Huawei Mate 50E vs Huawei P40 Pro: A Clash of Titans

Huawei continues to offer compelling smartphones despite ongoing challenges. The Mate 50E and P40 Pro represent different points in their product cycle, each with unique strengths. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The P40 Pro boasts superior camera capabilities, a higher-end chipset, and wireless charging. However, the Mate 50E offers faster wired charging and a more modern, efficient processor. For photography enthusiasts, the P40 Pro wins; for those prioritizing efficiency and a slightly newer platform, the Mate 50E is a strong contender.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 50E Huawei P40 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ELS-NX9
5G bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - ELS-NX9
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2022, September 062020, March 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 23Available. Released 2020, April 07
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzOLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G76 MP16
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF-
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (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), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired40W wired 27W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4460 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, PurpleSilver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black
ModelsCET-AL60ELS-NX9, ELS-N04, ELS-AN00, ELS-TN00
PriceAbout 580 EUR€ 360.00 / £ 335.00
Pricing
256GB 8GB RAM-$ 714.88
RENEWED-$ 680.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 496356 (v8) GeekBench: 12848 (v4.4), 3197 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate 50E

  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • More modern Snapdragon 778G chipset
  • Potentially lower price
  • Efficient performance

  • Less impressive camera system
  • No wireless charging
  • Older design compared to some newer models

Huawei P40 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Premium display with infinite contrast ratio
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Strong Kirin 990 5G chipset

  • Older chipset
  • Slower 40W wired charging
  • Potentially higher price (depending on availability)
  • Less efficient than the Mate 50E

Display Comparison

The P40 Pro's display is renowned for its exceptional contrast ratio (nominally infinite), offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. While the Mate 50E's display is likely good, it lacks the same level of prestige and potentially the same color accuracy. Both feature OLED panels, but the P40 Pro's implementation is generally considered superior.

Camera Comparison

The P40 Pro's camera system is a standout feature, consistently praised for its image quality, zoom capabilities, and overall versatility. The Mate 50E's camera is competent, but it doesn't reach the same heights as the P40 Pro. The P40 Pro's larger sensor and more advanced processing algorithms give it a clear advantage.

Performance

The Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro is a powerful chipset, though it's now a few years old. The Snapdragon 778G 5G in the Mate 50E is more modern and efficient, offering excellent performance for everyday tasks and gaming. While the Kirin 990 has a slight edge in raw power, the 778G's efficiency is a significant advantage.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the P40 Pro achieving an endurance rating of 94 hours. The Mate 50E, with its more efficient chipset, likely provides comparable battery performance. The P40 Pro also has wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Mate 50E.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 50E is ideal for users seeking a balanced smartphone with good performance and fast charging at a potentially lower price point. The Huawei P40 Pro is best suited for photography lovers who value a premium camera system and don't mind a slightly older chipset, especially if they can find it at a discounted price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Kirin 990 5G still a good chipset?
The Kirin 990 5G remains a capable chipset, but it's showing its age compared to newer processors. It's still sufficient for most tasks, but it may struggle with the most demanding games or applications.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Huawei's software support has been inconsistent. Both phones will likely receive updates for a limited time, but the Mate 50E, being newer, might have a slightly longer support window. However, both are reliant on Huawei's proprietary HarmonyOS.