OnePlus 8 Pro vs Huawei P40: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Released within months of each other in 2020, the Huawei P40 and OnePlus 8 Pro represented the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology. Now, with price drops making both more accessible, the question arises: which flagship still holds up, and which best suits your needs? This comparison dives deep into their core components, from chipset architecture to camera capabilities, to provide a definitive answer.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset offers a more consistently powerful experience, coupled with significantly faster charging – both wired and wireless – and a longer endurance rating. While the P40 remains a capable device, the 8 Pro’s broader feature set and software support give it the edge.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 OnePlus 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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, March 262020, April 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 07Available. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm (5.86 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLEDFluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
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), AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm IR TOF 3D, (biometrics sensor only)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging22.5W wired30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 3800 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSilver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, BlackGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsANA-AN00, ANA-TN00, ANA-NX9, ANA-LX4IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 520 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 89h Endurance rating 103h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.9 LUFS (Average) -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 486583 (v8) GeekBench: 12619 (v4.4), 3148 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P40

  • Sleek and premium design
  • Huawei’s established camera processing
  • Potentially strong low-light performance

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Limited software support and app compatibility
  • Lower battery endurance

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Significantly faster charging (wired and wireless)
  • Longer battery life
  • Cleaner Android experience

  • Larger and heavier design
  • May not appeal to those invested in the Huawei ecosystem
  • Price (though decreasing)

Display Comparison

Both the Huawei P40 and OnePlus 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, indicating excellent black levels. However, the P40’s 589 nits of measured peak brightness falls short of what the OnePlus 8 Pro likely achieves (though specific data is unavailable, OnePlus typically excels in display brightness). This difference translates to better outdoor visibility for the 8 Pro. While both offer smooth experiences, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate (not specified in the data, but a key feature) provides a noticeably more fluid scrolling and gaming experience compared to the P40’s standard 60Hz panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with versatile camera systems capable of both photo and video capture. However, without detailed sensor size or image quality analysis, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system, known for its color science and dynamic range, likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 865. The P40, leveraging Huawei’s computational photography expertise, may excel in low-light scenarios. The absence of specific details regarding OIS and lens apertures prevents a more granular comparison.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+) utilizes a Cortex-A77 prime core, a newer and more efficient design than the Cortex-A76 found in the Huawei P40’s Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). The 865’s architecture, combined with potentially superior thermal management, likely results in more sustained performance under heavy load. While both CPUs are octa-core, the Snapdragon 865’s configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) offers a more balanced approach to performance and efficiency than the P40’s (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55).

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a significant advantage in battery endurance, achieving a rating of 103 hours compared to the P40’s 89 hours. This, combined with the 8 Pro’s substantially faster charging capabilities – 30W wired (50% in 23 minutes), 30W wireless (50% in 30 minutes), and 3W reverse wireless – makes it the clear winner in terms of power management. The P40’s 22.5W wired charging feels comparatively slow, and the lack of wireless charging options further diminishes its appeal for users who prioritize convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P40 if you prioritize a sleek design and are deeply embedded in the Huawei ecosystem, accepting the limitations of its software and potential app compatibility issues. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you demand raw performance, rapid charging, a cleaner Android experience, and long-term software support, making it ideal for power users and mobile gamers.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Huawei P40 struggle with sustained performance under heavy gaming?
The Kirin 990 5G, while a capable chipset, is known to exhibit some thermal throttling under prolonged heavy load. The Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro, with its more efficient architecture and potentially better thermal management, is likely to maintain higher sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei P40 impact the user experience?
The absence of GMS on the Huawei P40 means users cannot directly access Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and the Play Store. While Huawei offers its own AppGallery and HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) as alternatives, app compatibility can be an issue, and some users may find the experience less seamless.
❓ Is the 3W reverse wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro useful for topping up accessories?
While 3W reverse wireless charging is slow, it's sufficient for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches in a pinch. It's not designed for quickly charging other phones, but it provides a convenient way to share a small amount of power.
❓ What kind of real-world charging speeds can I expect from the OnePlus 8 Pro's 30W wireless charging?
The OnePlus 8 Pro's 30W wireless charging can deliver a 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes, making it significantly faster than most wireless charging solutions. However, charging speeds may vary depending on the charger and environmental factors.