Huawei P50E vs P40 Pro+: A Clash of Generations

Huawei's P series has consistently delivered impressive smartphones, but choosing between models can be tricky. We're pitting the newer Huawei P50E against the older, but still powerful, P40 Pro+ to see which offers the best value and performance. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The P40 Pro+ remains a strong contender thanks to its superior camera system, faster wireless charging, and excellent battery life. However, the P50E boasts a more modern chipset and faster wired charging. Ultimately, the P40 Pro+ wins for photography enthusiasts, while the P50E offers a more balanced experience.

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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
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, June 06
Body
Build-Glass front, ceramic back, ceramic 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· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
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 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
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)-
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
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
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 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4100 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsGalaxy Blue, Cocoa Tea Gold, Snow White, Obsidian BlackWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
ModelsABR-AL60ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 580 EURAbout 1000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P50E

  • Modern Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset
  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Generally smoother user experience
  • Potentially more software updates (depending on region)

  • Less impressive camera compared to P40 Pro+
  • No wireless charging
  • Lower peak brightness display
  • Unknown battery life figures

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Excellent battery life (95h endurance rating)
  • Wireless charging (40W) and reverse wireless charging
  • High-quality display with infinite contrast ratio
  • Strong single-core performance

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990 5G)
  • Slower wired charging (40W)
  • Potentially fewer software updates
  • Larger and heavier design

Display Comparison

The P40 Pro+ features a stunning display with a near-infinite contrast ratio, offering exceptional visual depth. While the P50E's display is good, it lacks the same level of contrast and peak brightness (760 nits vs unknown for P50E). The P40 Pro+'s display is noticeably more vibrant and immersive.

Camera Comparison

The P40 Pro+’s camera system is a major highlight, offering exceptional detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. It generally surpasses the P50E in overall image quality. The P50E's camera is still good, but doesn't reach the same heights as its predecessor. The P40 Pro+’s zoom capabilities are also superior.

Performance

The P50E's Snapdragon 778G 4G provides a solid performance boost over the P40 Pro+'s Kirin 990 5G, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks. While the Kirin 990 5G is still capable, the 778G offers a more modern architecture and improved efficiency. However, the P40 Pro+'s CPU configuration with its Cortex-A76 cores provides strong single-core performance.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the P40 Pro+ achieving an impressive endurance rating of 95h. The P50E's battery life is also very good, though specific figures are unavailable. The P40 Pro+ also has the advantage of 40W wireless charging and 27W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the P50E.

Buying Guide

The Huawei P50E is ideal for users prioritizing a smooth, modern experience with decent performance and fast charging, especially those less concerned with top-tier camera capabilities. The Huawei P40 Pro+ is perfect for photography lovers who demand exceptional image quality and long battery life, and are comfortable with a slightly older device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P50E worth buying in 2024?
The P50E remains a solid choice if you prioritize a modern chipset and fast charging, but be aware of its camera limitations compared to flagship models.
❓ Can the P40 Pro+ still compete with newer phones?
Absolutely! The P40 Pro+’s camera and battery life are still excellent, making it a viable option for those who value those features.