Huawei Pura X vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Android

The Huawei Pura X represents a return to form for Huawei's flagship ambitions, powered by its in-house Kirin 9020 chipset. It directly challenges Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, a device renowned for its AI-powered features and computational photography. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two Android powerhouses, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and the overall user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and software support, the Google Pixel 8 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. However, the Huawei Pura X’s significantly faster 66W charging and potentially more efficient Kirin 9020 chipset make it compelling for power users who value speed and longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Pura X 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 bandsLTE1, 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/NSA1, 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 / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, March 202023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, March 20Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 143.2 x 91.7 x 7.2 mmFolded: 91.7 x 74.3 x 15.1 mm162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight193.7 g or 195.9 g (6.84 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1320 x 2120 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~396 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.3 inches, 114.9 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSHarmonyOS 5.0Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 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, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 1.5 MP multi-spectral channel red maple primary color camera50 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, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide)10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video1080p, HDR Vivid4K@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), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS, 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/6/7, 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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging66W wired 40W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
Type4720 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsRed, Green, Gray, White, BlackObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsVDE-AL00GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 960 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Huawei Pura X

  • Significantly faster 66W wired charging
  • 40W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially more efficient Kirin 9020 chipset

  • Software support and updates are uncertain
  • Camera system details are unknown, potentially lagging behind Pixel

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system with AI-powered features
  • Guaranteed software updates and long-term support
  • Bright and efficient LTPO display

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Tensor G3 may throttle under sustained heavy load

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts a peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pura X’s display specifications are not provided, Huawei typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s LTPO technology allows for a variable refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz to conserve battery life – a feature absent in the provided Pura X specs. This dynamic refresh rate, combined with the high peak brightness, gives the Pixel 8 Pro a clear advantage for outdoor use and media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is a major strength, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography. While specific sensor details aren’t provided for the Pura X, the Pixel 8 Pro’s focus on software processing and AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Best Take provides a significant advantage in image quality and versatility. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from Google’s advanced video stabilization and editing tools. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Pura X makes a direct sensor comparison impossible, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s established reputation in this area is a strong indicator of its superiority.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: Huawei’s Kirin 9020 (7nm) versus Google’s Tensor G3 (4nm). The Tensor G3’s 4nm process offers superior transistor density and, crucially, improved thermal efficiency compared to the Kirin 9020’s 7nm node. This translates to less throttling under sustained load, benefiting demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Pixel 8 Pro’s nona-core CPU, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core, provides a performance edge over the Kirin 9020’s Taishan architecture, particularly in single-core tasks. While the Kirin 9020’s octa-core configuration is capable, the Tensor G3’s architecture is optimized for Google’s AI and machine learning workloads.

Battery Life

The Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use, and an endurance rating of 90 hours, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Pura X counters with significantly faster charging: 66W wired, 40W wireless, and even reverse wireless charging capabilities. The Pixel 8 Pro offers 30W wired charging, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. While the Pixel 8 Pro’s battery endurance is commendable, the Pura X’s charging speed is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in a fraction of the time. The Pura X’s 66W wired charging offers a substantial advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura X if you need blazing-fast charging speeds, appreciate a more traditional Android experience without heavy AI integration, and prioritize a potentially longer battery life due to the Kirin 9020’s efficiency. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a seamless software experience with guaranteed updates, a class-leading camera system with advanced computational photography, and benefit from Google’s AI-powered features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 chipset in the Pura X suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node, the Kirin 9020 is more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 4nm Tensor G3. While Huawei employs cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings may result in performance drops. The Tensor G3’s superior thermal efficiency provides a more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Pura X and the Pixel 8 Pro, particularly regarding updates and app availability?
The Pixel 8 Pro benefits from Google’s direct software support, guaranteeing timely Android updates and access to the latest features. The Pura X, due to geopolitical factors, faces uncertainty regarding software updates and may lack full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS), potentially impacting app compatibility. Users may need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and alternative app sources.
❓ What is the real-world benefit of the Pura X's 66W charging compared to the Pixel 8 Pro's 30W charging?
The Pura X’s 66W charging can significantly reduce charging times. While the Pixel 8 Pro reaches 50% in 30 minutes, the Pura X is expected to achieve a full charge in under an hour, offering a substantial time saving for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.