mate 40E 4G vs OnePlus 8T: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance

The Huawei Mate 40E 4G and OnePlus 8T represent interesting points in the flagship phone timeline. The Mate 40E, hampered by the 4G limitation, offers Huawei’s Kirin 990E chipset, while the OnePlus 8T leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on real-world performance and user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 8T emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 offers a more robust 5G-ready platform and faster charging, offsetting the Mate 40E’s wireless charging capabilities. The 8T’s 65W charging is a significant time-saver.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40E 4G OnePlus 8T
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) / 1800 / 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - EU
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN
Launch
Announced2021, June 282020, October 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 29Available. Released 2020, October 16
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.6 x 72.5 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.85 x 0.35 in)160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 2.92 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistant-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.7 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzFluid AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990E (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP14Adreno 650
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14, OxygenOS 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 5 MP (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome)
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)-
Triple64 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)-
Video4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K, 720p@240fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, 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 (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (market dependant)
Battery
Charging40W wired 40W wireless 5W reverse wired65W wired, 100% in 39 min
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, White, BlackAquamarine Green, Lunar Silver, Cyberpunk 2077 Edition
ModelsOCE-AL50KB2001, KB2000, KB2003, KB2005
PriceAbout 550 EUR€ 130.75
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 104h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 586000 (v8) GeekBench: 3126 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 40E 4G

  • 40W Wireless Charging
  • Huawei’s Image Processing
  • Solid Performance for Everyday Tasks

  • Limited to 4G Connectivity
  • Slower Wired Charging Compared to OnePlus 8T
  • Less Future-Proof Chipset

OnePlus 8T

  • 5G Connectivity
  • 65W Super-Fast Charging
  • More Powerful Snapdragon 865 Chipset

  • No Wireless Charging
  • Image Processing May Be Less Appealing to Some
  • Can Run Warm Under Heavy Load

Display Comparison

The OnePlus 8T boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 802 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Mate 40E. While both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, the OnePlus 8T’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior AMOLED panel. The lack of detailed display specs for the Mate 40E makes a definitive judgment difficult, but the 8T’s higher brightness is beneficial for outdoor visibility. The 8T’s 120Hz refresh rate (not specified for the Mate 40E) also contributes to a smoother user experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The focus should be on image processing. Huawei is known for its aggressive image processing, often prioritizing vibrant colors and detail enhancement. OnePlus typically aims for a more natural look. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. The presence of OIS on both devices is assumed, given their flagship status. The 2MP macro cameras on both phones are largely marketing features and offer limited practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8T’s Snapdragon 865, built on a 7nm+ process, features a single high-performance Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz, alongside three additional A77 cores. This contrasts with the Mate 40E’s Kirin 990E, which utilizes two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz and two more A76 cores. While clock speeds are similar, the Snapdragon 865’s newer architecture and Adreno 650 GPU provide a performance edge, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. The 8T’s 5G modem is a significant advantage, while the Mate 40E is limited to 4G. Both utilize LPDDR4X RAM, but the Snapdragon’s optimized power efficiency translates to better sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both the Mate 40E and OnePlus 8T achieve an endurance rating of 104 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The OnePlus 8T’s 65W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 39 minutes, a significant advantage over the Mate 40E’s 40W wired and 40W wireless charging. The Mate 40E’s 5W reverse wired charging is a niche feature, useful for topping up accessories but slow for larger devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40E 4G if you prioritize wireless charging and are not reliant on 5G connectivity. Its Kirin 990E still delivers solid performance for everyday tasks and photography. Buy the OnePlus 8T if you demand faster charging, 5G capabilities, and a more future-proof chipset for gaming and demanding applications. The 8T is the better all-rounder for power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990E in the Mate 40E 4G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 990E is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8T offers superior GPU performance. Genshin Impact will be playable on the Mate 40E, but you may need to lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The 8T will provide a smoother, more consistent gaming experience.
❓ Is the lack of 5G on the Huawei Mate 40E 4G a dealbreaker in 2023?
For users in areas with widespread 5G coverage, the lack of 5G on the Mate 40E is a significant limitation. 5G offers substantially faster download and upload speeds, as well as lower latency. If you rely on mobile data for streaming, gaming, or large file transfers, the OnePlus 8T is the better choice.
❓ How does the OnePlus 8T's 65W charging affect battery health over the long term?
OnePlus employs optimized charging algorithms to minimize battery degradation with its 65W Warp Charge technology. While fast charging *can* contribute to faster battery wear over years of use, the OnePlus 8T's system is designed to mitigate this effect. The convenience of rapid charging often outweighs the minimal long-term impact on battery health.