Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Clash of Titans

The Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate represents the pinnacle of Huawei’s hardware engineering, a no-compromise luxury device. Conversely, the Google Pixel 8 Pro prioritizes computational photography and AI-driven features. This comparison dissects these philosophies, examining which phone delivers the best experience for demanding users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and incredibly fast charging, the Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s superior AI capabilities, excellent camera software, and longer software support make it the better choice for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate 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 26Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, titanium alloy frameGlass 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-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight249 g (8.78 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 3 (basalt tempered)Corning 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)
TypeDual-layer LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, BT.2020, 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 20GB RAM, 1TB 20GB 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, 1080p@240fps, 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, 1080p4K@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, White, VioletObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsSGU-AL10GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 1470 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate

  • Incredibly fast 100W wired charging
  • Powerful 9-core Kirin 9030 Pro processor
  • 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging

  • Software experience may lack polish compared to Pixel
  • Long-term software support is uncertain

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional AI-powered camera processing
  • Guaranteed long-term software updates
  • Bright and efficient LTPO display

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

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mate 80 RS Ultimate’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, optimizing battery life. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is likely to offer a more modern and efficient viewing experience, especially considering the variable refresh rate.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver excellent camera performance, but approach it differently. The Pixel 8 Pro’s strength lies in its computational photography, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms for image processing. While sensor details aren’t provided for the Mate 80 RS Ultimate, Huawei historically focuses on large sensors and advanced optics. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are likely to be enhanced by the Tensor G3’s dedicated image signal processor (ISP). The Pixel 8 Pro’s software processing will likely provide more consistent and user-friendly results, while the Mate 80 RS Ultimate may offer more flexibility for experienced photographers.

Performance

The Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate’s Kirin 9030 Pro (6nm) features a 9-core CPU configuration, aiming for peak performance. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 (4nm) utilizes a nona-core CPU with a Cortex-X3 prime core, designed for AI and machine learning tasks. The 4nm process node of the Tensor G3 offers superior power efficiency compared to the Kirin 9030 Pro’s 6nm node, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. While the Kirin 9030 Pro may excel in raw CPU benchmarks, the Tensor G3’s specialized cores provide a significant advantage in AI-driven applications.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use and an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Mate 80 RS Ultimate’s battery capacity is unknown, but its charging capabilities are a standout feature. With 100W wired charging, it can likely achieve a full charge significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Mate 80 RS Ultimate also offers 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging, features the Pixel 8 Pro can’t match. The Mate 80 RS Ultimate prioritizes charging speed, while the Pixel 8 Pro focuses on overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate if you demand the absolute fastest charging speeds (100W wired, 80W wireless), a powerful processor for demanding tasks, and are comfortable with a potentially less polished software experience. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize a seamless software experience, exceptional camera processing powered by AI, and guaranteed long-term software updates, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate support 5G connectivity, and are there any region-specific limitations due to US sanctions?
While the Kirin 9030 Pro is technically capable of 5G, the Mate 80 RS Ultimate’s 5G functionality may be limited or unavailable in certain regions due to ongoing US sanctions impacting Huawei’s access to 5G components and software.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G3’s AI processing benefit everyday Pixel 8 Pro users beyond just camera features?
The Tensor G3’s AI capabilities extend beyond photography to features like improved voice recognition for Assistant, faster and more accurate on-device translation, and enhanced security features like malware detection. It also powers features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur, making photo editing significantly easier.
❓ Is the 80W wireless charging on the Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate compatible with all Qi wireless chargers?
No, the Mate 80 RS Ultimate’s 80W wireless charging requires a compatible Huawei wireless charger to achieve those speeds. Standard Qi wireless chargers will likely charge at a much slower rate.
❓ What kind of software updates can Pixel 8 Pro users expect, and for how long will Google provide support?
Google guarantees 7 years of software updates (OS, security, and features) for the Pixel 8 Pro, ensuring long-term security and functionality. This is a significant advantage over Huawei, which typically offers shorter software support cycles.