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

The Huawei Mate 70 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, but they approach it from different angles. The Mate 70 Pro, powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9020, aims to deliver a premium experience despite ongoing geopolitical constraints. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, leveraging the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, focuses on raw performance and rapid charging. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw speed and charging convenience, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers a significant performance advantage, coupled with the industry-leading 120W wired charging. However, the Mate 70 Pro’s unique software experience and robust wireless charging capabilities make it a compelling alternative for Huawei loyalists.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 70 Pro 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
Announced2024, November 262023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 26Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frameGlass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions164.6 x 79.5 x 8.2 mm (6.48 x 3.13 x 0.32 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight221 g (7.80 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Shatterproof glass
Resolution1316 x 2832 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 117.4 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 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-AL50Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 750
OSHarmonyOS 4.3Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB 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/1.4-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), PDAF50 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
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@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 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB 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
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type5500 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Purple, White, GreenBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsPLR-AL00, PLR-AL5023116PN5BC
PriceAbout 860 EURAbout 650 EUR

Huawei Mate 70 Pro

  • Robust 80W wireless charging
  • Comprehensive reverse wireless charging (20W)
  • Potentially unique software features and ecosystem
  • Huawei's established camera processing style

  • Older 7nm chipset (Kirin 9020)
  • Potential app compatibility issues
  • Slower wired charging (100W)
  • Less globally accessible software updates

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
  • Industry-leading 120W wired charging
  • Faster LPDDR5x RAM
  • Globally accessible software and updates

  • Wireless charging slower than Mate 70 Pro (50W)
  • Reverse wireless charging limited to 10W
  • May lack unique software features of Huawei
  • Potential for aggressive thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

While both devices are expected to feature high-quality OLED displays, specific details like peak brightness and refresh rates are not provided. However, the focus should be on the underlying panel technology. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, being a newer device, likely benefits from advancements in LTPO technology, potentially offering more dynamic refresh rate scaling for improved power efficiency. The Mate 70 Pro, while likely excellent, may not reach the same level of efficiency. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but Xiaomi often prioritizes maximizing screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the market positioning suggests both phones will feature advanced camera systems. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is likely to emphasize computational photography and image processing capabilities leveraging the Snapdragon’s ISP. The Mate 70 Pro, historically, has focused on color science and dynamic range. Sensor size is a critical factor; a larger sensor generally captures more light and detail. The absence of information on sensor sizes necessitates speculation, but Xiaomi’s recent flagships have consistently featured large sensors. The 2MP macro cameras often found on both brands are largely marketing features and offer limited practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) boasts a significantly more advanced manufacturing process than the Huawei Mate 70 Pro’s Kirin 9020 (7nm). This translates to greater transistor density, improved power efficiency, and higher peak performance. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s CPU configuration – 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520 – is architecturally superior to the Kirin 9020’s octa-core setup. The Snapdragon’s Cortex-X4 prime core provides a substantial performance boost in demanding tasks. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing responsiveness. Thermal management will be crucial; the 4nm process of the Snapdragon should allow for sustained performance with less throttling compared to the 7nm Kirin.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 120W wired charging is a game-changer, promising a full charge in just 18 minutes. This significantly outperforms the Mate 70 Pro’s 100W wired charging. While the Mate 70 Pro offers a more comprehensive wireless charging solution with 80W wireless and 20W reverse wireless, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 50W wireless charging is still competitive, reaching 100% in 40 minutes. Battery capacity isn’t specified, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s efficiency could allow the Xiaomi 14 Pro to achieve comparable battery life with a slightly smaller battery pack.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 70 Pro if you prioritize a unique software ecosystem, robust wireless charging (80W), and are comfortable with potential limitations in app availability due to the ongoing restrictions. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest performance, the quickest wired charging (120W), and a more globally accessible software experience with guaranteed updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 chipset in the Mate 70 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The 7nm manufacturing process of the Kirin 9020 is less efficient than the 4nm process used in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This means the Kirin 9020 is more likely to generate heat under sustained load, potentially leading to thermal throttling and reduced performance during prolonged gaming. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a thermal advantage.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro compare to other fast-charging solutions in terms of heat generation and battery health?
While 120W charging is incredibly fast, it does generate more heat than slower charging methods. Xiaomi employs advanced charging protocols and heat management systems to mitigate these effects. However, consistently using extremely fast charging *can* contribute to slightly faster battery degradation over the long term compared to slower, more conservative charging speeds. The Xiaomi 14 Pro's charging system is designed to minimize this impact, but it's a factor to consider.
❓ Is the app ecosystem on the Huawei Mate 70 Pro fully compatible with all popular Android applications?
Due to ongoing geopolitical restrictions, the Huawei Mate 70 Pro does not have full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). While Huawei has developed its own ecosystem, HarmonyOS, and app gallery, some popular Android applications may not be directly compatible or require workarounds. This is a significant consideration for users heavily reliant on GMS apps.