Huawei Mate 70 Air vs. Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Huawei Mate 70 Air and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent distinct approaches to the modern flagship smartphone. The Mate 70 Air, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin silicon, aims for a refined experience, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro throws down the gauntlet with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This comparison dissects their core strengths to determine which device delivers the most compelling package.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and charging speed, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 120W charging significantly outperform the Mate 70 Air’s Kirin 9020A and 66W charging. However, Huawei’s software experience and potential camera optimizations may appeal to specific users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 70 Air Xiaomi 14 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, November 062023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 06Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
Build-Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions165 x 81.5 x 6.6 mm (6.50 x 3.21 x 0.26 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight208 g (7.34 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun GlassShatterproof glass
Resolution1320 x 2760 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~437 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size7.0 inches, 123.0 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 4000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-coreOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020A (7 nm) - 12GB RAMKirin 9020B (7 nm) - 16GB RAMQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU-Adreno 750
OSHarmonyOS 5.1Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
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)50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide)32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6500 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, SilverBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsSUP-AL9023116PN5BC
PriceAbout 510 EURAbout 650 EUR

Huawei Mate 70 Air

  • Potentially refined Huawei software experience
  • Kirin chipset offers solid performance
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Slower 66W charging
  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Limited information on camera capabilities

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
  • Advanced camera system with superior ISP

  • MIUI software may not appeal to all users
  • Potentially higher price point
  • Faster charging can generate more heat

Display Comparison

While specific display specs are missing for the Mate 70 Air, both devices are expected to feature high-refresh-rate OLED panels. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s likely use of LTPO technology allows for dynamic refresh rate scaling, potentially improving battery efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP is also optimized for display processing, potentially resulting in more accurate color reproduction. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s charging speed also suggests a higher peak brightness capability to handle the power draw.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for the Mate 70 Air, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to feature a high-resolution main sensor with advanced OIS, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s powerful ISP for superior image processing. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s ISP excels in low-light photography and dynamic range. Huawei historically focuses on computational photography, so the Mate 70 Air may offer unique image processing characteristics, but the Snapdragon’s hardware advantage is substantial. We anticipate the Xiaomi 14 Pro to offer more versatile video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) represents a significant leap in performance and efficiency over the Huawei Mate 70 Air’s Kirin 9020A/9020B (7nm). The 4nm process node allows for higher transistor density and lower power consumption, translating to sustained performance under load. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime core, clocked at 3.3 GHz, provides a substantial advantage in single-core tasks. The Mate 70 Air’s Kirin chip, while capable, will likely exhibit more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, contributing to smoother multitasking.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 18 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime compared to the Mate 70 Air’s 66W charging. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, providing greater flexibility. While battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s superior charging speed effectively mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s efficiency also contributes to longer battery life during typical usage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Air if you prioritize a potentially more refined software experience and are invested in the Huawei ecosystem. Its Kirin chipset offers a solid, if not leading-edge, performance profile. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest performance, blazing-fast charging, and a versatile camera system, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020A chipset in the Mate 70 Air suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming?
Given the 7nm process node and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s superior thermal efficiency, the Kirin 9020A is likely to experience more noticeable thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. While Huawei implements cooling solutions, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm architecture provides a fundamental advantage in heat dissipation.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro impact long-term battery health?
While 120W charging is incredibly fast, concerns about long-term battery degradation are valid. However, Xiaomi implements intelligent charging algorithms that reduce charging speed as the battery nears full capacity, mitigating potential damage. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also likely incorporates advanced battery protection features.
❓ Is the difference in chipset performance between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Kirin 9020A noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging, the difference may be minimal. However, when performing demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, or running multiple apps simultaneously, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s superior processing power and memory bandwidth will provide a noticeably smoother and more responsive experience.