Huawei P50 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids

The Huawei P50 and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The P50, despite its age, offers a compelling camera system and a refined design, while the Pixel 6 Pro showcases Google’s first-generation Tensor chip and a focus on computational photography. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Google Pixel 6 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. While the Huawei P50 boasts a sleek design, the Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip, superior software support, and faster charging capabilities provide a more future-proof and versatile experience. The P50's 4G limitation is a significant drawback.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50 Google Pixel 6 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, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2021, July 292021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 04Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions156.5 x 73.8 x 7.9 mm (6.16 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~458 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 101.6 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP20
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide)11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide)11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4100 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, WhiteCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsABR-AL00, ABR-LX9GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 700 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P50

  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Potentially superior camera detail (depending on sensor)
  • Sleek and refined design

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Huawei’s software ecosystem and update uncertainty
  • Potential for Snapdragon 888 throttling

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Google Tensor chip with AI enhancements
  • Guaranteed software updates and support
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower 23W wired charging
  • Can run warm under heavy load
  • Larger and heavier design

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 6 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, exceeding what’s typically found in the P50 (spec not provided, but generally lower in Huawei flagships). While both likely utilize OLED panels, the Pixel 6 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a superior implementation. The P50’s display quality is still excellent, but the Pixel 6 Pro offers a more vibrant and visible experience, particularly outdoors. The absence of LTPO on either device means refresh rate scaling isn't as efficient as newer flagships.

Camera Comparison

While detailed camera specs are missing for the P50, Huawei is renowned for its camera technology. The Pixel 6 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography prowess, powered by the Tensor chip. The Tensor enables features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode, enhancing image quality and creative possibilities. The P50 likely excels in detail capture and color science, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s software processing offers a more consistent and user-friendly experience. The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens spec for the P50 makes direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel 6 Pro’s telephoto lens provides superior zoom capabilities.

Performance

Both devices employ an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X1 prime cores, but diverge significantly in their chipsets. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor, fabricated on a 5nm process, prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. The Huawei P50 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G (also 5nm), focusing on raw CPU and GPU power. However, the Snapdragon 888 is known for thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential issue the Tensor chip mitigates with its more efficient architecture. The P50’s 4G limitation is a major performance bottleneck for data-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

Both the Huawei P50 and Google Pixel 6 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, their charging capabilities differ drastically. The P50 supports 66W wired charging, enabling significantly faster top-ups than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Pixel 6 Pro compensates with 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the P50. The faster wired charging of the P50 is beneficial for users who prioritize quick charging bursts, while the Pixel 6 Pro offers more versatile charging options.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P50 if you prioritize a refined aesthetic, a potentially more versatile camera system (depending on your shooting style), and are willing to accept the limitations of a 4G-only modem and Huawei’s software ecosystem. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you value cutting-edge AI features, guaranteed software updates, 5G connectivity, and a smoother, more integrated Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei P50's lack of 5G significantly impact its usability in 2024?
Yes, the absence of 5G is a major drawback. Modern networks are increasingly reliant on 5G, and the P50 will be limited to slower 4G speeds, impacting download/upload speeds, streaming quality, and overall responsiveness in areas with strong 5G coverage.
❓ How does the Google Tensor chip's AI processing translate to real-world benefits for Pixel 6 Pro users?
The Tensor chip powers features like Magic Eraser (removing unwanted objects from photos), Motion Mode (creating action pans), and improved voice recognition for Google Assistant. It also enhances the camera's image processing, resulting in more accurate colors and better low-light performance.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Huawei P50 significantly faster than the 23W charging on the Pixel 6 Pro in practical use?
Yes, the P50's 66W charging will replenish the battery much faster. While the Pixel 6 Pro's 23W charging isn't slow, the P50 can gain a substantial charge in a shorter amount of time, making it ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ What are the implications of Huawei’s software ecosystem for P50 owners, particularly regarding app availability and updates?
Due to ongoing restrictions, Huawei phones lack full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means no pre-installed Google apps and reliance on Huawei’s AppGallery. While AppGallery has grown, it still lacks some popular apps. Software updates are also less frequent and may not include the latest Android features as quickly as on Pixel devices.