vivo iQOO Pro vs Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Released within months of each other in 2019, the vivo iQOO Pro and Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G represented distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone. The iQOO Pro prioritized raw performance and gaming, while the Mate 30 Pro 5G focused on a comprehensive camera experience and innovative features. This comparison revisits these devices, analyzing their core strengths and weaknesses to determine which remains a compelling option today.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing gaming and fast charging, the vivo iQOO Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 855+ offers consistently strong performance, and the 44W charging is faster than the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s 40W wired solution. However, the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s camera system and wireless charging capabilities are significant advantages for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Pro Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2019, August. Released 2019, August2019, September 19. Released 2019, October 23
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.8 x 75.7 x 9.3 mm (6.25 x 2.98 x 0.37 in)158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)198 g (6.98 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.41 inches, 100.9 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 640 (700 MHz)Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.1Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 40 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.54", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@1920fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.28µm32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/192kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging44W wired40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green
ModelsV1922A, V1922ALIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10
PriceAbout 410 EURAbout 1440 EUR

vivo iQOO Pro

  • Faster 44W wired charging
  • Stronger sustained performance due to Snapdragon 855+
  • Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother gaming

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Potentially less versatile camera system

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

  • Exceptional camera system with RYYB sensor
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially longer battery life

  • Kirin 990 prone to thermal throttling
  • Slower wired charging compared to iQOO Pro

Display Comparison

While both phones feature excellent displays, specific details are limited in the provided data. However, given the iQOO Pro’s gaming focus, it likely prioritized a high refresh rate (a common feature for iQOO devices) which the Mate 30 Pro 5G likely lacked. Both would have utilized OLED panels for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mate 30 Pro 5G’s curved display design, a signature Huawei aesthetic, would offer a more immersive viewing experience, but potentially increased accidental touch inputs. Without nit brightness data, it’s difficult to definitively say which display is superior, but Huawei typically excels in display calibration.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t detail camera specs beyond the presence of a camera system on each device. However, the Mate 30 Pro 5G was renowned for its exceptional camera capabilities, particularly its innovative RYYB sensor which captured more light than traditional RGGB sensors. This resulted in superior low-light performance. The iQOO Pro, while likely possessing a capable camera, would have prioritized speed and efficiency over outright image quality. The Mate 30 Pro 5G’s multi-camera setup, including ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, offered greater versatility. The iQOO Pro likely focused on a more streamlined camera experience.

Performance

The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The iQOO Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7nm) is a proven performer, featuring an octa-core configuration with a peak clock speed of 2.84 GHz. This is geared towards sustained performance. The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G utilizes the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+), also octa-core, but with a slightly higher peak clock speed of 2.86 GHz on its Cortex-A76 cores. However, the Kirin 990’s architecture, while powerful, was known to be more susceptible to thermal throttling under prolonged heavy loads compared to the Snapdragon 855+. The iQOO Pro, designed for gaming, likely incorporated more robust cooling solutions to mitigate throttling, giving it an edge in sustained performance scenarios. The Snapdragon’s Adreno 640 GPU also provides a strong advantage in graphics-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The iQOO Pro’s 44W wired charging is a clear advantage over the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s 40W wired charging. This translates to faster top-up times, crucial for gamers and power users. The Mate 30 Pro 5G compensates with 27W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the iQOO Pro. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Mate 30 Pro 5G typically featured a larger battery, offering potentially longer battery life in typical usage. However, the Snapdragon 855+’s efficiency could partially offset this difference, especially during gaming.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Pro if you need a phone primarily for gaming, demand the fastest possible wired charging, and value a clean, performance-focused Android experience. Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G if you prioritize camera versatility, appreciate the convenience of wireless and reverse wireless charging, and are comfortable with Huawei’s EMUI software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Mate 30 Pro 5G experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Kirin 990 5G was known to be more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 855+. While Huawei implemented cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at high settings could lead to performance drops. The iQOO Pro, designed with gaming in mind, likely manages heat more effectively.
❓ How does the 44W charging on the iQOO Pro compare to the 40W charging on the Mate 30 Pro 5G in real-world usage?
The iQOO Pro’s 44W charging is noticeably faster, typically achieving a full charge in around 50-60 minutes, while the Mate 30 Pro 5G takes closer to 70-80 minutes. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the iQOO Pro a major drawback?
For users heavily reliant on wireless charging, it is. However, the iQOO Pro compensates with significantly faster wired charging, which can often be a more practical solution. The absence of wireless charging is a trade-off for prioritizing charging speed.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the iQOO Pro and the Mate 30 Pro 5G?
Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro 5G is known for its vibrant, sometimes oversaturated, image processing style, aiming for instantly shareable photos. The iQOO Pro likely adopted a more natural and balanced approach, prioritizing accuracy over dramatic effects.