Huawei Mate 50E vs Google Pixel 5: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Huawei Mate 50E and the Google Pixel 5. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Mate 50E boasts faster charging and a slightly more powerful chipset. However, the Pixel 5 shines with its exceptional camera software, clean Android experience, and guaranteed software updates. Ultimately, the Pixel 5 offers a more polished and future-proof experience, while the Mate 50E provides better value for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 50E Google Pixel 5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 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
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - GD1YQ
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6 - GTT9Q
Launch
Announced2022, September 062020, September 30
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 23Available. Released 2020, October 15
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)144.7 x 70.4 x 8 mm (5.70 x 2.77 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)151 g (5.33 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 87.6 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 620
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired18W wired, PD2.0 12W wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4460 mAhLi-Po 4080 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, PurpleJust Black, Sorta Sage
ModelsCET-AL60GD1YQ, GTT9Q, G5NZ6
PriceAbout 580 EUR€ 181.31 / $ 272.44 / £ 136.00
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 194.84
RENEWED-$ 253.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)

Huawei Mate 50E

  • Faster Charging (66W)
  • Slightly More Powerful Chipset
  • Vibrant Display
  • Competitive Price

  • Software Updates Less Guaranteed
  • Camera Not as Polished as Pixel 5
  • Potential Huawei Ecosystem Limitations

Google Pixel 5

  • Exceptional Camera Software
  • Clean Android Experience
  • Guaranteed Software Updates
  • Excellent Battery Life

  • Slower Charging (18W)
  • Less Powerful Chipset
  • Higher Price

Display Comparison

The Mate 50E likely features a vibrant OLED display, offering excellent color accuracy and contrast. The Pixel 5 has a 699 nits max brightness (measured) and an infinite contrast ratio, providing good visibility even in bright sunlight. While both are good, the Pixel 5's brightness gives it a slight edge in outdoor usability.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 5 is renowned for its exceptional camera software and computational photography capabilities. While the Mate 50E has a capable camera system, the Pixel 5 consistently delivers superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Google's image processing is a key differentiator.

Performance

The Mate 50E's Snapdragon 778G 5G generally outperforms the Pixel 5's Snapdragon 765G 5G in raw processing power. This translates to smoother multitasking and slightly better gaming performance. However, the Pixel 5's optimized software ensures a fluid and responsive user experience.

Battery Life

The Pixel 5 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 95 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Mate 50E's battery capacity is likely comparable, but the Pixel 5's efficiency gives it an advantage. The Mate 50E's 66W charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 5's 18W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 50E is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a vibrant display, and a good balance of performance and price. The Google Pixel 5 is perfect for photography enthusiasts, those who value a clean and bloat-free Android experience, and those seeking guaranteed software updates and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 50E get software updates?
Huawei's software update situation is complex. While they offer their own HarmonyOS, updates for Google services and core Android features can be less frequent and reliable compared to Google's Pixel devices.
❓ Is the Google Pixel 5 still worth buying?
Yes, the Pixel 5 remains a compelling option, especially for its camera and software experience. However, newer Pixel models offer improved hardware, so consider your budget and priorities.