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

The Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate represents a significant technological leap for the company, particularly given ongoing geopolitical constraints, while the Google Pixel 8 Pro continues to refine Google’s vision of an AI-powered smartphone experience. This comparison dissects these two flagship devices, focusing on their core strengths and weaknesses to determine which offers the best overall package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a seamless software experience and consistently excellent camera performance, the Google Pixel 8 Pro emerges as the winner. However, the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s innovative Kirin 9000S chipset and rapid 88W charging offer a compelling alternative for those seeking cutting-edge hardware and aren't deterred by potential software limitations.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate 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, September 252023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 28Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
Build-Glass 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
Weight242 g or 246 g (8.54 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
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB 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
Triple48 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR Vivid, gyro-EIS4K@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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR Vivid4K@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, RedObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsALN-AL10GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 1550 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate

  • Blazing-fast 88W wired charging
  • Innovative Kirin 9000S chipset
  • Potential for unique hardware features (RS Ultimate design)
  • 50W Wireless Charging

  • Software ecosystem limitations (potential lack of Google services)
  • 7nm chipset may face thermal throttling
  • Limited information on camera sensor details

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera performance and computational photography
  • Smooth and refined Android experience with guaranteed updates
  • Power-efficient Tensor G3 chipset
  • Bright and color-accurate display

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Less cutting-edge hardware compared to Mate 60 RS Ultimate
  • AI features may not appeal to all users

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 RS Ultimate’s display specifications aren’t detailed, Huawei typically employs high-quality panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s LTPO technology allows for a variable refresh rate, optimizing battery life, a feature likely present in the Mate 60 RS Ultimate given its flagship status. The Pixel 8 Pro’s color accuracy is renowned, and it’s reasonable to expect similar performance from Huawei, though independent testing would be needed to confirm.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver exceptional camera experiences, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 8 Pro is celebrated for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms for stunning image processing. While specific sensor details for the Mate 60 RS Ultimate are unavailable, Huawei has a history of utilizing large sensors and advanced optics. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also highly regarded, with features like Cinematic Blur. The key differentiator will be image processing style: Google favors a natural look, while Huawei often employs more vibrant and saturated colors. The absence of detailed sensor information for the Mate 60 RS Ultimate makes a direct comparison challenging.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Google Tensor G3 (4nm) versus the Huawei Kirin 9000S (7nm). The Tensor G3’s 4nm process provides a clear advantage in power efficiency, potentially leading to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling. The Tensor G3’s nona-core configuration, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core, is geared towards AI tasks and demanding applications. The Kirin 9000S, while utilizing a less advanced node, employs a Taishan architecture, suggesting a focus on performance optimization within its constraints. The Pixel 8 Pro benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, contributing to smoother multitasking. The Kirin 9000S’s performance will be heavily reliant on software optimization to mitigate the 7nm process disadvantage.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h active use score, demonstrating strong battery life. Its 30W wired charging, while not the fastest, offers 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate significantly outpaces this with 88W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 30 minutes. The inclusion of 50W wireless and 20W reverse wireless charging further enhances its versatility. While the Pixel 8 Pro’s endurance rating of 90 hours suggests excellent standby time, the Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s faster charging is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate if you need a phone that pushes hardware boundaries, prioritize extremely fast charging, and are comfortable with a potentially less polished software experience. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a refined, AI-driven user interface, a consistently top-tier camera system, and guaranteed software updates for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S chipset suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node, the Kirin 9000S is more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 4nm Tensor G3. However, Huawei’s thermal management solutions and software optimizations will play a crucial role in mitigating this. Real-world testing is needed to determine the extent of throttling under sustained load.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) impact the user experience on the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate?
The absence of GMS means users will rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative methods for accessing popular apps like Gmail and YouTube. While Huawei has made strides in expanding its app ecosystem, compatibility and convenience may be limited compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s seamless integration with Google services.
❓ What is 'Bypass Charging' on the Pixel 8 Pro and how does it benefit battery health?
Bypass Charging allows the Pixel 8 Pro to draw power directly from the charger when fully charged, instead of constantly topping off the battery. This reduces heat and strain on the battery, potentially extending its lifespan over time.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on either device useful for more than just emergencies?
While convenient for topping up accessories like earbuds, the reverse wireless charging speeds (20W on Huawei, unspecified on Pixel 8 Pro) are relatively slow. It's best suited for small top-ups rather than fully charging another device.