vivo S9e vs Huawei P20 Pro: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei P20 Pro remains a strong contender thanks to its exceptional battery life and impressive camera, despite its age. The vivo S9e offers a more modern chipset and faster charging, but struggles to match the P20 Pro's longevity. It depends on your priorities: battery and camera vs. performance and charging speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S9e | Huawei P20 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 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 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1x | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 03 | 2018, March 27. Released 2018, April 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 27 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 74.3 x 7.3 mm / 7.4 mm | 155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm (6.10 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168.8 / 171.5 g (5.96 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2404 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2240 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~408 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.0 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 93.9 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+ | OLED |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 820 (7 nm) | Kirin 970 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC5 | Mali-G72 MP12 |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS 1.0 | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens | 40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 20 MP B/W, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/2.7" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Leica optics |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX | 4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 22.5W wired, 58% in 30 min |
| Type | 4100 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Starry Blue | Black, Gold |
| Models | V2048A | CLT-L29C, CLT-L29, CLT-L09C, CLT-L09, CLT-AL00, CLT-AL01, CLT-TL01, CLT-AL00L, CLT-L04, HW-01K, CLT-L0J |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 410 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -92.1dB / Crosstalk -92.1dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 89h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.087 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 71dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 91dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 209884 (v7) GeekBench: 6679 (v4.4) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo S9e
- Modern Chipset (Dimensity 820)
- Faster Charging (33W)
- Sleek Design
- Likely better color accuracy on display
- Battery life not as impressive as P20 Pro
- Camera may not match P20 Pro's quality
- Less established brand recognition in some markets
Huawei P20 Pro
- Exceptional Battery Life (89h endurance rating)
- Excellent Camera System (Leica optics)
- High Contrast Display
- Proven Reliability
- Older Chipset (Kirin 970)
- Slower Charging (22.5W)
- Outdated Design (notch)
- Software support may be limited
Display Comparison
Both phones feature OLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The P20 Pro boasts a reported 'infinite' contrast ratio (though this is a marketing term), and performs well in direct sunlight with a 4.087 rating. The S9e's display is likely more modern in terms of color accuracy and potentially brightness, but specific details are less readily available. The P20 Pro's notch might be a visual drawback for some.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P20 Pro's camera is a major selling point. Its triple-lens setup (24MP + 12MP + 16MP) with Leica optics was groundbreaking and still delivers excellent image quality, particularly in low light. The vivo S9e likely features a capable camera system, but it's unlikely to match the P20 Pro's versatility and image processing prowess. Expect the P20 Pro to excel in zoom capabilities.
Performance
The vivo S9e's Mediatek Dimensity 820 generally provides a more modern and efficient performance compared to the Kirin 970 in the P20 Pro. While the Kirin 970 was a flagship chipset in its time, the Dimensity 820 benefits from newer architecture and manufacturing process (7nm vs 10nm), leading to potentially better gaming performance and overall responsiveness. However, real-world usage will depend on software optimization.
Battery Life
This is where the Huawei P20 Pro truly shines. Its endurance rating of 89 hours is exceptional. The vivo S9e, while offering 33W fast charging, likely has a smaller battery capacity and won't match the P20 Pro's longevity. Users who prioritize all-day (and then some) battery life will find the P20 Pro more appealing.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the vivo S9e? Users prioritizing a smoother, more modern experience with faster charging and a slightly more contemporary design. Who should buy the Huawei P20 Pro? Those seeking incredible battery life and a proven, versatile camera system, and are comfortable with an older device.