Huawei Mate 60 Pro vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Clash of Silicon and Software

The Huawei Mate 60 Pro represents a significant moment for the company, showcasing its ability to produce a flagship smartphone despite ongoing restrictions. This puts it directly in competition with established players like Google, and the Pixel 8 Pro is a prime example. We’re comparing these two devices to determine which offers the best blend of performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience, especially considering the unique circumstances surrounding Huawei’s latest offering.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a polished software experience, exceptional camera processing, and long-term software support, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the stronger choice. However, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro’s Kirin 9000S offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a unique hardware experience and aren't reliant on the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 Pro Google Pixel 8 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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, August 292023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, August 29Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 79 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.11 x 0.32 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight225 g (7.94 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1260 x 2720 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~440 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 114.4 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120HzLTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9000S (7 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910 MP4Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSHarmonyOS 4.0 (China)Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging88W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 20W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Green, PurpleObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsALN-AL00, ALN-AL80GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 890 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Mate 60 Pro

  • Incredibly fast 88W wired charging
  • Kirin 9000S represents a technological achievement
  • 50W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless

  • Software ecosystem may be limited compared to Google
  • 7nm chipset may be less efficient than 4nm alternatives

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera processing and AI features
  • Guaranteed software updates and long-term support
  • Bright and efficient LTPO display

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Tensor G3 may not match raw CPU/GPU performance of competitors

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts a display capable of reaching 1600 nits peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 60 Pro’s display specs aren’t detailed, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s brightness advantage is significant, and its LTPO technology likely contributes to more efficient power consumption. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is geared towards outdoor usability and power efficiency, while the Mate 60 Pro’s display quality will likely be very good, but potentially less impactful in bright conditions.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver excellent camera performance, but approach it differently. The Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms to produce stunning images. While specific sensor details for the Mate 60 Pro are unavailable, Huawei has a strong track record in camera technology. The Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing prioritizes realistic colors and dynamic range, while Huawei often leans towards more vibrant and saturated images. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also likely to be superior, benefiting from the Tensor G3’s dedicated image processing unit. The absence of detailed sensor information for the Mate 60 Pro makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s software advantage is substantial.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 8 Pro utilizes the Google Tensor G3, a 4nm nona-core processor designed for AI and machine learning tasks. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro, however, features the Kirin 9000S, a 7nm chip. While the Kirin 9000S is a remarkable achievement given the constraints Huawei faces, the 4nm process of the Tensor G3 generally translates to better thermal efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance. The Tensor G3’s Cortex-X3 core (3.0 GHz) provides a performance edge over the Kirin’s Taishan big core (2.62 GHz). The Pixel 8 Pro’s focus on AI processing will be noticeable in features like Magic Eraser and real-time translation, while the Mate 60 Pro will likely excel in raw processing power for certain tasks.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use, and an endurance rating of 90 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Huawei Mate 60 Pro offers significantly faster charging at 88W wired (100% in 30 minutes) and 50W wireless, compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired (50% in 30 minutes) and 23W wireless. The Mate 60 Pro also includes 20W reverse wireless charging. While the Pixel 8 Pro excels in longevity, the Mate 60 Pro prioritizes rapid replenishment. The Pixel 8 Pro’s ‘Bypass Charging’ feature, which reduces battery degradation, is also a notable advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 Pro if you need a phone that demonstrates cutting-edge hardware engineering and are comfortable with a potentially less refined software experience, and value fast charging. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a seamless Android experience, industry-leading computational photography, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, and prioritize AI-powered features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S chipset in the Mate 60 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node, the Kirin 9000S is more likely to experience thermal throttling compared to the 4nm Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 Pro during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. While Huawei has implemented cooling solutions, the Pixel 8 Pro’s more efficient chipset should maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the lack of full Google Mobile Services (GMS) impact the user experience on the Huawei Mate 60 Pro?
The absence of GMS means users will rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and potentially sideloading apps. While AppGallery has expanded, it still lacks the breadth of applications available on the Google Play Store. This can be a significant inconvenience for users heavily reliant on Google services like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.
❓ What is 'Bypass Charging' on the Pixel 8 Pro and how does it benefit battery health?
Bypass Charging on the Pixel 8 Pro intelligently manages charging speed overnight, reducing the time the battery spends at 100%. This minimizes battery degradation and extends the overall lifespan of the battery, a feature not currently available on the Huawei Mate 60 Pro.