Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ vs. Xiaomi 14 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ and Xiaomi 14 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering, but they approach the challenge from different angles. The Pura 80 Pro+ relies on Huawei’s in-house Kirin 9020 chipset, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra leverages the power of Qualcomm’s 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 sustained gaming, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, built on a 4nm process, offers a significant advantage in CPU and GPU capabilities, coupled with excellent battery life. However, the Pura 80 Pro+’s fast charging and potentially unique software experience may appeal to specific users.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ 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 bandsLTE1, 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
Announced2025, June 112024, February 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, June 11Available. Released 2024, February 22
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Shield Glass), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), titanium frame (grade 5) or aluminum alloy frame
Dimensions163 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm (6.42 x 3.00 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
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)219.8 / 224.4 / 229.5 g (7.76 oz)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass 2 (Basalt-tempered)Xiaomi Shield Glass
Resolution1276 x 2848 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~459 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.3 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, 3000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (typ), 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5GHz & 3x2.15GHz & 4x1.6GHz)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 750
OSEMUI (International), HarmonyOS 5.1 (China)Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 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, OIS 48 MP, f/2.1, 93mm (telephoto), PDAF (5cm - ∞), OIS, 4x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF-
Video4K, 1080p, 1080p@960fps (interpolated), HDR Vivid, 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/2.0, (ultrawide), AF32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p, 1080p@240fps, HDR Vivid, gyro-EIS4K@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/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless 18W reverse wired Reverse wireless90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 33 min 80W wireless, 100% in 46 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5700 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· 5000 mAh (Global)· 5300 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Red, GreenBlack, Blue, White, Titanium Gray
ModelsLMR-AL1024031PN0DC, 24030PN60G
PriceAbout 970 EUR€ 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 80 Pro+

  • Extremely fast 100W wired charging
  • 80W wireless charging offers convenience
  • Potential for unique Huawei software features

  • Kirin 9020 chipset may lag behind Snapdragon in performance
  • Limited information on display specifications

Xiaomi 14 Ultra

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers top-tier performance
  • Excellent battery life (11:25h active use)
  • High peak brightness (1281 nits) for outdoor visibility

  • Charging speeds, while fast, are slightly slower than Pura 80 Pro+
  • May lack the unique software features of Huawei’s ecosystem

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 1281 nits, measured, suggesting a superior outdoor visibility experience compared to the Pura 80 Pro+, for which brightness data is unavailable. While both likely employ high-refresh-rate OLED panels, the Xiaomi’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage. The absence of detailed display specs for the Pura 80 Pro+ leaves questions about its color accuracy and panel technology unanswered, potentially relying on Huawei’s color calibration expertise to compensate.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the Pura 80 Pro+, a direct comparison is challenging. However, both phones are expected to feature advanced camera systems. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is likely to leverage larger sensors and sophisticated image processing algorithms, typical of Xiaomi’s Ultra series. The focus should be on the main sensor size and aperture, as these directly impact low-light performance. The Pura 80 Pro+ may emphasize computational photography and Huawei’s unique image processing style, but the Snapdragon’s ISP in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a powerful foundation for image and video processing.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz, promising substantial performance gains over the Huawei Pura 80 Pro+'s Kirin 9020 (7nm). The Snapdragon’s architecture – with its Cortex-A720 and A520 cores – is designed for both peak performance and efficiency. The 7nm Kirin 9020, while capable, will likely exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load. The Xiaomi’s LPDDR5x RAM further contributes to faster data access and overall responsiveness.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra demonstrates a strong real-world battery performance, achieving 11:25h of active use. While the Pura 80 Pro+ lacks this specific metric, its charging capabilities are a standout feature. 100W wired charging and 80W wireless charging are significantly faster than the Xiaomi’s 90W wired and 80W wireless, allowing for quicker top-ups. The Xiaomi’s 33-minute 0-100% wired charge time is competitive, but the Pura 80 Pro+ could potentially be even faster. The trade-off is likely a smaller battery capacity in the Pura 80 Pro+ to accommodate the faster charging technology.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ if you prioritize extremely fast charging speeds (100W wired, 80W wireless) and are invested in the Huawei ecosystem, potentially valuing its distinct software features. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you demand top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and appreciate a more open Android experience with consistently fast speeds and a longer active use battery life of 11:25h.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 in the Pura 80 Pro+ suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm efficiency, the Kirin 9020 is more likely to experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, such as prolonged gaming. This could lead to reduced performance over time. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s superior thermal management should maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the 80W wireless charging on both phones compare in real-world usage?
While both offer 80W wireless charging, the Pura 80 Pro+ also supports 100W wired charging, providing a faster overall charging experience. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s 80W wireless charging is still very fast, reaching 100% in 46 minutes, but the Pura 80 Pro+ could potentially be quicker with its higher wired charging speed.
❓ Is the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ a significant drawback for most users?
The absence of GMS is a major consideration. Users heavily reliant on Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps will need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and workarounds, which may not offer the same seamless experience. This is a significant barrier for many outside of the established Huawei ecosystem.