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

The Huawei Mate 60 and the vivo X90 Pro+ represent the pinnacle of Chinese smartphone engineering, but cater to different priorities. The Mate 60, powered by the domestically produced Kirin 9000S, aims for self-sufficiency and a unique user experience. Conversely, the X90 Pro+ leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, focusing on raw performance and established ecosystem compatibility. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which flagship reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing peak performance and a mature software experience, the vivo X90 Pro+ is the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, built on a 4nm process, delivers superior efficiency and gaming capabilities. However, the Mate 60’s Kirin 9000S offers a compelling alternative for those seeking a unique, domestically-driven smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 60 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 bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, August 292022, November 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, September 10Available. Released 2022, December 06
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, aluminum frame, eco leather back
Dimensions161.4 x 76 x 8 mm (6.35 x 2.99 x 0.31 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)
Weight209 g (7.37 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2-
Resolution1216 x 2688 pixels (~441 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)
Size6.69 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~88.4% 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 4.0Android 13, Funtouch (Global), Origin OS 3 (China)
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB 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
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 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)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, Display Port 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
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
Battery
Charging66W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless80W wired, 100% in 33 min (advertised) 50W wireless Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4750 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Green, PurpleBlack, Red
ModelsALN-AL00, BRA-AL00V2227A
PriceAbout 750 EURAbout 1030 EUR

Huawei Mate 60

  • Domestically produced Kirin 9000S chipset
  • Unique software experience and potential for customization
  • Competitive fast charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)

  • 7nm chipset may suffer from thermal throttling
  • Software ecosystem may be less mature than Android
  • Performance likely lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

vivo X90 Pro+

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers superior performance and efficiency
  • Mature Android ecosystem with wide app compatibility
  • Advanced camera system with excellent image processing

  • Relies on Qualcomm chipset and ecosystem
  • May lack the unique features of the Mate 60
  • Price may be higher depending on region

Display Comparison

While both phones likely feature high-quality AMOLED displays, specific details like peak brightness and refresh rates are missing for the Mate 60. The X90 Pro+ benefits from a likely LTPO panel, enabling dynamic refresh rate adjustments for improved power efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP is also optimized for display processing, potentially resulting in more accurate color reproduction on the vivo. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but the X90 Pro+’s display technology gives it a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

The X90 Pro+ is expected to have a more sophisticated camera system. While both phones likely feature multi-camera setups, the X90 Pro+’s focus on image processing and sensor quality is a key strength. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP is renowned for its computational photography capabilities. The Mate 60’s camera performance will depend heavily on Huawei’s image processing algorithms and sensor choices, but it faces an uphill battle against Qualcomm’s established expertise. Details on sensor sizes are needed for a definitive comparison, but the X90 Pro+ is likely to excel in low-light photography and dynamic range.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The vivo X90 Pro+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) boasts a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2GHz, offering a significant performance advantage over the Mate 60’s Kirin 9000S (7nm). The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Kirin 9000S utilizes a Taishan architecture, which, while capable, is less proven than Qualcomm’s Cortex designs. The X90 Pro+ also benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing responsiveness.

Battery Life

Both phones offer competitive charging speeds, with the X90 Pro+ advertising 80W wired charging (0-100% in 33 minutes) and the Mate 60 offering 66W (0-100% in 30 minutes). The X90 Pro+ also supports 50W wireless charging, matching the Mate 60. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior power efficiency means the X90 Pro+ is likely to deliver longer real-world battery life despite potentially having a similar capacity battery. The Mate 60’s 5W reverse wireless charging is a niche feature, while the X90 Pro+ offers reverse *wired* charging, providing greater versatility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 60 if you need a phone that prioritizes national tech independence, are comfortable with a potentially evolving software ecosystem, and value a unique design. Buy the vivo X90 Pro+ if you prefer a consistently high-performing device with a well-established Android experience, a top-tier camera system, and the assurance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000S chipset in the Mate 60 overheat during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node, the Kirin 9000S is more susceptible to thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). While Huawei has implemented cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may result in performance drops to manage heat. The X90 Pro+ is expected to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does Huawei's software experience on the Mate 60 compare to the standard Android experience on the vivo X90 Pro+?
The Mate 60 runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS, which is distinct from standard Android. While it offers a similar user interface, it lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) support, meaning access to apps like Gmail and YouTube requires workarounds. The X90 Pro+ provides a seamless Android experience with full GMS integration.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on both phones truly comparable in speed?
While both support 50W wireless charging, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's power efficiency in the X90 Pro+ means it can sustain higher wireless charging speeds for longer periods without overheating, potentially resulting in slightly faster overall wireless charging times.
❓ What are the implications of the Kirin 9000S being a domestically produced chipset for the Mate 60?
The Kirin 9000S represents a significant achievement for Huawei, demonstrating its ability to design and manufacture its own high-end chipsets despite US sanctions. This offers greater control over its supply chain and allows for customization tailored to its software and hardware ecosystem.