Huawei Mate 40E vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The Huawei Mate 40E, released in late 2020, represents a refined take on Huawei’s flagship formula, while the Google Pixel 6 Pro, launched in 2021, marked Google’s aggressive entry into the high-end smartphone space with its custom Tensor chip. This comparison examines how these two devices stack up, considering the Mate 40E’s current value proposition given its age and the Pixel 6 Pro’s innovative software and hardware.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the superior choice. Its Google Tensor chip, while not a raw performance leader, offers a uniquely optimized experience, and its superior display brightness and software support outweigh the Mate 40E’s faster charging speeds. However, the Mate 40E remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a more compact form factor and who can live without Google services.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 40E 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 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 / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 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
Announced2021, March 102021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 18Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.6 x 72.5 x 8.8 mm (6.24 x 2.85 x 0.35 in)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 (6.63 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning 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 (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990E 5G (7 nm+)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP14Mali-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/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
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)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, 1080p, 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, 720p@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, BlackCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsOCE-AN50GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 600 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
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 40E

  • Faster 40W wired and wireless charging
  • More compact form factor
  • Potentially lower price point (due to age)

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990E)
  • Limited software support
  • Lack of Google Mobile Services

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Google Tensor chip with AI focus
  • Superior display brightness and quality
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower 23W charging
  • Larger and heavier design
  • Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 846 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Mate 40E. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility. While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED panels), the Pixel 6 Pro’s larger screen size and higher resolution contribute to a more immersive viewing experience. The Pixel 6 Pro’s display technology likely incorporates variable refresh rate (LTPO) for improved efficiency, a feature not confirmed on the Mate 40E.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is a major strength, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography. While specific sensor details are missing for the Mate 40E, the Pixel 6 Pro’s larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The Mate 40E likely relies more heavily on hardware capabilities, while the Pixel 6 Pro emphasizes software optimization.

Performance

The Google Tensor chip (5nm) represents a shift in Google’s strategy, prioritizing AI and machine learning tasks. While the Kirin 990E 5G (7nm+) offers a strong CPU configuration with its octa-core setup, the Tensor’s Cortex-X1 prime core provides a performance edge in specific workloads. The Kirin 990E’s architecture, while capable, is older and less efficient. The Pixel 6 Pro benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5 RAM, while the Mate 40E’s RAM specification is unknown. Thermal management is a key consideration; the Tensor’s 5nm process should offer better efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained tasks.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the Mate 40E). However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Mate 40E supports 40W wired and wireless charging, while the Pixel 6 Pro is limited to 23W wired and wireless. The Mate 40E’s faster charging allows for quicker top-ups, reaching a full charge more rapidly. The Pixel 6 Pro’s 50% charge in 30 minutes is respectable, but slower than the Mate 40E’s potential.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 40E if you need a more compact flagship device, prioritize fast 40W wired *and* wireless charging, and are comfortable operating within the Huawei ecosystem without full Google Mobile Services. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a larger, brighter display, a more versatile camera system powered by Google’s computational photography, and a guaranteed long-term software support experience with timely updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990E struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact or PUBG?
While the Kirin 990E is a capable chipset, it may exhibit some frame rate drops or throttling during extended gaming sessions with graphically intensive titles like Genshin Impact or PUBG. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, with its improved thermal efficiency, is likely to maintain more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ How significant is the lack of Google Mobile Services on the Huawei Mate 40E?
The absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS) means you won't have direct access to the Google Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, or Google Maps. Huawei provides its own AppGallery and HMS Core, but the app selection is limited, and some popular apps may require workarounds to install.
❓ Is the 23W charging on the Pixel 6 Pro slow compared to the Mate 40E's 40W?
While 40W is faster on paper, the difference in real-world charging times isn't massive. The Pixel 6 Pro's 23W charging with PD3.0 still provides a respectable 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Mate 40E will reach 100% faster, but the convenience of wireless charging on both devices mitigates the speed difference for many users.
❓ How does the Pixel 6 Pro handle thermal throttling during prolonged use?
The Google Tensor chip, while efficient, can experience some thermal throttling during extended, demanding tasks like video recording or gaming. Google has implemented software optimizations to manage heat, but users may notice a slight performance decrease after prolonged use. The Mate 40E's older chipset may throttle similarly or even more noticeably.