Huawei Mate 70 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Huawei Mate 70 Air and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent distinct approaches to the premium smartphone market. The Mate 70 Air, leveraging Huawei’s in-house Kirin silicon, aims to deliver a refined experience, while the S24 Ultra, powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon, prioritizes raw performance and a feature-rich ecosystem. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a versatile camera system, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and superior battery life, evidenced by the 13:49h active use score, outweigh the Mate 70 Air’s faster 66W charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 70 Air Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, November 062024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 06Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions165 x 81.5 x 6.6 mm (6.50 x 3.21 x 0.26 in)162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN
Weight208 g (7.34 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassCorning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1320 x 2760 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~437 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size7.0 inches, 123.0 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 4000 nits (peak)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020A (7 nm) - 12GB RAMKirin 9020B (7 nm) - 16GB RAMQualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU-Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSHarmonyOS 5.1Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 69mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide)-
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, HDR10+
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, SilverTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsSUP-AL90SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 510 EUR$ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999
SAR-1.26 W/kg (head)     0.62 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.06 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)

Huawei Mate 70 Air

  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Potential software optimization within Huawei ecosystem
  • May offer a more compact form factor (speculation)

  • Less efficient 7nm Kirin chipset
  • Limited information on camera capabilities
  • Potential software limitations due to geopolitical factors

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
  • Exceptional battery life (13:49h active use)
  • Brighter and more efficient display

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Larger and heavier form factor
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1447 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 70 Air’s display specifications are currently unavailable, Samsung’s panel technology, likely LTPO AMOLED, offers adaptive refresh rates for improved power efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor users and content consumption.

Camera Comparison

While detailed camera specs for the Mate 70 Air are missing, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to feature a sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing capabilities. The S24 Ultra’s focus on photo and video quality, combined with optical image stabilization (OIS), will likely deliver superior results in various lighting conditions. The absence of details regarding the Mate 70 Air’s sensor sizes and lens apertures makes a direct comparison difficult, but Samsung’s history of camera innovation suggests a significant advantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) versus the Huawei Mate 70 Air’s Kirin 9020A/B (7nm). The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon provides a substantial advantage in thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended gaming or demanding tasks. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s octa-core architecture, with its Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.39GHz, is designed for peak performance, while the Kirin’s octa-core configuration, though capable, operates on a less efficient process. The S24 Ultra’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances data transfer speeds, complementing the powerful chipset.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 13:49h active use score demonstrates impressive battery endurance. While the Mate 70 Air offers faster 66W wired charging compared to the S24 Ultra’s 45W, the S24 Ultra’s larger battery capacity and efficient chipset contribute to longer overall usage. The 65% charge in 30 minutes offered by the S24 Ultra is competitive, and the inclusion of 15W wireless charging (Qi) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging adds convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Air if you prioritize fast charging speeds and are invested in the Huawei ecosystem, potentially benefiting from optimized software integration. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you demand the highest possible Android performance, a class-leading camera experience, and long-lasting battery life, even if it means slightly slower charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020A/B chipset in the Mate 70 Air suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node, the Kirin 9020A/B is more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm process. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, sustained peak performance may be limited during extended gaming or demanding tasks.
❓ How does the 66W charging on the Mate 70 Air compare to the 45W charging on the S24 Ultra in real-world usage?
While 66W is faster on paper, the S24 Ultra’s efficient power management and larger battery capacity mean the difference in overall charging time from 0-100% may not be as significant as the wattage difference suggests. The S24 Ultra also offers wireless charging options, which the Mate 70 Air only offers wired.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the Mate 70 Air a cause for concern?
Yes, the absence of information regarding sensor sizes, lens apertures, and image processing capabilities makes it difficult to assess the Mate 70 Air’s camera performance. Samsung has a proven track record in mobile photography, giving the S24 Ultra a clear advantage in this area.