iQOO 3 5G vs Huawei P40 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Performance and Photography

The vivo iQOO 3 5G and Huawei P40 Pro+ represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The iQOO 3, launched with a focus on gaming and value, leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865. Conversely, the P40 Pro+ prioritizes a premium camera system and Huawei’s proprietary Kirin 990 5G chipset. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, the iQOO 3 5G emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset and 55W charging offer a compelling package. However, the Huawei P40 Pro+ excels in camera versatility, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 3 5G Huawei P40 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 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 bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (3.3 Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 41, 77, 78 - India-
Launch
Announced2020, February 25. Released 2020, March 042020, March 26
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, June 06
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front, ceramic back, ceramic frame
Dimensions158.5 x 74.9 x 9.2 mm (6.24 x 2.95 x 0.36 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
Weight214.5 g (7.58 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1200 x 2640 pixels (~441 ppi density)
Size6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.58 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10+, 800 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, iQOO UI 1.0Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens50 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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720@7680fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)32 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 YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/192kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/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
Charging55W wired, 50% in 15 min40W wired 40W wireless 27W reverse wireless
Type4400 mAhLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsVolcano Orange, Tornado Black, Quantum SilverWhite Ceramic, Black Ceramic
ModelsV1955A, I1927, I1928ELS-N39, ELS-AN10
PriceAbout 480 EURAbout 1000 EUR
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     0.59 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 118h Endurance rating 95h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.3 LUFS (Good) -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 575601 (v8) GeekBench: 13325 (v4.4), 3402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 529687 (v8) GeekBench: 3203 (v5.1) GFXBench: 31fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 3 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 processor
  • Significantly faster 55W charging
  • Longer battery endurance (118h)

  • Less advanced camera system
  • No wireless charging

Huawei P40 Pro+

  • Versatile camera system
  • 40W wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Premium build quality (assumed based on brand)

  • Shorter battery endurance (95h)
  • Slower charging speeds compared to iQOO 3

Display Comparison

Both devices feature 'Infinite' contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. However, the iQOO 3 5G boasts a significantly brighter display at 848 nits measured, compared to the P40 Pro+'s 760 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the higher peak brightness of the iQOO 3 gives it an edge for outdoor use. The lack of specified refresh rates on either device is a notable omission, suggesting standard 60Hz panels.

Camera Comparison

Both phones advertise photo and video capabilities, but the P40 Pro+ is clearly positioned as the camera champion. While specific sensor details are missing for the iQOO 3, the P40 Pro+’s advanced camera system (details unspecified in provided data) likely includes larger sensors and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The absence of detailed camera specs for the iQOO 3 suggests a more generalized, all-purpose camera experience, while the P40 Pro+ targets photography enthusiasts with a focus on detail and versatility. The lack of mention of macro lenses on either device suggests they aren't a primary focus.

Performance

The iQOO 3 5G’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) chipset, with its octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55), provides a strong foundation for demanding tasks. The Huawei P40 Pro+ utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), featuring a different core arrangement (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55). While both are 7nm+ chips, the Snapdragon 865 generally exhibits superior sustained performance due to Qualcomm’s more mature process and thermal design. The iQOO 3 is likely to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods during intensive gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The iQOO 3 5G offers a respectable endurance rating of 118 hours, significantly exceeding the P40 Pro+'s 95 hours. However, this doesn't tell the whole story. The iQOO 3 compensates with blazing-fast 55W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 15 minutes. The P40 Pro+ offers 40W wired charging, 40W wireless charging, and even 27W reverse wireless charging – a feature absent on the iQOO 3. The P40 Pro+'s wireless charging capabilities provide added convenience, but the iQOO 3’s faster wired charging is a significant advantage for users who prioritize speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 3 5G if you need a powerful gaming phone with incredibly fast charging and don't prioritize the absolute best camera system. Buy the Huawei P40 Pro+ if you prefer a versatile camera experience with advanced features like 40W wireless charging and are willing to trade some raw processing power for imaging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the P40 Pro+ experience significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, it's known to be more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865, particularly under sustained load. This means performance may decrease over time during extended gaming sessions as the phone heats up. The iQOO 3 5G, with its Snapdragon 865, is likely to maintain higher clock speeds for longer.
❓ How does the charging speed of the iQOO 3 5G compare to other phones with 55W charging?
The iQOO 3 5G's 55W charging is among the fastest available on smartphones. It consistently delivers a 50% charge in around 15 minutes, and a full charge in approximately 45 minutes. This is significantly faster than the 40W charging on the P40 Pro+, and comparable to other flagship devices utilizing similar fast-charging technologies.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the iQOO 3 5G a significant drawback for photography?
Without specific camera specs, it's difficult to say definitively. However, the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens suggests the iQOO 3 5G relies on digital zoom, which typically results in lower image quality compared to optical zoom offered by a telephoto lens. The P40 Pro+ likely benefits from a more comprehensive camera setup, including a dedicated telephoto lens for improved zoom capabilities.