Xiaomi Mi 9T vs Huawei P30 Pro New Edition: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses

The Xiaomi Mi 9T and Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market. The Mi 9T, originally a flagship contender, now offers excellent value, while the P30 Pro New Edition aims to deliver a premium experience with a focus on camera capabilities and fast charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing overall value and a balanced experience, the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 980 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, and the 40W SuperCharge significantly reduces downtime. However, the Mi 9T remains a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi 9T Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
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, 20, 28, 38, 40LTE
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2019, June 12. Released 2019, June 122020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame
Dimensions156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)192 g (6.77 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5-
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, HDROLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm)Kirin 980 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Mali-G76 MP10
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.1Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLeica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio 32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired40W wired, 70% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsCarbon black, Red flame, Glacier blueAurora, Black, Silver Frost
ModelsM1903F10G-
PriceAbout 460 EURAbout 820 EUR
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.34 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 100h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -25.3 LUFS (Very good)-
Performance AnTuTu: 211915 (v7), 257146 (v8) GeekBench: 6863 (v4.4), 1703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Xiaomi Mi 9T

  • Excellent battery endurance (100h)
  • Competitive price point
  • Good display brightness (646 nits)

  • Less powerful processor than the P30 Pro
  • Slower charging speed (18W)

Huawei P30 Pro New Edition

  • Faster and more powerful Kirin 980 chipset
  • Ultra-fast 40W SuperCharge technology
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Potentially lower battery endurance compared to Mi 9T
  • May be more expensive than the Mi 9T

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 9T boasts a 6.39-inch display capable of reaching 646 nits of peak brightness, ensuring good visibility outdoors. While the P30 Pro New Edition’s display specs aren’t provided, Huawei historically prioritizes color accuracy and vibrancy. The Mi 9T’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a standard AMOLED panel. The lack of high refresh rate support on either device is typical for this generation, but the Mi 9T’s brightness is a quantifiable advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but the P30 Pro New Edition likely holds an edge due to Huawei’s established camera expertise. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the P30 Pro’s reputation suggests a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Mi 9T’s camera is competent, but the P30 Pro’s focus on low-light performance and detail retention is a likely differentiator. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro/depth sensors found on both, the primary camera system is where the P30 Pro will shine.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Mi 9T utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 (8nm), while the P30 Pro New Edition features the Kirin 980 (7nm). The Kirin 980, with its more complex octa-core configuration (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76, 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76, 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) and smaller 7nm process, demonstrably outperforms the Snapdragon 730 (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better sustained performance in graphically intensive games. While both use octa-core CPUs, the Kirin 980’s architecture provides a clear advantage.

Battery Life

The Mi 9T achieves a 100-hour endurance rating, indicating solid battery life. However, the P30 Pro New Edition compensates for potentially lower mAh capacity with its significantly faster charging capabilities: 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% in just 30 minutes, alongside 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. This drastically reduces downtime compared to the Mi 9T’s 18W wired charging. The P30 Pro’s charging speed is a major convenience factor, offsetting any potential difference in raw battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T if you need a reliable daily driver with good battery life (100h endurance) and are comfortable with a slightly less powerful processor. It’s ideal for users who prioritize affordability and don’t demand the absolute highest performance. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you prefer a faster, more responsive experience, particularly for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value the convenience of incredibly fast charging and a potentially superior camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the P30 Pro New Edition experience significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Kirin 980 is generally well-managed in terms of thermals, but sustained high loads can lead to some throttling. However, the 7nm process and Huawei’s cooling solutions mitigate this effect, providing a more consistent gaming experience than the Snapdragon 730 in the Mi 9T, which is more prone to throttling under similar conditions.
❓ How does the 18W charging on the Mi 9T compare to the 40W SuperCharge on the P30 Pro New Edition in real-world usage?
The difference is substantial. The Mi 9T will take considerably longer to fully charge – likely over 2 hours. The P30 Pro New Edition’s 40W SuperCharge can reach 70% charge in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for users who need a quick power boost before leaving the house.
❓ Is the lack of 5G connectivity a significant drawback for either of these phones in 2024?
For most users, no. 5G coverage is still limited in many areas, and the performance benefits aren't always noticeable. Both phones are perfectly capable for everyday tasks and 4G connectivity remains widely available. The absence of 5G doesn't significantly detract from their value proposition.