Asus ROG Phone 3 vs. Huawei P40: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with a strong camera, the Huawei P40 remains a compelling choice. However, the Asus ROG Phone 3 decisively wins for gamers and power users, offering significantly longer battery life and superior cooling for sustained performance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei P40 | Asus ROG Phone 3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 26 | 2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, April 07 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm (5.86 x 2.80 x 0.33 in) | 171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP16 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 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), AF | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only) | 24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Infrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black | Black Glare |
| Models | ANA-AN00, ANA-TN00, ANA-NX9, ANA-LX4 | ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D |
| Price | About 520 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 89h | Endurance rating 120h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -28.9 LUFS (Average) | -23.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 486583 (v8) GeekBench: 12619 (v4.4), 3148 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei P40
- More compact and pocketable design.
- Potentially superior image processing and camera quality (based on brand reputation).
- Refined flagship experience with a focus on overall usability.
- Significantly shorter battery life compared to the ROG Phone 3.
- Slower charging speed.
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks like gaming.
Asus ROG Phone 3
- Exceptional battery life (120h endurance).
- Faster charging with multiple standards (30W, PD3.0, QC4).
- Superior gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 865 5G+ and advanced cooling.
- Larger and heavier form factor.
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users.
- Camera performance may not match the P40 in all scenarios (without detailed specs).
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a brighter display at 719 nits compared to the P40’s 589 nits, offering better visibility outdoors. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the ROG Phone 3’s 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother visual experience, particularly beneficial for gaming. While both are excellent, the ROG Phone 3’s higher brightness and refresh rate give it an edge for media consumption and gaming, despite the P40’s potentially more color-accurate panel (data not provided).
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the specifics are limited by the provided data. Both are described as 'Photo / Video' capable. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Huawei’s reputation for computational photography suggests the P40 likely excels in image processing, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The ROG Phone 3, while capable, prioritizes other features over camera innovation. The absence of detail regarding the P40’s camera features suggests a focus on overall image quality rather than specialized modes.
Performance
The ROG Phone 3’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset, with its Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 3.10 GHz, demonstrably outperforms the Huawei P40’s Kirin 990 5G. The Snapdragon 865+ benefits from architectural improvements and a more efficient 7nm+ process, resulting in higher sustained performance under load. While the Kirin 990 5G’s octa-core configuration is complex, the ROG Phone 3’s simpler, more powerful core arrangement translates to a smoother gaming experience. The ROG Phone 3 also benefits from superior thermal management, preventing throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 3’s 120h endurance rating significantly surpasses the Huawei P40’s 89h rating, showcasing a substantial advantage in battery life. This difference is further amplified by the ROG Phone 3’s 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4 support, compared to the P40’s slower 22.5W charging. The ROG Phone 3 also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the P40. This combination of larger capacity and faster charging makes the ROG Phone 3 the clear winner for users who demand all-day (and night) battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei P40 if you need a versatile flagship with a capable camera system and a more compact form factor for everyday use. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you prioritize uninterrupted gaming sessions, demand the longest possible battery life, and appreciate features like AirTriggers and a high refresh rate display, even if it means a larger device.