Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9: Which big phone is better? Huawei’s latest super-phone is here – and the Mate 20 Pro is clearly gunning for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. How do they compare? Let’s take a closer look at the Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9. The Mate 20 Pro and Note 9 are two big phones with powerful internals, impressive camera arrays, and price-tags that’ll likely make you baulk. Not sure which one is right for you? With both super-sized smartphones now on the market, we examine the Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9’s specs and dissect the key differences to help you decide. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9: Big specs, even bigger displays Huawei has certainly taken a lot of inspiration from Samsung for its latest phone. The Mate 20 curves like the Note 9, sandwiching a metal rim between two panels of glass. Both look great and feel very modern with a thin bezel and varying colour options. Both also use OLED for their displays, meaning excellent contrast and proper support for HDR playback. These are two gorgeous panels that are perfect for viewing snaps or watching videos. And at 6.4-inches (Note 9) and 6.39-inches (Mate 20 Pro) they are very similar in size. One big difference is the addition of a notch on the Mate 20’s display. This small display cutout allows for a thin bezel, but juts out slightly into the screen. Personally, we’d take the extra bezel and lose the notch. Tucked inside the Mate 20 Pro’s OLED panel is an in-display fingerprint sensor, replacing the traditional rear-mounted sensor you’ll find on the Note 9. Both phones share facial unlocking though, with the Mate 20 Pro using 3D depth sensing and the Note 9 authenticating via your retinas. Related: Best phablets Neither phone is short on power, even though the Mate 20 Pro uses a newer chipset. That’s the 7nm Kirin 980 as opposed to the 10nm Snapdragon 845/Exynos 9810 Samsung has used since the Galaxy S9. Having a 7nm chipset allows for more transistors to be placed inside, giving you better performance in a more efficient package. RAM is 6GB for both (version with 8GB are available) and storage begins at 128GB. Interestingly, only the Note 9 has microSD support with Huawei instead using its own nano SD cards here. Big phones tend to have big batteries and that’s certainly the case here. Samsung has packed a 4000 mAh cell inside the Note 9, with Huawei upping that slightly to 4200 mAh. Both have wireless charging and fast charging via USB too. The Mate 20 should charge faster, thanks to the 40w plug inside the box. Huawei claims you’ll get 70% charge in just over 30 minutes, which is a lot than we got with the Note 9. Related: Mate 20 vs P20 Pro Both Huawei and Samsung have struggled with getting quick Android updates out in the past and if you pick up the Note 9 today it’ll still have Android 8.1 on it. Pick up a Mate 20 Pro and you’ll find Android 9 Pie, even if it covered in EMUI. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9: A clear focus on the camera On the back of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 there are two cameras, with the Mate 20 Pro packing three. Let’s talk about the Mate 20 Pro first, as it’s arguably the more interesting device in terms of camera. The main sensor is 40-megapixels with an f/1.8 aperture; with a 20-megapixel ultrawide and 8-megapixel telephoto flanking it. The camera itself uses a lot of AI-smarts and will alter your snaps dependant on the surroundings. This AI is also used for stabilisation and we’re expecting great things as a similar system worked fantastically well on the Huawei P20 Pro. Related: Best smartphones Around the front the Mate 20 Pro has a 24-megapixel camera along with a depth sensor. The two cameras on the back of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comprise of a main 12-megapixel dual-pixel sensor with an aperture that can shift between f/1.5 and f/2.4 and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. In terms of selfies the Note 9 has an 8-megapixel camera. We love the variety of the Mate 20 and having an ultrawide sensors is great for cramming loads into a shot. Huawei has also included the excellent Night Mode from the P20 Pro, which took excellent low-light shots on Huawei’s previous flagship. We’ve yet to put the Mate 20 Pro through our review process so we’re not sure how it will compare to the Galaxy Note 9. We do know that the Note 9 takes great snaps, with that typical punch of colour we expect from Samsung’s phones. Both phones shoot video at 4K and boast plenty of pro modes inside the camera apps. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9: Neither is priced as a budget option Packed with so many features, it’s hardly a surprise neither of phones are cheap. The iPhone X started the near £1000/$1000 phone and both of these devices have followed suit. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 starts at £899/$999 and the Mate 20 Pro costs £899/1049 euros. Both are currently available to buy in the UK, US, and elsewhere – though shipping dates may vary by retailer or network. So, Huawei Mate 20 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Note 9? Let us know your opinion on Twitter @TrustedReviews.