Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate vs vivo X90 Pro+: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate and the vivo X90 Pro+ represent the pinnacle of Chinese smartphone engineering, but they approach flagship status from different angles. The Mate 60 RS Ultimate, powered by the domestically produced Kirin 9000S, aims for a blend of luxury and self-sufficiency. The X90 Pro+, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, prioritizes raw performance and a refined camera experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent, top-tier performance and a well-rounded camera system, the vivo X90 Pro+ emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a more mature and efficient platform, translating to smoother gaming and potentially better long-term software support. However, the Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s unique design and Kirin chip appeal to a niche audience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate vivo X90 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, September 252022, November 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 28Available. Released 2022, December 06
Body
Build-Glass front, aluminum frame, eco leather back
Dimensions163.7 x 79 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 3.11 x 0.32 in)164.4 x 75.3 x 9.7 mm (6.47 x 2.96 x 0.38 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight242 g or 246 g (8.54 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2-
Resolution1260 x 2720 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~440 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 114.4 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120HzLTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.62 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9000S (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910 MP4Adreno 740
OSHarmonyOS 4.0 (China)Android 13, Funtouch (Global), Origin OS 3 (China)
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.6, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.4", 0.7µm, AF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, AF
Single-32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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), PDAF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR Vivid, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, 14-bit RAW video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR Vivid1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2, 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
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
Battery
Charging88W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 20W reverse wireless80W wired, 100% in 33 min (advertised) 50W wireless Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, RedBlack, Red
ModelsALN-AL10V2227A
PriceAbout 1550 EURAbout 1030 EUR

Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate

  • Unique and luxurious design
  • Domestically produced Kirin 9000S chipset
  • 50W Wireless and 20W Reverse Wireless Charging
  • Huawei ecosystem integration

  • 7nm chipset may throttle under sustained load
  • Potential software limitations due to geopolitical factors

vivo X90 Pro+

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers superior performance
  • Excellent camera system with 1-inch sensor
  • Mature Android experience with wider app compatibility
  • Efficient 4nm process node

  • Less distinctive design compared to Mate 60 RS Ultimate
  • May lack the unique appeal of the Kirin chipset

Display Comparison

While both devices likely feature high-quality AMOLED displays, specific details like peak brightness and refresh rate are missing for the Mate 60 RS Ultimate. The X90 Pro+ benefits from a Snapdragon-driven image signal processor, potentially offering more accurate color calibration. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s display engine also supports advanced features like variable refresh rate for improved power efficiency. The X90 Pro+’s display is likely to be brighter and more color accurate, offering a superior viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to excel in photography, but their approaches differ. The X90 Pro+ is known for its 1-inch sensor, offering exceptional low-light performance and natural bokeh. While the Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s camera specs are less detailed, Huawei’s computational photography expertise is well-established. The X90 Pro+’s Snapdragon ISP provides superior image processing capabilities, particularly in dynamic range and detail preservation. The X90 Pro+’s camera system is more consistently praised for its versatility and image quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) in the X90 Pro+ boasts a clear advantage in process node technology over the Kirin 9000S (7nm). This translates to better thermal efficiency and sustained performance under load. The Snapdragon’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, is also more powerful than the Kirin’s Taishan big core at 2.62 GHz. While the Kirin 9000S is a significant achievement for Huawei, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers demonstrably higher CPU and GPU performance, particularly in demanding games. The X90 Pro+ also benefits from LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

The X90 Pro+ advertises 80W wired charging, reaching 100% in 33 minutes, while the Mate 60 RS Ultimate boasts 88W, claiming 30 minutes. The Mate 60 RS Ultimate also adds 50W wireless and 20W reverse wireless charging, features the X90 Pro+ matches with 50W wireless and offers reverse wired charging. The difference in wired charging speed is negligible. The Mate 60 RS Ultimate’s reverse wireless charging is a unique advantage, but the overall battery experience will depend on software optimization and real-world usage patterns.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate if you value a distinctive, luxurious design, are invested in the Huawei ecosystem, and are intrigued by the technological independence represented by the Kirin 9000S. Buy the vivo X90 Pro+ if you prioritize consistently high performance across all tasks, a versatile and highly-regarded camera system, and a more established Android experience with wider app compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S in the Mate 60 RS Ultimate 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 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While Huawei has implemented cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may result in performance drops. The X90 Pro+ is expected to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does Huawei's software experience on the Mate 60 RS Ultimate compare to the more standard Android experience on the vivo X90 Pro+?
The Mate 60 RS Ultimate runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS, which, while Android-based, lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) support. This means no pre-installed Google apps and potential compatibility issues with some apps. The X90 Pro+ offers a more seamless Android experience with full GMS integration.
❓ Is the 20W reverse wireless charging on the Mate 60 RS Ultimate a practical feature for everyday use?
While convenient, 20W reverse wireless charging is relatively slow. It's best suited for topping up accessories like earbuds or smartwatches, rather than fully charging another phone. It's a niche feature that may appeal to users who frequently use wireless accessories.
❓ What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the vivo X90 Pro+ with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the X90 Pro+ delivers exceptional gaming performance, capable of running demanding titles at maximum settings with high frame rates. The Adreno 740 GPU provides excellent graphics rendering, and the efficient 4nm process node minimizes thermal throttling, ensuring a smooth and consistent gaming experience.