ZTE nubia Z40 Pro vs Huawei Mate 30 Pro: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, and choosing the right device can be overwhelming. Today, we pit two compelling contenders against each other: the ZTE nubia Z40 Pro, boasting a flagship Snapdragon processor, and the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, known for its exceptional battery life and camera capabilities. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The nubia Z40 Pro offers significantly superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and faster charging. However, the Mate 30 Pro still holds its own with incredible battery endurance and a refined camera system. Ultimately, the Z40 Pro wins for power users, while the Mate 30 Pro remains a strong choice for longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z40 Pro Huawei Mate 30 Pro
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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 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 bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA 800 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2022, February 252019, September 19. Released 2019, September 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 02Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.9 x 72.9 x 8.4 mm (6.37 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)198 g (6.98 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1176 x 2400 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.53 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nitsOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Kirin 990 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G76 MP16
OSAndroid 12, MyOS 12Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)-
Triple64 MP, f/1.7, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide)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)
VideoYes4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@960fps, 720p@7680fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
VideoYes1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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
Charging66W wired; 15W magnetic wireless (gravity version) 80W wired (regular version)40W wired 27W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5000 mAh (regular version)· Li-Po 4600 mAh (gravity version)Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsInterstellar Black, Star Black, SilverBlack, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green
ModelsNX701JLIO-L09, LIO-L29, LIO-AL00, LIO-TL00
PriceAbout 500 EURAbout 1290 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 378950 (v7), 484529 (v8) GeekBench: 11936 (v4.4), 3038 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Z40 Pro

  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performance
  • Fast charging (66W/80W)
  • Likely high refresh rate display
  • Modern design

  • Potential for thermal throttling
  • Camera performance details are limited
  • Software support may be less extensive than Huawei

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (103h endurance)
  • Excellent camera system
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Older chipset (Kirin 990)
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Limited Google services integration

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent displays. The Mate 30 Pro boasts a near-infinite contrast ratio, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors. The nubia Z40 Pro likely has a slightly higher resolution and refresh rate (assumed 120Hz), offering smoother scrolling and animations. Brightness is a key factor; the Mate 30 Pro measures 686 nits, and the Z40 Pro is expected to be comparable or slightly higher.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro has a reputation for excellent image quality, particularly in well-lit conditions. While specific camera specs are missing for the Z40 Pro, it likely features a versatile triple-camera system. The Mate 30 Pro's image processing is known for its pleasing color science. The Z40 Pro's camera is expected to be competitive, but the Mate 30 Pro's established reputation gives it a slight edge.

Performance

Here, the nubia Z40 Pro takes a commanding lead. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is significantly more powerful than the Kirin 990, offering noticeably faster processing speeds and improved graphics performance. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and a better gaming experience on the Z40 Pro.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 103 hours is exceptional. The nubia Z40 Pro, while offering faster charging (66W or 80W wired, 15W wireless), likely has a smaller battery capacity and won't match the Mate 30 Pro's longevity.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Z40 Pro is ideal for gamers, power users, and those who prioritize raw performance and fast charging. The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is a great choice for users who value long battery life, a reliable camera, and a premium design, especially if they don't heavily rely on Google services.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the nubia Z40 Pro worth buying if I'm a heavy gamer?
Absolutely! The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides the power needed for smooth, high-fidelity gaming. However, be mindful of potential thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
❓ Can I use Google services on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro?
Due to US trade restrictions, the Mate 30 Pro lacks native Google services. You can use workarounds like AppGallery and third-party app stores, but the experience isn't as seamless as on other Android phones.