<doc-sep>Following the flurry of awesome flagships like the Pixel 3 XL, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and iPhone XS Max making their way to store shelves, Huawei is releasing its latest contender. Though the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a little late to the game, it packs some incredible specs. So how does the Huawei Mate 20 Pro compare to Samsung’s latest darling, the Galaxy Note 9? We put the two smartphones to the test to find out. Specs Huawei Mate 20 Pro Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Size 157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6 mm (6.22 x 2.85 x 0.34 inches) 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches) Weight 189 grams (6.66 oz) 201 grams (7.09 ounces) Screen size 6.4-inch AMOLED display 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display Screen resolution 3,120 x 1,440 (538 pixels-per-inch) 2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels-per-inch) Operating system Android 9.0 Pie Android 8.1 Oreo Storage space 128GB 128GB, 512GB MicroSD card slot No – features proprietary Nano Memory Card Yes Tap to pay services Google Pay Google Pay Processor Kirin 980 Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 RAM 6GB 6GB, 8GB Camera Triple sensor 40MP and 20MP and 8MP rear, 24MP front Dual sensor 12MP rear, 8MP front Video 2,160p at 30 frames per second, 1,080p at 60 fps, 720p at 960 fps 2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1,080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Ports USB-C USB-C, Headphone Jack Fingerprint sensor Yes (In-display) Yes (back) Water resistance IP68 IP68 Battery 4,200mAh 4,000mAh App marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Network support TBD T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Colors Emerald Green, Midnight Blue, Twilight, Pink Gold, Black Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple, Midnight Black, Metallic Copper Price 1,049 Euros (around $1,220) $1,000 Buy from Huawei AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Amazon, Samsung Review score Hands-on 4 out of 5 stars Performance, battery life, and charging Looking for power? You’re in luck because the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 have plenty to spare. Inside the Huawei Mate 20 Pro you’ll find the Kirin 980 processor along with 6GB of RAM. Storage comes in at 128GB with an option to add an additional 256GB via a proprietary Nano Memory Card. Overall, Huawei claims you’ll see a 20 percent speed improvement with the Kirin 980 chip compared to its predecessor along with a 40 percent increase in power efficiency. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB of RAM for the 128GB storage configuration and 8GB of RAM for the 512GB option; if neither option provides enough storage, you can always add 512GB of storage via the Micro SD card slot. Either way, Samsung’s found a winning combination as it’s one of the highest scoring phones ever in our benchmark testing. In terms of battery capacity, the Mate 20 Pro has a slight edge at 4,200mAh compared to the Note 9’s 4,00mAh battery. We’ve not had a chance to put the Mate 20 Pro to the test just yet, but Huawei typically fares better in overall battery life compared to Samsung. What really seals the deal for this category however is charging. On the Galaxy Note 9 you’ll find the fairly standard Quick Charge 2.0 along with Qi wireless charging at 7.5W. Comparatively, the Mate 20 Pro features super fast charging via its 40W adapter along with Qi wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, meaning it can charge up another phone wirelessly. We’re tentatively giving this round to the Huawei’s Mate 20 Pro. In addition to what’s reported to be a beefier processor and more efficient battery, it also has more innovative charging options. We’ll put the Mate 20 Pro through the wringer in our review and update this section if necessary. Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro Design and durability It goes without saying that you expect great specs on a flagship smartphone, but aesthetics and durability certainly can’t be ignored. Both Samsung and Huawei make gorgeous phones, so let’s see how these two compare. On the front of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro you’ll find a curved 6.4 inch screen with the ever popular notch at the top of the phone and slight bezel at the bottom. Flip the phone over and the first thing you’ll notice is the camera module; it’s square and a little awkward, especially when compared to the Huawei P20 Pro. And on the Midnight Blue and Emerald Green versions of the Mate 20 Pro the glass has been etched into what Huawei calls a Hyper Optical pattern to minimize fingerprints on the phone and add extra grip. If that’s not your forte, the other three color options have the traditional glass back. