The Huawei Mate 70 Pro represents a return to form for Huawei's flagship line, powered by its in-house Kirin 9020 chipset. It faces stiff competition from the OnePlus 12R, which leverages the proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, focusing on performance, battery, and charging capabilities to determine which offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and sustained gaming, the OnePlus 12R emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, built on a 4nm process, delivers superior efficiency and consistent power. However, the Mate 70 Pro’s 100W wired *and* 80W wireless charging are compelling advantages for those valuing charging versatility.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 26 | 2024, January 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, November 26 | Available. Released 2024, February 06 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum alloy frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 79.5 x 8.2 mm (6.48 x 3.13 x 0.32 in) | 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Huawei Kunlun Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1316 x 2832 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 117.4 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak) | LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz) - PLR-AL00Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz & 3x2.0 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz) - PLR-AL50 | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9020 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Maleoon 920 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 4.3 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS
48 MP, f/2.1, 93mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom
40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 100W wired
80W wireless
20W reverse wireless
18W reverse wired | 100W wired, 100% in 26 min |
| Type | 5500 mAh | Li-Ion 5500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, White, Green | Iron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune |
| Models | PLR-AL00, PLR-AL50 | CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611 |
| Price | About 860 EUR | € 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
Huawei Mate 70 Pro
- Industry-leading 100W wired charging
- 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging
- Potential for superior camera image processing (based on Huawei's history)
- Kirin 9020 offers a unique chipset experience
- 7nm Kirin 9020 may throttle under sustained load
- Limited information on display specifications
- Potential software restrictions due to geopolitical factors
OnePlus 12R
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers excellent performance and efficiency
- Long battery life (14:32h active use)
- Bright and vibrant display (1181 nits)
- Open Android experience
- Lacks wireless charging
- No reverse wireless charging
- Camera performance may not match Huawei's computational photography
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 12R boasts a bright display, peaking at 1181 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 70 Pro’s display specs are currently unavailable, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The key difference here is likely to be color calibration and potentially refresh rate technology; the 12R’s display is likely to be a 120Hz panel. Without further data on the Mate 70 Pro, the 12R currently holds the advantage in measured brightness.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs for the Mate 70 Pro are currently limited. However, Huawei has a strong track record in computational photography. The OnePlus 12R’s camera system, while capable, is unlikely to match Huawei’s image processing prowess without specific sensor details for the Mate 70 Pro. The focus should be on the main sensor size and aperture; larger sensors generally capture more light and detail. Without this information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Huawei’s history suggests a strong camera experience.
Performance
The core of the battle lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 12R’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) utilizes a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, alongside Cortex-A715 and A710 performance cores, and efficient A510 cores. This configuration provides a significant performance uplift over the Huawei Mate 70 Pro’s Kirin 9020 (7nm). The 4nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Kirin 9020’s octa-core setup, while potentially powerful, is likely to generate more heat under sustained load. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also benefits from Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU, offering superior graphics performance.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 12R shines in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 14 hours and 32 minutes. While the Mate 70 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, its charging capabilities are exceptional. It supports 100W wired charging, achieving a full charge in a claimed timeframe competitive with the 12R’s 26 minutes. Crucially, it also offers 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging – features the OnePlus 12R lacks. This charging versatility gives the Mate 70 Pro a significant edge for users who frequently rely on wireless charging or need to top up other devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Pro if you need the fastest possible charging speeds – both wired and wireless – and are comfortable with the Huawei ecosystem. Its reverse charging capabilities are also unmatched. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, a more open Android experience, and excellent value for money. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides a smoother, more efficient experience for demanding tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 9020 in the Mate 70 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm fabrication process, the Kirin 9020 is more likely to experience thermal throttling compared to the 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s inherent efficiency provides a clear advantage for sustained performance.
❓ How does the 80W wireless charging on the Mate 70 Pro compare to the 100W wired charging on the OnePlus 12R in terms of actual charging speed?
While 100W wired charging is faster overall, 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than most wireless charging solutions available on competing devices. The Mate 70 Pro offers a unique convenience for users who prefer a cable-free charging experience, albeit at a slightly slower rate than the 12R’s wired charging.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the OnePlus 12R a major drawback for users accustomed to this feature?
For users heavily reliant on wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the OnePlus 12R is a notable omission. However, the 100W wired charging is exceptionally fast, mitigating this drawback for those who don't mind using a cable.
❓ What are the implications of Huawei's software ecosystem and potential restrictions for Mate 70 Pro users?
Huawei's software ecosystem, while improving, may still lack full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means users may need to rely on Huawei's AppGallery and alternative methods for accessing certain apps. This is a crucial consideration for users heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.
