Meizu 18 vs Huawei P50 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance and Features

The Meizu 18 and Huawei P50 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Meizu 18, with its Snapdragon 888, aims for a balanced, compact package, while the P50 Pro, leveraging the Kirin 9000 (and a Snapdragon 888 4G variant), prioritizes camera prowess and a larger form factor. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Huawei P50 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its 66W charging and potentially superior camera system, coupled with a comparable processor (Snapdragon 888 variant), outweigh the Meizu 18’s more compact size. However, the P50 Pro's 4G limitation is a significant drawback for some.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 18 Huawei P50 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, 4, 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 - China
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
Launch
Announced2021, March 03. Released 2021, March 082021, July 29
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 12
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions152.4 x 69.2 x 8.2 mm (6.00 x 2.72 x 0.32 in)158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density)1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Kirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP24Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Flyme 9HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF
Single-13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Triple64 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging36W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4360 mAh
Misc
ColorsLight Blue, White, AuroraGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm Pink
Models-JAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00
PriceAbout 560 EUR$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 76h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Meizu 18

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Clean and streamlined software experience
  • Snapdragon 888 5G connectivity

  • Slower 36W charging
  • Less emphasis on camera innovation
  • Limited battery capacity (spec not provided)

Huawei P50 Pro

  • 66W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior camera system
  • Larger, more immersive display

  • 4G connectivity limitation (some models)
  • Larger and heavier form factor
  • Kirin 9000 performance may be slightly lower than Snapdragon 888 in some tasks

Display Comparison

The Huawei P50 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 754 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Meizu 18 (brightness data unavailable). While both feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the P50 Pro’s larger screen size and potentially superior color calibration (based on Huawei’s display history) offer a more immersive viewing experience. The Meizu 18’s smaller size, however, may appeal to users who prefer one-handed operation.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei P50 Pro is clearly positioned as a camera-centric device. While specific sensor details are missing, Huawei’s history suggests a focus on large sensors and advanced image processing. The P50 Pro’s camera system is designed for both photo and video, likely excelling in low-light conditions and offering versatile zoom capabilities. The Meizu 18, while capable, likely prioritizes a more balanced camera experience rather than pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Meizu 18 makes a direct comparison difficult, but Huawei’s reputation in this area is substantial.

Performance

Both phones utilize 5nm fabrication processes, but the chipsets differ significantly. The Huawei P50 Pro offers a choice: the Kirin 9000 with its Cortex-A77 cores, or the Snapdragon 888 4G. The Meizu 18 exclusively uses the Snapdragon 888 5G. While the Kirin 9000’s Cortex-A77 cores clock slightly higher (3.13 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the X1), the Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 core provides a performance advantage in bursty workloads. The P50 Pro’s 4G limitation is a critical consideration for users reliant on 5G connectivity. Both likely utilize LPDDR4X RAM, impacting overall system responsiveness.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 76 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the charging speeds differ dramatically. The Huawei P50 Pro supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes. The Meizu 18’s 36W wired charging is significantly slower, taking approximately 50 minutes to reach 100%. This difference in charging speed is a major advantage for the P50 Pro, especially for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 18 if you prioritize a genuinely compact flagship experience and value a clean, streamlined software experience. It’s ideal for users who find larger phones unwieldy and don’t require the absolute best camera performance. Buy the Huawei P50 Pro if you prioritize camera quality, fast charging (66W wired, 50W wireless), and a larger display, and are willing to accept the limitations of a 4G-only connection in some models.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Huawei P50 Pro (4G variant) suffer from the same throttling issues as in other phones?
While the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate heat under sustained load, Huawei’s thermal management system in the P50 Pro is generally well-regarded. Reports suggest throttling is present, but less aggressive than in some other implementations. The larger chassis of the P50 Pro also aids in heat dissipation.
❓ Is the lack of 5G connectivity on some P50 Pro models a dealbreaker in 2024?
This depends entirely on your network infrastructure and usage patterns. If you live in an area with widespread 5G coverage and frequently download large files or stream high-resolution video, the lack of 5G will be noticeable. However, for casual users or those in areas with limited 5G availability, it may not be a significant issue.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Meizu 18 and the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Meizu 18 runs a relatively clean version of Android, prioritizing simplicity and performance. The Huawei P50 Pro, due to US sanctions, lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) and runs HarmonyOS. This means no pre-installed Google apps and reliance on Huawei’s AppGallery, which has a growing but still limited app selection.
❓ What kind of photography does the Huawei P50 Pro excel at?
The P50 Pro shines in low-light photography, offering excellent detail and dynamic range. Its versatile zoom capabilities, combined with Huawei’s image processing algorithms, deliver impressive results at various focal lengths. It's also a strong performer in portrait mode, creating natural-looking bokeh.