vivo X90 Pro+ vs Huawei Mate 50 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Android Rivals

The vivo X90 Pro+ and Huawei Mate 50 Pro represent compelling, yet distinct, approaches to the high-end Android smartphone market. The X90 Pro+ arrives with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, aiming for peak performance, while the Mate 50 Pro leverages the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, prioritizing refined camera capabilities and impressive battery endurance. 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 vivo X90 Pro+ emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift, and the 80W wired charging is significantly faster than the Mate 50 Pro’s 66W. While the Mate 50 Pro boasts excellent battery life, the X90 Pro+ offers a more future-proof and powerful experience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90 Pro+ Huawei Mate 50 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2022, November 222022, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2022, September 28
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, eco leather back-
Dimensions164.4 x 75.3 x 9.7 mm (6.47 x 2.96 x 0.38 in)162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight221 g (7.80 oz)205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Huawei Kunlun Glass
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)1212 x 2616 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 111.8 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, Funtouch (Global), OriginOS 3 (China)EMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.6, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.4", 0.7µm, AF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, AF-
Single-13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, 14-bit RAW video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -BDS Satellite Message (sending only)
Battery
Charging80W wired, 100% in 33 min 50W wireless Reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type4700 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, RedBlack, Silver, Purple, Orange
ModelsV2227ADCO-AL00, DCO-LX9
PriceAbout 1030 EURAbout 900 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 104h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 979921 (v9) GeekBench: 3839 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X90 Pro+

  • Significantly faster processor with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Faster 80W wired charging
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Battery capacity not specified
  • Display specifications lacking detail

Huawei Mate 50 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (10:36h active use)
  • High peak display brightness (946 nits)
  • Refined camera experience (implied)

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Slower 66W wired charging

Display Comparison

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro’s display achieves a measured peak brightness of 946 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. However, the context data lacks specifics on the X90 Pro+'s display, making a direct brightness comparison difficult. Given vivo’s history with high-quality AMOLED panels, it’s likely comparable, but without measured data, we can’t confirm. Both displays boast an 'infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology. The absence of refresh rate information for the X90 Pro+ is a key omission; the Mate 50 Pro’s refresh rate is also not specified, hindering a complete assessment of display smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed heavily on their camera capabilities, but the specifics are limited in the provided data. Both support Photo and Video capture. Without sensor size details, it’s difficult to assess image quality potential. However, the X90 Pro+’s newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 likely offers superior image processing algorithms, potentially leading to better dynamic range and low-light performance. The lack of detail regarding OIS and lens apertures prevents a deeper analysis. The omission of any mention of zoom capabilities is also a significant gap in the data.

Performance

The vivo X90 Pro+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Huawei Mate 50 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm). The Gen 2 features a redesigned CPU architecture – specifically the Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz versus the Mate 50 Pro’s Cortex-X2 at 3.19 GHz – promising up to 25% faster performance. The X90 Pro+’s CPU configuration (1+2+2+3) is also more balanced than the Mate 50 Pro’s (1+3+4). Crucially, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved 4nm process offers better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. The Mate 50 Pro is limited to 4G connectivity, a major drawback for users requiring fast mobile data speeds.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours, and a real-world active use score of 10:36h, indicating exceptional battery life. The vivo X90 Pro+’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 80W wired charging (100% in 33 minutes) is considerably faster than the Mate 50 Pro’s 66W charging. The X90 Pro+ also offers 50W wireless charging, matching the Mate 50 Pro, and includes reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Mate 50 Pro’s 5W reverse wireless. The faster charging speed of the X90 Pro+ mitigates any potential disadvantage from a potentially smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X90 Pro+ if you prioritize raw performance for gaming and demanding applications, and value the fastest possible charging speeds. Buy the Huawei Mate 50 Pro if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a refined camera experience, and are less concerned with having the absolute latest chipset, or if 5G connectivity is not a necessity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Huawei Mate 50 Pro experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a capable chip, it is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Mate 50 Pro’s thermal management system will likely mitigate throttling to some extent, but users should expect some performance reduction during prolonged, demanding gaming sessions. The X90 Pro+'s newer chip is less prone to this.
❓ Is the lack of 5G connectivity on the Huawei Mate 50 Pro a dealbreaker for users in areas with widespread 5G coverage?
Yes, the absence of 5G is a significant limitation for users who rely on fast mobile data speeds. In areas with robust 5G infrastructure, the Mate 50 Pro will be considerably slower than 5G-enabled devices like the vivo X90 Pro+. This impacts streaming, downloading, and online gaming.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the vivo X90 Pro+ compare to typical fast charging solutions?
80W charging is exceptionally fast, fully charging a typical smartphone battery in around 30-40 minutes. This is significantly quicker than the 66W charging on the Mate 50 Pro and most other flagship devices, offering a substantial convenience benefit for users who frequently need to top up their battery.