Huawei P40 4G vs Samsung Galaxy S23: A Clash of Titans

The Huawei P40 4G, released a few years ago, still holds its own with a strong camera and design. Now, it faces off against the powerhouse that is the Samsung Galaxy S23, boasting cutting-edge technology and impressive performance. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the clear winner, offering a significantly faster processor, brighter display, faster charging, and more modern features. While the P40 4G has a respectable camera, the S23's overall package and future-proofing make it the superior choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 4G Samsung Galaxy S23
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 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 bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, February 262023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, February 26Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm (5.86 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 990 (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10, EMUI, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), AF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, HDR10+
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging22.5W wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAhLi-Ion 3900 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrost Silver, Dark BluePhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsANA-AL00SM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DS
PriceAbout 500 EUR$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P40 4G

  • Excellent camera zoom
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Good OLED display
  • Competitive price (now)

  • Outdated chipset
  • No 5G connectivity
  • Slower charging
  • Limited software updates

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Blazing-fast performance
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Excellent camera system (especially video)
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • 5G connectivity
  • Regular software updates

  • Higher price
  • Design is evolutionary, not revolutionary

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts a significantly brighter display (1198 nits peak) with an infinite contrast ratio, offering a more immersive and vibrant viewing experience. The P40 4G has a decent OLED display, but it lacks the S23's brightness and color accuracy. The S23's display is a clear winner.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems. The P40 4G is known for its impressive zoom capabilities and detailed images in good lighting. The Galaxy S23 excels in video recording and low-light photography, thanks to its advanced image processing and larger sensor. While subjective, the S23's versatility and overall image quality are generally considered superior.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 provides a massive performance advantage over the Kirin 990 in the P40 4G. The S23 handles demanding games and multitasking with ease, while the P40 4G can show signs of lag under heavy load. The S23's newer architecture and fabrication process (4nm vs 7nm+) contribute to its superior efficiency and power.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 demonstrates exceptional battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 101 hours. It also supports faster charging (25W wired, 15W wireless) and reverse wireless charging. The P40 4G's battery life is respectable, but it falls short of the S23's longevity and charging speeds.

Buying Guide

The Huawei P40 4G is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize camera quality and a premium design, and don't mind the lack of 5G. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is ideal for those seeking top-tier performance, a vibrant display, excellent camera capabilities, and the latest Android features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P40 4G still worth buying?
It can be a good value if you find it at a significantly reduced price and prioritize camera zoom and design over the latest features and performance. However, consider the lack of 5G and limited software updates.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 will receive significantly longer software and security updates compared to the Huawei P40 4G.