Meizu 17 Pro vs Huawei P40 Pro+: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Released in 2020, the Meizu 17 Pro and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Meizu prioritizes a clean Android experience and rapid charging, while the Huawei focuses on camera innovation and a premium design. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a smoother software experience, the Meizu 17 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset, coupled with a more streamlined Android build, offers a more responsive and consistent experience. While the P40 Pro+ boasts a compelling camera system, the Kirin 990's thermal management and software limitations hold it back.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 17 Pro Huawei P40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA-
Launch
Announced2020, May 08. Released 2020, May 112020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frameGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions160 x 77.2 x 8.5 mm (6.30 x 3.04 x 0.33 in)158.2 x 72.6 x 9 mm (6.23 x 2.86 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ)OLED, 90Hz, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 10, Flyme 8.1Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
Features5-LED dual-tone flash, Auto-HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 129˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, AF IR TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassInfrared Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, QC3, 45% in 30 min 27W wireless40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsMint, Black, WhiteWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
Models-ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 560 EURAbout 1000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Meizu 17 Pro

  • Superior sustained performance with Snapdragon 865
  • Cleaner Android software experience
  • Faster app loading and smoother multitasking
  • Competitive wireless charging speed

  • Camera specs are unknown, making a direct comparison difficult
  • Lacks reverse wireless charging

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Versatile camera system with advanced features
  • Faster wired charging (40W)
  • Reverse wireless charging capability
  • High peak display brightness

  • Kirin 990 prone to thermal throttling
  • Software limitations due to geopolitical factors
  • Image processing can appear artificial

Display Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ boasts a measured peak brightness of 760 nits, suggesting a vibrant viewing experience in direct sunlight. While the Meizu 17 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to assume a comparable brightness level given its flagship status. Both devices likely utilize OLED panels for excellent contrast, with the P40 Pro+ explicitly stating an 'infinite' contrast ratio. The absence of refresh rate information for the Meizu 17 Pro is a notable omission; the P40 Pro+ doesn’t specify either, suggesting both may have stuck with standard 60Hz panels at the time of release. Bezels are likely similar, with both aiming for a modern, immersive design.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei P40 Pro+ is heavily marketed around its camera capabilities, but specific sensor details beyond 'Photo / Video' are missing. The P40 Pro+’s strength lies in its image processing algorithms and potentially a larger main sensor (though not specified). The Meizu 17 Pro’s camera specs are also absent, making a direct sensor-to-sensor comparison impossible. However, given Meizu’s history, it’s likely to prioritize natural color reproduction and detail. The P40 Pro+’s image processing tends towards more saturated colors and aggressive sharpening, which may appeal to some users but can appear artificial. Without detailed specs, it’s difficult to definitively declare a camera winner, but the P40 Pro+’s reputation suggests it has the edge in versatility and feature set.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The Meizu 17 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Huawei P40 Pro+ employs the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), also an octa-core CPU, but with a different core configuration – two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.86 GHz. While clock speeds are similar, the architectural differences between the Cortex-A77 and A76 favor the Snapdragon 865 in sustained performance. The Snapdragon 865’s 7nm+ process node also suggests slightly better thermal efficiency. The P40 Pro+’s Kirin 990 is known to exhibit thermal throttling under prolonged heavy loads, a potential issue for gamers. The Meizu 17 Pro, with its Snapdragon, is likely to maintain higher sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the charging capabilities differ significantly. The Huawei P40 Pro+ supports 40W wired and wireless charging, alongside 27W reverse wireless charging. The Meizu 17 Pro offers 30W wired, 27W wireless, but lacks reverse wireless charging. While the P40 Pro+ has faster wired charging, the difference isn’t massive. The 27W wireless charging is identical on both. The P40 Pro+'s reverse wireless charging is a niche feature, useful for topping up accessories but not essential for most users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 17 Pro if you need a phone that excels in gaming, benefits from a cleaner Android experience, and prioritizes fast charging speeds. It's ideal for users who value performance and responsiveness above all else. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you are a photography enthusiast who demands the best possible camera capabilities, and are willing to accept potential software limitations and thermal concerns in exchange for a versatile and feature-rich imaging system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 in the P40 Pro+ overheat during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Kirin 990 is known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load. While it can handle short bursts of performance, prolonged gaming or demanding tasks can lead to reduced clock speeds and frame rates. The Snapdragon 865 in the Meizu 17 Pro generally manages heat more effectively.
❓ What is the impact of the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei P40 Pro+?
The P40 Pro+ launched without Google Mobile Services due to US sanctions. This means no pre-installed Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, or the Play Store. Huawei offers its own ecosystem (HMS) as an alternative, but app compatibility and user experience can be inconsistent. This is a significant drawback for users heavily reliant on Google services.
❓ Is the 27W wireless charging on both phones truly fast in real-world use?
While 27W wireless charging sounds impressive, it's not as fast as the peak wired charging speeds. Expect a full wireless charge to take around 1.5-2 hours. However, it's still significantly faster than older wireless charging standards and offers a convenient way to top up the battery.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Meizu 17 Pro and the Huawei P40 Pro+?
The Meizu 17 Pro runs a relatively clean version of Android, closer to stock, offering a smoother and more responsive user experience. The Huawei P40 Pro+ uses EMUI, Huawei’s custom Android skin, which is more heavily modified and includes a different app ecosystem (HMS) due to the lack of GMS.