LeEco Le Pro3 vs Huawei Mate 10 Pro: A Deep Dive into Two Forgotten Flagships

The LeEco Le Pro3 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro represent a fascinating period in smartphone history – a time when flagship specs trickled down to more affordable price points. While both are now older devices, a price drop makes them compelling options for budget-conscious users. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on the core differences between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 and Huawei’s Kirin 970.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user seeking a balance of performance and battery life, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Kirin 970, built on a 10nm process, offers superior efficiency and sustained performance compared to the LeEco Le Pro3’s Snapdragon 821, despite the latter’s higher clock speeds.

PHONES
Phone Names LeEco Le Pro3 Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
  TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2016, September. Released 2016, October2017, October. Released 2017, November
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions151.4 x 73.9 x 7.5 mm (5.96 x 2.91 x 0.30 in)154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version)
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~73.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUQuad-core (2x2.35 GHz Kryo & 2x2.0 GHz Kryo)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 821 (14 nm)Kirin 970 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 530Mali-G72 MP12
OSAndroid 6.0 (Marshmallow), eUI 5.8Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10.2
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM64GB 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"
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Selfie camera
Single8 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", 1.4µm8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, LE4.2, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC322.5W wired, 58% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4070 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsRose gold, gold, silver, grayMidnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, Pink Gold
ModelsLEX720, LEX727BLA-L29, BLA-L09, BLA-AL00, BLA-A09, BLA-TL00
PriceAbout 330 EURAbout 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)

LeEco Le Pro3

  • Higher CPU clock speeds for short bursts of performance
  • Potentially lower price point due to age
  • Quick Charge 3.0 support

  • Less efficient 14nm process leads to potential throttling
  • Likely inferior camera performance
  • Slower charging speeds

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

  • More efficient 10nm Kirin 970 chipset
  • Faster 22.5W charging
  • Potentially superior camera system

  • May be slightly more expensive
  • CPU clock speeds are lower than the LeEco Le Pro3
  • Older software support

Display Comparison

Both the LeEco Le Pro3 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro boast displays with an 'Infinity' contrast ratio of 4.096 in sunlight, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, specific details like panel type (LCD vs OLED) and resolution are missing. The Mate 10 Pro’s larger size likely contributes to a more immersive viewing experience. Without further data, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or brightness beyond the stated contrast ratio.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specific details are lacking. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison impossible. However, Huawei was known for its strong camera performance during this era, often leveraging computational photography. It’s reasonable to assume the Mate 10 Pro’s camera system is more advanced, potentially offering better low-light performance and image stabilization. The LeEco Le Pro3 likely relies more on hardware specifications, which are currently unknown.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro’s Kirin 970, fabricated on a 10nm process, provides a significant advantage in power efficiency over the LeEco Le Pro3’s 14nm Snapdragon 821. While the Snapdragon 821 features a higher peak CPU clock speed (2.35 GHz vs 2.4 GHz), the Kirin 970’s octa-core configuration (4x Cortex-A73 & 4x Cortex-A53) offers a more balanced approach to multi-tasking. The 10nm process also translates to less heat generation, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Kirin 970 also integrated a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks, a feature absent in the Snapdragon 821.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 96 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro’s 22.5W charging with 58% charge in 30 minutes is significantly faster than the LeEco Le Pro3’s 18W QC3 charging. This faster charging capability provides a substantial convenience advantage, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. The Kirin 970’s superior power efficiency also contributes to the Mate 10 Pro’s overall endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the LeEco Le Pro3 if you prioritize raw CPU clock speed for short bursts of demanding tasks and are comfortable with potential thermal throttling. It’s a good option for users who primarily use their phone for basic tasks and occasional gaming. Buy the Huawei Mate 10 Pro if you value all-day battery life, consistent performance under load, and a more refined user experience. It’s ideal for users who stream video, take photos frequently, and need a reliable daily driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 821 in the LeEco Le Pro3 still capable of running modern apps?
While the Snapdragon 821 was a flagship processor in its time, it may struggle with the most demanding modern applications and games. Expect some slowdowns and potential compatibility issues with newer software. It's best suited for less resource-intensive tasks.
❓ Does the Huawei Mate 10 Pro still receive software updates?
Officially, Huawei has ended software support for the Mate 10 Pro. However, the Android community has developed custom ROMs that can provide updated security patches and features. Installing a custom ROM requires technical expertise and voids the warranty.
❓ How does the Kirin 970's NPU benefit everyday use on the Mate 10 Pro?
The Kirin 970's NPU accelerates AI-related tasks, such as scene recognition in the camera, improving image quality. It also enhances voice assistant responsiveness and optimizes power consumption based on usage patterns, leading to a smoother and more efficient user experience.