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

The Huawei Mate 80 represents a peak in Huawei's smartphone development before significant restrictions, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the current Android flagship. This comparison examines whether Huawei’s mature software and rapid charging can compete with Samsung’s cutting-edge silicon and display technology.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers significantly better performance and efficiency, coupled with a brighter, more advanced display. While the Mate 80 boasts impressive 66W charging, it can't overcome the S24 Ultra's overall package.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 80 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, fiber-reinforced plastic backGlass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions161.9 x 76 x 8 mm (6.37 x 2.99 x 0.31 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
Weight217 g (7.65 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2Corning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1280 x 2832 pixels (~460 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.75 inches, 110.3 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR VividDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz)8-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 6.0Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 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
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 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF-
Video4K, 1080p@240fps, 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
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5750 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Green, GoldTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsVYG-AL00SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 570 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

  • Extremely fast 66W wired charging
  • 50W wireless charging is faster than S24 Ultra
  • Mature and refined software experience (EMUI)

  • Older 7nm chipset (Kirin 9020) is less efficient
  • Limited access to Google services
  • Camera likely lags behind S24 Ultra in computational photography

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm)
  • Brighter and more efficient display
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Wireless charging is slower at 15W
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s display dominates with a measured peak brightness of 1447 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Mate 80 (brightness data unavailable, but likely lower). While the Mate 80’s panel quality is likely excellent, Samsung’s likely implementation of LTPO technology allows for dynamic refresh rate scaling, improving battery efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s higher resolution also contributes to a sharper image.

Camera Comparison

While both phones are expected to deliver excellent image quality, the S24 Ultra likely holds an edge due to its advanced image processing capabilities and potentially larger sensor size (data unavailable for Mate 80). The S24 Ultra’s camera system is designed for both exceptional photo and video capture, with features like 8K video recording. The Mate 80’s camera is likely very capable, but lacks the computational photography advancements of the S24 Ultra.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) in the S24 Ultra represents a significant leap in performance and efficiency over the Kirin 9020 (7nm) found in the Mate 80. The 4nm process node allows for higher transistor density and lower power consumption, translating to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The S24 Ultra’s CPU, with its Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.39GHz, will outperform the Kirin 9020’s 2.5GHz core in single-core tasks, while the more modern architecture provides a substantial advantage in multi-core performance. The S24 Ultra also benefits from faster LPDDR5x RAM.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra demonstrates impressive real-world battery performance, achieving 13:49 hours of active use. While the Mate 80’s battery capacity is unknown, its 66W wired charging is significantly faster than the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging, potentially allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes. However, the S24 Ultra’s superior efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset may offset the Mate 80’s faster charging, resulting in comparable overall battery life.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 80 if you prioritize extremely fast charging speeds and a refined, mature software experience, and are comfortable with the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you demand the absolute best performance, a class-leading display, and a versatile camera system with long-term software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 9020 is a capable chipset, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra offers significantly better sustained performance. Expect lower frame rates and potential throttling in graphically intensive games on the Mate 80, especially during extended play sessions.
❓ How does Huawei's AppGallery compare to the Google Play Store in terms of app availability?
Huawei's AppGallery has grown significantly, but still lacks the breadth of applications available on the Google Play Store. While many popular apps are available, you may need to rely on alternative app stores or sideloading for certain applications.
❓ Is the 4.5W reverse wireless charging on the S24 Ultra useful for charging accessories?
The 4.5W reverse wireless charging is primarily intended for charging small accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. It's not powerful enough to significantly charge a smartphone, but it can provide a convenient top-up in a pinch.
❓ What is the impact of the lack of 5G on the Huawei Mate 80 in certain regions?
Depending on your region and carrier, the lack of 5G support on the Mate 80 could limit your data speeds. While 4G LTE is still widely available, you won't be able to take advantage of the faster speeds offered by 5G networks.