Huawei's P8max was a powerhouse in its time, boasting a massive display. The Mate 10 Pro, however, brought significant advancements in processing power and camera technology. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the clear winner. While the P8max offered a large screen, the Mate 10 Pro's superior chipset, significantly improved camera, faster charging, and modern features make it a far more compelling choice in 2024.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, April. Released 2015, July | 2017, October. Released 2017, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 182.7 x 93 x 6.8 mm (7.19 x 3.66 x 0.27 in) | 154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 125.9 cm2 (~74.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Kirin 935 (28 nm) | Kirin 970 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T628 MP4 | Mali-G72 MP12 |
| OS | Android 5.0.2/5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), EMUI | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF, OIS
20 MP B/W, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7" |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF, OIS | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 32-bit/384kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 22.5W wired, 58% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4360 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Luxurious Gold, Mystic Champagne, Titanium Grey | Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, Pink Gold |
| Models | DAV-701L, P8max | BLA-L29, BLA-L09, BLA-AL00, BLA-A09, BLA-TL00 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 450 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinity (nominal), 4.096 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 70dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 84dB |
| Performance | - |
GeekBench: 6783 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei P8max
- Massive 6.8-inch display
- Large battery capacity
- Potentially lower price (if found)
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging
- Limited software updates
- Difficult to find in good condition
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
- Powerful Kirin 970 chipset
- Excellent camera system
- Fast charging (22.5W)
- More modern features
- Older model (limited software support)
- Finding a pristine unit can be challenging
- Screen size smaller than P8max
Display Comparison
The P8max features a 6.8-inch display, significantly larger than the Mate 10 Pro's 6-inch screen. Both boast excellent contrast ratios (Infinity nominal, 4.096 in sunlight), but the Mate 10 Pro's display likely benefits from more modern panel technology, offering better color accuracy and viewing angles. The P8max's size is its main advantage here.
Camera Comparison
The Mate 10 Pro's camera system is a major step up. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Mate 10 Pro's hardware and image processing algorithms are far more advanced, resulting in sharper images, better low-light performance, and more detailed videos. The Mate 10 Pro also likely features more advanced features like portrait mode.
Performance
The Mate 10 Pro's Kirin 970 chipset, built on a 10nm process, is a substantial upgrade over the P8max's 28nm Kirin 935. This translates to significantly faster processing speeds, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The A73 cores in the Mate 10 Pro also offer improved efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (96h), but the Mate 10 Pro's 22.5W fast charging provides a significant advantage. The P8max lacks fast charging, meaning it will take considerably longer to recharge.
Buying Guide
The Huawei P8max might appeal to someone seeking a very large screen on a budget, but finding one in good condition will be challenging. The Mate 10 Pro is a better option for most users, offering a balance of performance, camera quality, and battery life, though finding one in excellent condition may require some searching.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei P8max still worth buying?
Only if you prioritize a very large screen and can find one in good condition at a very low price. Otherwise, the Mate 10 Pro offers a much better overall experience.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the two phones?
The biggest difference is the chipset. The Mate 10 Pro's Kirin 970 provides significantly better performance and efficiency than the P8max's Kirin 935.
