Huawei P40 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 5G chipset delivers demonstrably faster performance, and its significantly faster 67W wired and wireless charging capabilities provide a more convenient user experience. While the P40 Pro remains a capable device, the Mi 11 Ultra’s advancements justify its higher price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei P40 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ELS-NX9 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - ELS-NX9 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 26 | 2021, March 29 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, April 07 | Available. Released 2021, April 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) | 164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | 50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Infrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 40W wired 27W wireless 27W reverse wireless | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black | Ceramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black) |
| Models | ELS-NX9, ELS-N04, ELS-AN00, ELS-TN00 | M2102K1G, M2102K1C |
| Price | € 360.00 / £ 335.00 | About 1500 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 256GB 8GB RAM | $ 714.88 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 680.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 94h | Endurance rating 95h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.5 LUFS (Good) | -24.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 496356 (v8) GeekBench: 12848 (v4.4), 3197 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei P40 Pro
- Excellent 94-hour battery endurance
- Refined camera system (despite age)
- Competitive price point (at launch)
- Kirin 990 5G chipset is outperformed by Snapdragon 888
- Slower charging speeds (wired and wireless)
- Huawei ecosystem limitations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 888 5G
- Blazing-fast 67W wired and wireless charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Slightly higher price
- Larger and heavier design
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Mi 11 Ultra pulls ahead with a measured peak brightness of 943 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the P40 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. While both likely utilize OLED technology, the Mi 11 Ultra’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use. The P40 Pro’s display, while excellent, lacks the sheer punch of the Mi 11 Ultra’s panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are marketed as camera powerhouses, but their approaches differ. While both offer photo and video capabilities, the Mi 11 Ultra’s larger sensor (details not provided in context, but known to be a 50MP primary) likely captures more light and detail than the P40 Pro’s. The Snapdragon 888’s image signal processor (ISP) also contributes to superior image processing. The P40 Pro’s camera system is still excellent, but the Mi 11 Ultra’s advancements in sensor technology and processing give it an edge in challenging lighting conditions. The lack of detail on the P40 Pro's camera specs makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Mi 11 Ultra's reputation for photographic excellence is well-earned.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) offers a significant architectural advantage over the Huawei P40 Pro’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core provides a substantial performance boost in single-threaded tasks, while its more efficient 5nm process translates to better thermal management. The P40 Pro’s octa-core CPU, while capable, is simply outmatched by the Snapdragon’s newer architecture. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding games and applications.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings – 94 hours for the P40 Pro and 95 hours for the Mi 11 Ultra. However, the Mi 11 Ultra’s charging capabilities are a game-changer. Its 67W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 36 minutes, while its 67W wireless charging takes only 39 minutes. The P40 Pro’s 40W wired and 27W wireless charging are significantly slower. This difference in charging speed dramatically improves the user experience, especially for those who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei P40 Pro if you prioritize a refined, established camera system and are comfortable navigating the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. Its 94-hour endurance rating is excellent for users who need all-day battery life. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra if you demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications, value the convenience of incredibly fast charging, and want a more open Android experience with access to the latest Google services.