Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Power, AI, and Charging

The Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent divergent philosophies in the flagship smartphone space. Huawei prioritizes raw performance and charging speed with its Kirin 9030 Pro and 100W wired charging, while Google focuses on AI-driven experiences and computational photography with the Tensor G3. This comparison dissects these approaches to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing ultimate charging speed and potentially higher peak performance in demanding tasks, the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max is the winner. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s superior AI capabilities, refined camera experience, and longer software support make it the better choice for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max Google Pixel 8 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, November 252023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 25Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frame, aluminum alloy backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.4 x 79 x 8.3 mm (6.47 x 3.11 x 0.33 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1320 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~455 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 117.2 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPU9-core (1x2.75 GHz & 4x2.27 GHz & 4x1.72 GHz)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9030 Pro (6 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 935Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSHarmonyOS 6.0Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Quad50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.1, 91mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.2, 140mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 6.2x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p@960fps, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 18mm (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2
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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
Type6000 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Blue, GoldObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsSGT-AL10GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 980 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max

  • Industry-leading 100W wired charging
  • Potentially higher peak CPU performance with 9-core Kirin 9030 Pro
  • 80W Wireless Charging and 20W Reverse Wired Charging

  • Software support and updates may be limited compared to Google
  • Lack of detailed camera specifications hinders direct comparison

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and AI-powered features
  • Guaranteed long-term software updates and security patches
  • Power-efficient LTPO display technology

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Less raw CPU power compared to the Kirin 9030 Pro

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Mate 80 Pro Max’s display specs are not provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s LTPO technology allows for a variable refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz to conserve battery life – a feature absent in the provided specs for the Mate 80 Pro Max. This suggests the Pixel 8 Pro offers a more power-efficient display experience.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is heavily reliant on Google’s computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor G3’s AI capabilities for features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. While specific sensor details are missing for the Mate 80 Pro Max, Huawei has a history of utilizing large sensors and advanced image processing. The Pixel 8 Pro’s strength lies in its consistent image quality across various lighting conditions and its exceptional video stabilization. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Mate 80 Pro Max makes a direct sensor comparison difficult, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s software optimizations give it a significant edge.

Performance

The Kirin 9030 Pro, fabricated on a 6nm process, features a 9-core CPU configuration designed for multi-tasking and demanding applications. However, the Google Tensor G3, built on a more efficient 4nm node, presents a different approach. While the Kirin’s core count is higher, the Tensor G3’s Cortex-X3 prime core at 3.0 GHz is designed for peak performance, and its focus on AI processing provides advantages in areas like voice recognition and image processing. The Tensor G3’s architecture prioritizes AI tasks, potentially leading to a smoother experience in Google’s ecosystem. The 4nm process also implies better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

The Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use, and an endurance rating of 90 hours, demonstrating strong battery life. The Mate 80 Pro Max, however, excels in charging speed with its 100W wired charging, capable of rapidly replenishing the battery. The Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging, while supporting PD3.0 and PPS, is significantly slower. The Mate 80 Pro Max also offers 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging, far exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 23W wireless and reverse wireless capabilities. The Mate 80 Pro Max prioritizes minimizing downtime through incredibly fast charging, while the Pixel 8 Pro focuses on maximizing overall battery longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max if you need the absolute fastest charging available, frequently engage in resource-intensive tasks like video editing, and value a potentially higher peak CPU performance. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize a seamless AI-powered experience, exceptional camera quality with advanced computational photography, and guaranteed long-term software updates and security patches.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How does the Kirin 9030 Pro handle sustained gaming compared to the Tensor G3?
The Kirin 9030 Pro’s higher core count *could* translate to better sustained performance in some games, but the Tensor G3’s 4nm process and optimized thermal management may prevent throttling more effectively. Real-world gaming performance will depend on game optimization and cooling solutions.
❓ Does the Pixel 8 Pro's 'Bypass Charging' feature extend battery lifespan?
Yes, the Pixel 8 Pro’s ‘Bypass Charging’ feature intelligently manages charging to reduce heat and minimize battery degradation over time. By directly powering the device when possible and only charging when necessary, it aims to prolong the battery’s overall health.
❓ Is the 100W charging on the Mate 80 Pro Max compatible with all USB-PD chargers?
While the Mate 80 Pro Max supports USB-PD, achieving the full 100W charging speed requires a compatible charger specifically designed to deliver that wattage. Standard USB-PD chargers may charge at a slower rate.
❓ How does the AI processing on the Tensor G3 impact everyday tasks like voice assistant and translation?
The Tensor G3’s dedicated AI processing unit significantly enhances the speed and accuracy of Google Assistant, live translation features, and other AI-driven tasks. This results in a more responsive and intuitive user experience.