Oppo Find X3 Neo vs Huawei Mate 40E 4G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Flagships

The Huawei Mate 40E 4G and Oppo Find X3 Neo represent compelling options in a shrinking market segment: the mid-range flagship. Both phones aim to deliver a premium experience without the top-tier price tag, but they achieve this through different approaches. The Mate 40E 4G relies on Huawei’s Kirin 990E chipset, while the Find X3 Neo leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. This comparison dives deep into the nuances of each device to determine which offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Oppo Find X3 Neo is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in demanding tasks and gaming. While the Mate 40E 4G offers competitive features like wireless charging, the X3 Neo’s faster 65W wired charging and overall processing power make it the winner.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40E 4G Oppo Find X3 Neo
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, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2021, June 282021, March 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 29Available. Released 2021, March 19
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)159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.85 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)184 g (6.49 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 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR10, 90HzAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1100 nits (peak)
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 12, ColorOS
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
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@30/60fps; gyro-EIS, HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaPanorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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, LE5.2, 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+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired 40W wireless 5W reverse wired65W wired, 100% in 35 min Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsSilver, White, BlackGalactic Silver, Starlight Black
ModelsOCE-AL50CPH2207
PriceAbout 550 EURAbout 180 EUR

Huawei Mate 40E 4G

  • Wireless charging support
  • Reverse wired charging
  • Huawei ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 865

Oppo Find X3 Neo

  • Faster 65W wired charging
  • More powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
  • Superior GPU performance for gaming

  • No wireless charging
  • Relies on ColorOS instead of EMUI

Display Comparison

Neither Huawei nor Oppo specified display details beyond resolution in their marketing materials. However, both devices likely utilize AMOLED panels given the flagship aspirations. The key difference lies in the processing power driving them. The Snapdragon 865 in the Find X3 Neo has a more powerful ISP, potentially leading to better image processing for display output. While both are 7nm+ chips, the Snapdragon 865’s architecture is optimized for higher sustained performance, which could translate to smoother animations and a more responsive user interface.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed sensor specifications, a direct camera comparison is difficult. However, both phones likely feature multi-camera setups aimed at versatility. The Snapdragon 865’s image signal processor (ISP) is a key advantage for the Find X3 Neo, enabling faster image processing, better dynamic range, and improved low-light performance. The Kirin 990E’s ISP is capable, but generally lags behind Qualcomm’s offerings in terms of computational photography. The absence of detailed camera specs suggests neither phone is aiming to compete with dedicated camera flagships.

Performance

The Oppo Find X3 Neo’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset is the clear winner in this category. While both chips are fabricated on a 7nm+ process, the Snapdragon 865 features a newer Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, compared to the Mate 40E 4G’s 2.86 GHz Cortex-A76. The Snapdragon 865 also boasts a more powerful Adreno 650 GPU, offering significantly better graphics performance. The Kirin 990E’s octa-core configuration, with its mix of A76 and A55 cores, is competent, but it can’t match the Snapdragon’s sustained performance under heavy load. This difference is particularly noticeable in graphically intensive games.

Battery Life

The Oppo Find X3 Neo’s 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging is a game-changer, promising a full charge in just 35 minutes. This is significantly faster than the Huawei Mate 40E 4G’s 40W wired and 40W wireless charging. While the Mate 40E 4G offers the convenience of wireless charging and 5W reverse wired charging, the X3 Neo’s speed is a major advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. Battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, but the charging speed difference is substantial enough to offset any potential capacity disparity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40E 4G if you prioritize wireless charging and are deeply embedded in the Huawei ecosystem, potentially benefiting from seamless integration with other Huawei devices. Buy the Oppo Find X3 Neo if you prioritize raw performance, faster charging speeds, and a more open Android experience without Google Mobile Services concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990E in the Mate 40E 4G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Kirin 990E, while capable, will likely exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 865 in the Find X3 Neo. The Snapdragon 865’s more powerful GPU and optimized thermal management provide a smoother gaming experience.
❓ Is the lack of 5G connectivity on the Mate 40E 4G a significant drawback in 2024?
For users in areas with widespread 5G coverage, the lack of 5G on the Mate 40E 4G is a limitation. However, 4G remains widely available, and the difference in real-world speeds may not be noticeable for all users. The Find X3 Neo does support 5G, but its benefit depends on network availability and user location.
❓ How does the software experience differ between EMUI on the Huawei and ColorOS on the Oppo?
EMUI, found on the Mate 40E 4G, is known for its customization options but has historically been criticized for its aggressive battery management. ColorOS, on the Oppo Find X3 Neo, offers a cleaner, more streamlined experience, often praised for its speed and responsiveness. Importantly, the Mate 40E 4G lacks Google Mobile Services, requiring users to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and workarounds.