Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra arrives as a statement of intent, showcasing Huawei’s continued innovation despite ongoing restrictions. We pit it against Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, a phone lauded for its AI-powered features and refined software experience, to determine which flagship delivers the most compelling package for demanding users.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing software integration and consistent performance, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the better choice. However, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra excels in charging speed and boasts a brighter display, appealing to users who value these specific features and are comfortable with Huawei’s ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Google Pixel 8 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, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bandsSA/NSA - China only1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, April 182023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, April 29Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.6 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight226 g (7.97 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered)Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1260 x 2844 pixels (~460 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9010 (7 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPU-Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSEMUI 14.2 (International), HarmonyOS 4.2 (China)Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.6-4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, retractable lens 50 MP, f/2.1, 90mm (telephoto), PDAF (5cm - ∞), OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), AF10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
VideoYes, HDR4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5200 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Brown, GreenObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsHBP-LX9, HBP-AL00GC3VE, G1MNW
Price€ 1,239.99€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Pura 70 Ultra

  • Blazing-fast 100W wired and 80W wireless charging
  • Bright 1231 nit display for outdoor visibility
  • Potentially innovative camera system (pending further review)

  • Kirin 9010 chipset may lag behind Tensor G3 in AI tasks
  • Software ecosystem and app availability may be limited

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Superior software experience with Google’s AI features
  • Brighter 1600 nit display for optimal outdoor viewing
  • Efficient Tensor G3 chipset with strong thermal management

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Pura 70 Ultra
  • May require more frequent charging due to slightly lower battery endurance

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 8 Pro significantly outshines the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra in peak brightness, reaching 1600 nits compared to the Pura 70 Ultra’s 1231 nits. This difference translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates (not specified in the data), the Pixel 8 Pro’s higher brightness gives it a clear advantage for outdoor use. The Pura 70 Ultra’s brightness is still respectable, but the Pixel 8 Pro offers a more vibrant and readable experience in challenging lighting conditions.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t detail camera specs beyond ‘Photo / Video’ for the Pixel 8 Pro. However, Google’s computational photography prowess is well-established. The Pura 70 Ultra’s camera system is likely a key selling point, but without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The Pixel 8 Pro’s strength lies in its software processing, delivering consistently excellent results across various conditions. The absence of detail on the Pura 70 Ultra’s camera system necessitates further investigation to determine its capabilities relative to the Pixel 8 Pro’s renowned image quality.

Performance

The chipset battle pits the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s Kirin 9010 (7nm) against the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm). The Tensor G3’s 4nm process offers inherent advantages in thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. The Pixel 8 Pro’s nona-core CPU, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, is architecturally more modern than the Kirin 9010’s Taishan cores. While the Kirin 9010 is a capable chip, the Tensor G3’s focus on AI and machine learning tasks gives the Pixel 8 Pro an edge in features like real-time translation and advanced image processing. Both utilize Cortex-A510 cores for efficiency, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s A715 cores offer a performance boost over the Pura 70 Ultra’s mid-tier Taishan cores.

Battery Life

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra achieves an active use battery score of 12:29h, slightly exceeding the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s older endurance rating of 90h suggests a more efficient standby time. The Pura 70 Ultra’s charging capabilities are a standout feature, with 100W wired charging, 80W wireless, and even 20W reverse wireless. The Pixel 8 Pro offers 30W wired charging and 23W wireless, falling significantly behind in speed. The Pura 70 Ultra’s faster charging offsets its slightly smaller battery capacity, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra if you need exceptionally fast charging (100W wired, 80W wireless) and a display that cuts through glare with its 1231 nits of brightness. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a seamless software experience, AI-powered camera features, and a more established app ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 chipset in the Pura 70 Ultra struggle with demanding games compared to the Tensor G3?
While the Kirin 9010 is a capable processor, the Tensor G3’s more modern architecture and potentially better thermal management suggest it will likely deliver a smoother gaming experience, especially in graphically intensive titles. The Tensor G3’s CPU and GPU are designed for sustained performance, while the Kirin 9010 might exhibit more throttling under prolonged load.
❓ How does the 80W wireless charging on the Pura 70 Ultra compare to the Pixel 8 Pro in real-world usage?
The Pura 70 Ultra’s 80W wireless charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 23W wireless charging. Expect a full wireless charge on the Pura 70 Ultra in under an hour, while the Pixel 8 Pro will take considerably longer. This makes the Pura 70 Ultra ideal for users who frequently rely on wireless charging.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Pura 70 Ultra a significant drawback for most users?
The absence of GMS is a major consideration. It means no pre-installed Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or Google Maps, and compatibility with some apps may be limited. Huawei’s AppGallery is growing, but it doesn’t yet offer the same breadth of applications as the Google Play Store. Users heavily invested in the Google ecosystem should carefully consider this limitation.