Huawei Pura 70 Ultra vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Power

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering, but they approach flagship status from different angles. The Pura 70 Ultra, hampered by ongoing restrictions, relies on Huawei’s in-house Kirin chipset, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra leverages the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a more established software ecosystem, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers a clear advantage in processing power and efficiency, coupled with faster charging. However, the Pura 70 Ultra’s impressive battery life and unique design make it a compelling alternative for those within the Huawei ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Xiaomi 14 Ultra
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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA - China only1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, April 182024, February 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, April 29Available. Released 2024, February 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Shield Glass), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), titanium frame (grade 5) or aluminum alloy frame
Dimensions162.6 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm (6.35 x 2.96 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight226 g (7.97 oz)219.8 / 224.4 / 229.5 g (7.76 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered)Xiaomi Shield Glass
Resolution1260 x 2844 pixels (~460 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (typ), 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9010 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU-Adreno 750
OSEMUI 14.2 (International), HarmonyOS 4.2 (China)Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional)
Quad-50 MP, f/1.6-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.8, 75mm (telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
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), AF-
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@24/30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), AF32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
VideoYes, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort, OTG
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, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 33 min 80W wireless, 100% in 46 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5200 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· 5000 mAh (Global)· 5300 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Brown, GreenBlack, Blue, White, Titanium Gray
ModelsHBP-LX9, HBP-AL0024031PN0DC, 24030PN60G
Price€ 1,239.99€ 663.14
SAR-0.83 W/kg (head)     0.82 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)

Huawei Pura 70 Ultra

  • Exceptional battery life (12:29h active use)
  • Unique and premium design aesthetic
  • Fast 100W wired and 80W wireless charging

  • Older 7nm Kirin 9010 chipset
  • Potential software limitations due to restrictions

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

  • Industry-leading Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance
  • Faster charging speeds (90W wired, 80W wireless)
  • More open and globally supported Android ecosystem

  • Slightly shorter battery life (11:25h active use)
  • Potential for thermal throttling under extreme load

Display Comparison

Both devices boast excellent displays, but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra edges ahead with a measured peak brightness of 1281 nits compared to the Pura 70 Ultra’s 1231 nits. While the difference isn’t massive, it translates to slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, though specifics aren't provided. The Xiaomi’s panel is likely tuned for a more vibrant, saturated look, typical of Xiaomi’s displays, while Huawei often aims for greater color accuracy. Bezels appear comparable, with both minimizing wasted space around the screen.

Camera Comparison

While detailed camera specs are absent, the focus should be on image processing. Huawei historically excels in computational photography, often prioritizing detail and dynamic range. Xiaomi, with the 14 Ultra, has been focusing on natural color reproduction and improved low-light performance. The larger sensor size (likely on the Xiaomi, given its Ultra branding) will contribute to better light gathering and shallower depth of field. The absence of information on OIS and lens apertures makes a definitive comparison difficult, but the Xiaomi’s Snapdragon ISP is generally considered more advanced.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This contrasts sharply with the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s Kirin 9010 (7nm). The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon offers superior power efficiency, reducing thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The Kirin 9010’s octa-core configuration, while capable, is architecturally older. The Xiaomi’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances performance, providing faster data access. Users engaging in demanding tasks like gaming or video editing will see a noticeable advantage with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Battery Life

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra demonstrates superior battery endurance with an active use score of 12:29h, exceeding the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s 11:25h. This is likely due to the more efficient Kirin 9010 and Huawei’s aggressive power management. However, the Xiaomi compensates with significantly faster charging: 90W wired (33 minutes to 100%) versus Huawei’s 100W. The Xiaomi also offers 80W wireless charging (46 minutes to 100%), matching Huawei’s wireless speed, and both support reverse wireless charging, though Huawei offers a faster 20W reverse wired option. The Xiaomi’s faster charging mitigates the slightly smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra if you prioritize exceptional battery life, appreciate Huawei’s distinctive design language, and are comfortable operating within their app ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you demand the absolute best performance, need fast charging speeds, and prefer a more open and globally supported Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 in the Pura 70 Ultra suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 9010, being built on a 7nm process, is more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm node. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, users engaging in prolonged, graphically intensive gaming may experience performance drops over time. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is expected to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the app ecosystem differ between the Pura 70 Ultra and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and what impact does this have on usability?
The Pura 70 Ultra, due to ongoing restrictions, lacks full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means no pre-installed Google apps and reliance on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative app sources. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra, on the other hand, has full GMS support, providing seamless access to the Google Play Store and a wider range of apps. This difference significantly impacts usability for users heavily reliant on Google services.
❓ What is the real-world impact of the 20W reverse wired charging on the Pura 70 Ultra compared to the 10W on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra?
The Pura 70 Ultra’s 20W reverse wired charging is significantly faster than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s 10W. This means it can charge accessories like earbuds or smartwatches much more quickly, and even provide a meaningful charge to another smartphone in a pinch. While reverse wireless charging is convenient, wired offers a faster and more efficient transfer of power.