vivo NEX 3 vs Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Released within months of each other in 2019, the vivo NEX 3 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G represented the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology. While both aimed for a premium experience, they took different approaches to achieving it. The NEX 3 prioritized a nearly bezel-less 'waterfall' display and raw Snapdragon power, while the Mate 30 Pro 5G focused on camera innovation and Huawei’s proprietary Kirin chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone still holds up today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a unique display, the vivo NEX 3 offers a compelling package. However, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G’s superior charging versatility – including 27W wireless and reverse wireless – and potentially more refined camera processing give it the edge for power users and photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo NEX 3	Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 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
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China

Launch
Announced	2019, September. Released 2019, September	2019, September 19. Released 2019, October 23
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions	167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm (6.59 x 3.00 x 0.37 in)	158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	217.3 g (7.65 oz)	198 g (6.98 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution	1080 x 2256 pixels (~363 ppi density)	1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size	6.89 inches, 119.3 cm2 (~93.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, HDR10	OLED, HDR10

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)	Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)	Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+)
GPU	Adreno 640 (700 MHz)	Mali-G76 MP16
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.1	Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	No	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 3.0	UFS 3.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, (telephoto), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), PDAF	40 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)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	32-bit/192kHz audio	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE	5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	44W wired	40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
Type	4500 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue	Black, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green, Orange, Forest Green
Models	V1923A, V1923T, 1908_19, 1912	LIO-N29, LIO-AL10, LIO-TL10
Price	About 640 EUR	About 1440 EUR

vivo NEX 3

Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Snapdragon 855+
Unique and immersive 'waterfall' display design
Faster wired charging (44W)

Lack of wireless charging
Potential for accidental touches due to extreme display curvature
Camera system likely less versatile than Mate 30 Pro 5G

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

Versatile charging options (40W wired, 27W wireless, reverse wireless)
Potentially superior camera image processing
Kirin 990 5G offers good power efficiency

Snapdragon 855+ may offer higher peak performance
Less visually striking display design
Huawei’s software ecosystem may be a concern for some users

Display Comparison

Both phones feature curved displays, but the NEX 3’s ‘waterfall’ design pushes the boundaries with an 85.9% screen-to-body ratio. While exact nit brightness figures aren’t provided, both likely achieve peak brightness levels suitable for outdoor visibility. The Mate 30 Pro 5G’s display technology isn’t specified, but Huawei typically employs OLED panels with excellent color accuracy. The NEX 3’s extreme curvature, however, may introduce accidental touch inputs, a trade-off for the striking visual aesthetic.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is widely regarded for its camera prowess, though specific sensor details are missing. Huawei’s image processing algorithms are known for their vibrant colors and dynamic range. The NEX 3’s camera specifications are also unavailable, but vivo typically focuses on delivering natural-looking images. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Huawei’s reputation and the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s advanced camera features likely give it an edge in image quality and versatility. The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens on the NEX 3, if true, would be a significant disadvantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the vivo NEX 3 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7nm) with its Kryo 485 cores, while the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G features the Kirin 990 5G (7nm+). The Kirin 990 5G’s ‘+’ indicates a refined process node, potentially offering slightly better power efficiency. However, the Snapdragon 855+ is known for its strong sustained performance, particularly in gaming. Both phones feature octa-core CPUs, but the Snapdragon’s architecture (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485) is geared towards higher peak clock speeds, while the Kirin 990 5G (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) prioritizes a balance of performance and efficiency. RAM specifications are not provided, but both likely utilize LPDDR4X for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G offers a more versatile charging solution with 40W wired charging, 27W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The NEX 3 is limited to 44W wired charging. While 44W is faster, the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s wireless charging capabilities and the ability to top up other devices are significant advantages. Battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, but the Mate 30 Pro 5G’s charging ecosystem provides greater flexibility for users on the go.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo NEX 3 if you need a phone with maximum processing power for demanding games and applications, and appreciate a truly immersive, almost bezel-less display. Buy the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G if you prefer a more versatile camera system with advanced features, and value the convenience of fast wireless charging and the ability to charge other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Mate 30 Pro 5G suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

While the Kirin 990 5G is a capable chipset, some reports indicated it could experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. However, Huawei implemented various cooling solutions, and the throttling wasn’t universally experienced. The Snapdragon 855+ in the NEX 3 is generally known for better sustained performance, but both phones may experience some throttling during prolonged gaming.

❓ Is the waterfall display on the vivo NEX 3 prone to accidental touches?

Yes, the extreme curvature of the NEX 3’s display increases the likelihood of accidental touches, particularly along the edges. Users often reported needing to adjust their grip to avoid unintended interactions. This is a trade-off for the visually stunning design.

❓ How does the 44W charging on the NEX 3 compare to the 40W charging on the Mate 30 Pro 5G in real-world usage?

While 44W is technically faster, the difference in 0-100% charging times is often minimal in real-world scenarios. Both phones can achieve a significant charge in a relatively short period. The Mate 30 Pro 5G’s advantage lies in its wireless charging capabilities, which the NEX 3 lacks.

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G still receive software updates and security patches?

Due to the US trade restrictions, the Mate 30 Pro 5G no longer receives official Google updates. While Huawei continues to provide EMUI updates, these do not include Google Play Services. Users may need to rely on community-developed solutions for access to Google apps.