Huawei P50 Pro vs P40 Pro: A Clash of Flagship Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The P50 Pro boasts a brighter display and a more modern chipset, potentially offering better performance. However, the P40 Pro still holds its own with exceptional battery life and a slightly more refined overall experience, especially considering its now lower price point. It's a close call, leaning towards the P40 Pro for value.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei P50 Pro | Huawei P40 Pro |
| 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ELS-NX9 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - ELS-NX9 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 29 | 2020, March 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 12 | Available. Released 2020, April 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in) | 158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density) | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | OLED, 90Hz, HDR10 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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 (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm) | Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660 | Mali-G76 MP16 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play Services | Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 50 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 | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF | - |
| 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) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Infrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging | 40W wired 27W wireless 27W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4360 mAh | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Golden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink | Silver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black |
| Models | JAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00 | ELS-NX9, ELS-N04, ELS-AN00, ELS-TN00 |
| Price | $ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13 | € 360.00 / £ 335.00 |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 714.88 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 680.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 76h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.3 LUFS (Good) | -27.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 496356 (v8) GeekBench: 12848 (v4.4), 3197 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei P50 Pro
- Brighter Display
- More Modern Chipset (potentially)
- Faster Charging (66W)
- Shorter Battery Life
- Potentially Higher Price
- Software limitations due to US sanctions
Huawei P40 Pro
- Exceptional Battery Life (94h)
- Proven Camera System
- Generally Lower Price
- Older Chipset
- Lower Peak Brightness
- Slower Charging (40W)
Display Comparison
Both phones feature OLED displays with excellent contrast (Infinite nominal). However, the P50 Pro's measured peak brightness of 754 nits significantly surpasses the P40 Pro, resulting in better outdoor visibility. While both offer vibrant colors, the P50 Pro's higher brightness gives it a slight edge.
Camera Comparison
Both phones have exceptional camera systems. The P50 Pro features a more advanced primary sensor and potentially improved image processing. The P40 Pro's camera is still highly capable, producing stunning photos and videos. Low-light performance is excellent on both, but the P50 Pro might have a slight advantage due to its newer sensor technology. Both offer impressive zoom capabilities.
Performance
The P50 Pro's Kirin 9000 (or Snapdragon 888 4G depending on region) is generally more powerful than the P40 Pro's Kirin 990 5G. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading times on the P50 Pro. However, real-world performance differences might not be drastically noticeable for everyday use.
Battery Life
The P40 Pro takes a clear lead in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 94 hours compared to the P50 Pro's 76 hours. While the P50 Pro's 66W charging is faster than the P40 Pro's 40W, the P40 Pro's longer battery life provides more overall usage time.
Buying Guide
The Huawei P50 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a brighter screen, potentially faster performance, and the latest chipset. The Huawei P40 Pro is a great choice for those seeking exceptional battery life, a proven camera system, and a more budget-friendly flagship experience.