Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off

The Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering. This comparison isn't simply about specs; it's about contrasting philosophies – Huawei's focus on rapid charging and in-house silicon versus Samsung's reliance on Qualcomm's latest and a refined software experience. We'll dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a polished ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, coupled with exceptional battery life (13:49h active use), and brighter display provide a more consistently smooth and reliable experience. However, the Mate 80 Pro Max’s 100W charging is a game-changer for those who value speed above all else.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max 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
Announced2025, November 252024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 25Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frame, aluminum alloy backGlass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions164.4 x 79 x 8.3 mm (6.47 x 3.11 x 0.33 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
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1320 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~455 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 117.2 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits (peak)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPU9-core (1x2.75 GHz & 4x2.27 GHz & 4x1.72 GHz)8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9030 Pro (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 935Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSHarmonyOS 6.0Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB 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
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), PDAF200 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
Video4K, 1080p@960fps, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid8K@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/2.0, 18mm (ultrawide), AF 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
Bluetooth6.0, 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
Type6000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Blue, GoldTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsSGT-AL10SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 980 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 80 Pro Max

  • Unrivaled 100W wired charging speed
  • 80W wireless charging capability
  • Potentially innovative Kirin 9030 Pro chipset
  • High reverse wireless charging power (20W)

  • Software ecosystem concerns (potential lack of Google services)
  • Limited information on display quality

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Exceptional battery life (13:49h active use)
  • Bright and efficient display (1447 nits)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
  • Mature and well-supported software ecosystem

  • Slower wired charging compared to Mate 80 Pro Max (45W)
  • Lower wireless charging speed (15W)

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 80 Pro Max’s display specs are not provided, Samsung’s panel technology, likely LTPO AMOLED, offers adaptive refresh rates for improved efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s brightness advantage is crucial for outdoor usability, while the adaptive refresh rate contributes to better battery life. The lack of detailed display information for the Mate 80 Pro Max makes a direct comparison challenging, but Samsung clearly leads in measured brightness.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the Mate 80 Pro Max, a direct comparison is limited. However, Samsung typically excels in image processing and versatility. The S24 Ultra’s camera system, while details are missing, is expected to feature advanced computational photography capabilities and robust optical image stabilization (OIS). The focus should be on the main sensor size and aperture, as these are key determinants of low-light performance. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro lens found on many phones, the quality of the primary sensor and image processing pipeline will be the deciding factors. Samsung’s history suggests a strong emphasis on video recording quality as well.

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) in the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents a significant leap in efficiency compared to the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max’s Kirin 9030 Pro (6nm). The 4nm process allows for higher transistor density and reduced power consumption, translating to better thermal management and sustained performance. The S24 Ultra’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 prime core alongside 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 and 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520 cores – is optimized for both peak performance and efficiency. While the Kirin 9030 Pro’s 9-core setup sounds impressive, the architectural advantages of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, combined with its more efficient node, likely result in superior real-world performance and less throttling during demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 13:49h active use score demonstrates exceptional battery life, a significant advantage over the Mate 80 Pro Max. While the Mate 80 Pro Max boasts incredibly fast 100W wired charging, allowing for rapid top-ups, the S24 Ultra’s efficiency minimizes the need for frequent charging. The Mate 80 Pro Max also offers 80W wireless and 20W reverse wireless charging, exceeding the S24 Ultra’s 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless. However, the S24 Ultra’s 45W wired charging, reaching 65% in 30 minutes, is still respectable. The trade-off is clear: the Mate 80 Pro Max prioritizes charging speed, while the S24 Ultra focuses on overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max if you absolutely need the fastest charging available and are comfortable with the potential software ecosystem limitations. Its 100W wired and 80W wireless charging are unmatched. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prioritize a consistently high-performing device with a mature software experience, exceptional battery life, and a brighter, more vibrant display. It’s the safer, more well-rounded choice for most users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9030 Pro chipset offer comparable gaming performance to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
While the Kirin 9030 Pro is a powerful chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s architectural advantages and optimized GPU generally translate to superior gaming performance, particularly in sustained sessions. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gameplay.
❓ How much faster is the 100W charging on the Mate 80 Pro Max compared to the 45W charging on the S24 Ultra in real-world scenarios?
The 100W charging on the Mate 80 Pro Max can significantly reduce charging times, potentially fully charging the device in under 30 minutes. The S24 Ultra’s 45W charging takes longer, reaching 65% in 30 minutes. However, the S24 Ultra’s superior battery efficiency means you may not need to charge as frequently.
❓ What are the potential drawbacks of using a Huawei device regarding app availability and software updates?
Huawei devices, due to ongoing restrictions, may lack full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means users may need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative methods for installing popular apps. Software updates, while provided by Huawei, may not be as frequent or timely as those offered by Samsung.