Huawei P50E vs P40 Pro: A Clash of Flagship Titans

Huawei's smartphone lineup has consistently delivered impressive features and innovative designs. Today, we're pitting two popular models against each other: the Huawei P50E and the Huawei P40 Pro. Both offer compelling camera systems and premium builds, but which one ultimately comes out on top?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei P40 Pro remains a strong contender thanks to its superior chipset, faster charging, and exceptional battery life. While the P50E boasts a newer chipset and 66W charging, the P40 Pro's overall package, especially considering its price, makes it the winner for many.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50E Huawei P40 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, March 172020, March 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 24Available. Released 2020, April 07
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions156.5 x 73.8 x 7.9 mm (6.16 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~456 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.5 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzOLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 642LMali-G76 MP16
OSHarmonyOS 2.0Android 10, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
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, 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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), 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, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired40W wired 27W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4100 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsGalaxy Blue, Cocoa Tea Gold, Snow White, Obsidian BlackSilver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Black
ModelsABR-AL60ELS-NX9, ELS-N04, ELS-AN00, ELS-TN00
PriceAbout 580 EUR€ 360.00 / £ 335.00
Pricing
256GB 8GB RAM-$ 714.88
RENEWED-$ 680.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 496356 (v8) GeekBench: 12848 (v4.4), 3197 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P50E

  • Newer Chipset (Snapdragon 778G 4G)
  • Faster 66W Wired Charging
  • Potentially Improved Image Processing

  • Less Powerful Chipset than P40 Pro
  • Likely Shorter Battery Life
  • No Wireless Charging

Huawei P40 Pro

  • Flagship Kirin 990 5G Chipset
  • Exceptional Battery Life (94h Endurance)
  • 27W Wireless Charging & Reverse Wireless Charging
  • Excellent Zoom Capabilities

  • Older Chipset
  • Slower 40W Wired Charging
  • Potentially Higher Price (depending on availability)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The P40 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests excellent image quality. The P50E likely has a slightly higher refresh rate, potentially offering smoother scrolling, but detailed specifications are needed for a definitive comparison. Overall, both displays are excellent.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are renowned for their camera capabilities. The P40 Pro features a versatile triple-lens system with excellent zoom capabilities. The P50E likely has a refined camera system with improved image processing, but detailed comparisons of image quality, low-light performance, and video recording are needed. Both are excellent, but the P40 Pro's zoom is a standout.

Performance

The P40 Pro's Kirin 990 5G chipset, while older, is a powerful performer, especially for its time. The P50E's Snapdragon 778G 4G offers improved efficiency and modern features, but it's a mid-range chipset compared to the P40 Pro's flagship offering. Expect the P40 Pro to handle demanding tasks and games slightly better.

Battery Life

The P40 Pro shines in this category with an impressive endurance rating of 94 hours. The P50E's battery capacity is likely smaller, and while its 66W charging is faster, the P40 Pro's longevity gives it a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The Huawei P50E is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly newer chipset and faster wired charging. The Huawei P40 Pro is a better choice for those seeking exceptional battery life, a flagship-level Kirin chipset, and versatile wireless charging capabilities, especially if found at a discounted price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P50E 5G compatible?
No, the P50E uses a 4G-only Snapdragon 778G chipset.
❓ Can the Huawei P40 Pro be updated with Google services?
Due to US trade restrictions, neither phone officially receives Google services. Users can explore workarounds, but functionality may be limited.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
While both are good, the P40 Pro's larger sensor and established reputation suggest slightly better low-light performance, though detailed testing is needed for a definitive answer.