Huawei P50 Pro vs Mate 40 Pro: A Clash of Flagship Titans

Huawei's flagship phones consistently push the boundaries of mobile technology. The P50 Pro and Mate 40 Pro are prime examples, boasting impressive cameras, powerful processors, and sleek designs. But which one truly comes out on top? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate 40 Pro edges out the P50 Pro thanks to its superior battery life and slightly brighter display. While both offer excellent camera performance, the Mate 40 Pro's overall package provides a more compelling experience, especially for power users. However, the P50 Pro might be more readily available depending on your region.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50 Pro Huawei Mate 40 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) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - InternationalCDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, July 292020, October 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 12Available. Released 2020, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Resolution1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120HzOLED, HDR10, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660Mali-G78 MP24
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF-
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4360 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm PinkMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow
ModelsJAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00NOH-NX9, NOH-AN00, NOH-AN01
Price$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13About 790 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 76h Endurance rating 97h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -24.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 686835 (v8) GeekBench: 3704 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P50 Pro

  • Sleek and modern design
  • Excellent camera system
  • Potentially better software support (region dependent)
  • Two chipset options

  • Shorter battery life compared to Mate 40 Pro
  • Limited Google services availability
  • Kirin 9000 availability can vary

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Slightly brighter display
  • Excellent camera system with impressive zoom
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Older design compared to P50 Pro
  • Limited Google services availability
  • Kirin 9000 5G only

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mate 40 Pro boasts a marginally higher peak brightness of 807 nits compared to the P50 Pro's 754 nits, making it slightly better for outdoor visibility. Both have a nominal infinite contrast ratio. The P50 Pro's display might have a slightly more refined color calibration, but the difference is subtle.

Camera Comparison

Both phones have exceptional camera systems. The P50 Pro features a versatile triple-lens setup with a primary wide lens, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens. The Mate 40 Pro also has a triple-lens setup, often praised for its impressive zoom capabilities. Both excel in various lighting conditions, producing detailed and vibrant images. The Mate 40 Pro's RYYB sensor technology often results in slightly better low-light performance. Video recording is excellent on both, with support for high resolutions and frame rates.

Performance

The P50 Pro offers two chipset options: the Kirin 9000 and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G. The Kirin 9000 is generally considered the more powerful option, but the Snapdragon 888 4G is still a capable performer. The Mate 40 Pro exclusively uses the Kirin 9000 5G. In real-world usage, both phones offer smooth performance for everyday tasks and demanding games. The Mate 40 Pro's 5G capabilities are a factor if connectivity is a priority.

Battery Life

The Mate 40 Pro significantly outperforms the P50 Pro in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 97 hours compared to the P50 Pro's 76 hours. This difference translates to noticeably longer usage times on a single charge. Both support 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, but the Mate 40 Pro includes 5W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Huawei P50 Pro? Users prioritizing a slightly more modern design and potentially better software support (though both face limitations due to Google services). Who should buy the Huawei Mate 40 Pro? Those seeking the absolute best battery life and a slightly brighter display, and who are comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Do these phones have Google Play Store?
No, neither phone officially supports the Google Play Store due to trade restrictions. Users can explore alternative app stores or sideload apps.
❓ Which phone is better for photography?
Both are excellent for photography. The Mate 40 Pro generally has a slight edge in zoom capabilities and low-light performance, while the P50 Pro offers a versatile lens setup.