Huawei Mate 50E vs Mate 40 Pro: A Clash of Generations

Huawei's Mate series consistently delivers premium smartphones, but the Mate 50E and Mate 40 Pro represent different points in the brand's evolution. The Mate 50E aims for a balance of features and affordability, while the Mate 40 Pro was a flagship powerhouse. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one comes out on top.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 40 Pro remains the stronger contender overall, boasting a superior chipset, wireless charging, and a generally more premium feel. However, the Mate 50E offers a more modern design and potentially better software support, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable Huawei experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate 50E	Huawei Mate 40 Pro

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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, September 06	2020, October 22
Status	Available. Released 2022, October 23	Available. Released 2020, November 01

Body
Build	-	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)	162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	201 g (7.09 oz)	212 g (7.48 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant

Display
Resolution	1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi density)	1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz	OLED, HDR10, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)	Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L	Mali-G78 MP24
OS	HarmonyOS 3.0	Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF	-
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)	13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	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 3.1, 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/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass	Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	66W wired 5W reverse wired	66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4460 mAh	Li-Po 4400 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Silver, Purple	Mystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow
Models	CET-AL60	NOH-NX9, NOH-AN00, NOH-AN01
Price	About 580 EUR	About 790 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 97h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 686835 (v8) GeekBench: 3704 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 50E

Modern Design
Good Value
Decent Performance for Everyday Tasks
66W Wired Charging

Less Powerful Chipset
No Wireless Charging
Potentially Less Software Support

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Flagship Performance (Kirin 9000)
Superior Camera System
Wireless Charging
Excellent Display
Premium Build Quality

Older Model (Potential Software Support Concerns)
Higher Price
Battery Age (Potential Degradation)

Display Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro's display shines with its impressive 807 nits peak brightness and infinite contrast ratio, offering a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The Mate 50E likely has a good display, but lacks the same level of measured brightness and contrast. While both offer OLED panels, the Mate 40 Pro's display is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the Mate 40 Pro's flagship status translates to a more advanced setup. While specific camera specs are not fully detailed, the Kirin 9000's image signal processor (ISP) generally offers better image processing capabilities. The Mate 50E will still take good photos, but the Mate 40 Pro is likely to deliver superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Performance

Here, the Mate 40 Pro's Kirin 9000 5G chipset takes a clear lead. Its 5nm architecture and higher clock speeds provide significantly faster performance than the Mate 50E's Snapdragon 778G 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Mate 40 Pro.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (97h), suggesting excellent battery life. The Mate 40 Pro has a slight edge with 50W wireless charging, offering added convenience. The Mate 50E's 66W wired charging is still fast, but lacks the flexibility of wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 50E is ideal for users prioritizing a stylish design, decent performance for everyday tasks, and a more affordable price point. The Mate 40 Pro is best suited for those who demand flagship-level performance, a top-tier camera system, and appreciate features like wireless charging, even if it means a higher investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Mate 50E worth buying if I already have a Mate 40 Pro?

Unless you specifically need a more modern design or are experiencing significant performance issues with your Mate 40 Pro, an upgrade isn't essential. The Mate 50E offers incremental improvements, not a revolutionary leap.

❓ Will the Mate 50E receive long-term software updates?

Huawei's software support is a complex topic. While the Mate 50E is likely to receive updates for a reasonable period, the extent and duration remain uncertain compared to brands with Google Mobile Services.