Huawei Mate 70 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: The Ultimate Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 70 Pro arrives as a compelling alternative to established Android giants, challenging Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra with its in-house Kirin 9020 chipset and impressive charging capabilities. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two powerhouses, focusing on real-world performance, camera prowess, and battery endurance to determine which reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance, a mature software ecosystem, and a brighter display, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the safer bet. However, the Huawei Mate 70 Pro’s blazing-fast 100W charging and potentially unique software experience make it a strong contender for those seeking innovation.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 70 Pro 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
Announced2024, November 262024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 26Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frameGlass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions164.6 x 79.5 x 8.2 mm (6.48 x 3.13 x 0.32 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
Weight221 g (7.80 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1316 x 2832 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 117.4 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz) - PLR-AL00Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz & 3x2.0 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz) - PLR-AL508-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSHarmonyOS 4.3Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB 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/1.4-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-
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+
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@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 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB 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
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Purple, White, GreenTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsPLR-AL00, PLR-AL50SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 860 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 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired charging
  • 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than S24 Ultra
  • Potentially unique software features and ecosystem

  • Kirin 9020 chipset may not match Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in sustained performance
  • Software ecosystem and app compatibility may be limited

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Superior CPU and GPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Mature software ecosystem and long-term support

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Mate 70 Pro
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1447 nits measured, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 70 Pro’s display specs are not provided, Huawei typically employs OLED panels; however, without nit figures, it’s difficult to assess its outdoor performance. The S24 Ultra’s likely use of LTPO technology allows for dynamic refresh rate scaling, conserving battery life, a feature we expect but cannot confirm for the Mate 70 Pro. The S24 Ultra’s superior brightness and confirmed LTPO tech give it a clear edge for users who spend significant time outdoors or prioritize battery efficiency.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver excellent camera performance, but details are limited for the Mate 70 Pro. The S24 Ultra’s camera system is renowned for its versatility and image processing. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown for the Mate 70 Pro, the S24 Ultra’s likely features a large main sensor with advanced OIS, enabling exceptional low-light photography and stable video recording. Huawei’s strength traditionally lies in computational photography, so the Mate 70 Pro could excel in specific scenarios. However, without detailed specifications, the S24 Ultra’s established reputation and likely superior hardware give it an advantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 9020 (7nm) versus Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, fabricated on a more advanced 4nm process, inherently offers better power efficiency and thermal headroom. Its CPU configuration – a 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 prime core alongside three 3.1GHz Cortex-A720 cores – is designed for sustained peak performance. The Kirin 9020, while utilizing an octa-core setup, operates on a less efficient 7nm node. While the Kirin 9020’s clock speeds are competitive, the Snapdragon’s architectural advantages and process node translate to superior sustained performance, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The S24 Ultra’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, contributing to a smoother overall experience.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra achieves an impressive 13:49h of active use, demonstrating excellent battery endurance. The Mate 70 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging: 100W wired, 80W wireless, and even 20W reverse wireless. The S24 Ultra offers 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless. While the Mate 70 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, the 100W charging allows for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the S24 Ultra’s 65% in 30 minutes. This makes the Mate 70 Pro ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly, even if the overall battery life isn’t as long as the S24 Ultra’s.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Pro if you need unparalleled charging speeds, are comfortable with Huawei’s ecosystem, and prioritize a potentially more unique software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prefer a polished, feature-rich experience, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and the assurance of widespread app compatibility and long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 chipset in the Mate 70 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm advantage, the Kirin 9020 is more likely to experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, the Snapdragon’s inherent efficiency provides a greater margin for maintaining peak performance over longer periods.
❓ How does Huawei’s HarmonyOS compare to Samsung’s One UI in terms of app availability and user experience?
HarmonyOS is still maturing, and app availability remains a concern compared to Android with Google Mobile Services. While Huawei is actively expanding its app ecosystem, users may encounter compatibility issues with certain popular apps. Samsung’s One UI offers a more polished and feature-rich experience with guaranteed access to a vast library of applications.
❓ Is the 80W wireless charging on the Mate 70 Pro compatible with standard Qi wireless chargers?
While the Mate 70 Pro supports the Qi standard for wireless charging, achieving the full 80W requires a compatible Huawei wireless charger. Standard Qi chargers will likely deliver slower charging speeds, typically around 15W.
❓ What are the implications of the Kirin 9020's PLR-AL00 and PLR-AL50 variants?
The slight CPU clock speed differences between the PLR-AL00 (2.5GHz prime core) and PLR-AL50 (2.4GHz prime core) variants suggest minor regional or carrier-specific optimizations. The performance difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use.