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is a traditional glass sandwich. On the front there’s a curved 6.4-inch screen with minimal bezels. The back is pretty nondescript with a dual camera setup and fingerprint sensor. In terms of durability, there’s not much difference between the phones. Both are constructed of hardened glass and feature an IP68 rating to protect against water and dust. For either phone, you’ll definitely want to invest in a case. In the end, both phones have their own unique design aesthetic that makes them each appeal to different people. And durability is a wash, so we’re calling this round a tie. Winner: Tie Display When it comes to exquisite displays, you can’t go wrong with either the Huawei Mate 20 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. In fact there are more similarities than differences between the two phones for this category. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a notched, 6.39-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels. The aspect ratio for the phone is 19.5:9. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. The aspect ratio is similar at 18:5, but the Mate 20 Pro’s screen is slightly wider because of the notch. This round is a tie. You can’t go wrong with either display and we believe most people will not notice any real difference between the two. Winner: Tie Camera Huawei and Samsung have some of the best smartphone cameras on the market. But who wins when you pit the Mate 20 Pro against the Galaxy Note 9? On the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, you’ll find a triple camera module with 40, 20, and 8-megapixel lenses. Huawei used a 27mm wide angle lens for the primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture. The secondary 16mm Ultra Wide Angle lens has an f/2.2 aperture, while the tertiary camera has an 80mm telephoto lens with an aperture of f/2.4 and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The front-facing camera comes in at 24 megapixels with an f/2.0 lens. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9, on the other hand, has a 12 megapixel dual camera array. What’s most exciting about the Note 9, though, is the f/1.5-2.4 variable aperture that allows you to get great shots in any light. The front camera on the Note 9 is no slouch either, coming in at 8 megapixels with a wide f/1.7 aperture. Right now, we’re giving Huawei the win for this category. Huawei’s flagships have historically had excellent cameras and we believe the Mate 20 Pro will continue in that tradition. That said, we still need to do more camera tests on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and will update this category if needed. Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro Software and updates Both the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are Android phones, but neither ship with a stock version of the OS. Instead Samsung and Huawei ship with custom skins that are meant to enhance user experience. On the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, you’ll find Android 8.1 Oreo with the heavily customized Samsung Experience laying over it. While some of the customization is nice, there are a lot of pre-installed apps that take up a lot of space. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro ships with Android 9.0 Pie under the EMUI 9 skin. Although Huawei’s EMUI skin is not perfect, it’s more refined than previous iterations. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro takes this round. For the most part we’re giving it the win because it ships with Android 9.0 Pie while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 ships with Android 8.1 Oreo. Huawei has also committed to bi-monthly software updates for its Mate and P series in the past, and we expect it to continue the tradition with the Mate 20 Pro; Samsung has not made such a commitment. Winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro Special features One thing that sets the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 apart from their competition is the abundance of special features. Both phones offer some unique features that are hard to come by on other phones and make them incredibly interesting. A few features set the Huawei Mate 20 Pro apart from the pack. First off, the Mate 20 Pro is Huawei’s first phone to ship with a 40W charging adapter. With the adapter you can charge the phone from zero to 70 percent in just 30 minutes. The phone also supports wireless charging, and can actually be used to reverse charge other Qi compatible devices you may have — a first for smartphones. In addition to face unlock on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, there’s also an in-display fingerprint sensor. While most users will probably opt for the secure facial authentication feature, its nice to have multiple options. On the other hand, the defining feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note line is the S Pen, and for 2018 it got a lot better. In addition to drawing and taking notes, the S Pen is now a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device that works as a remote for your camera and even PowerPoint presentations when the Galaxy Note 9 is in DeX mode. Speaking of DeX mode, Samsung has incorporated this wonderful feature into the Note 9 and it only requires a cable now. With DeX you can quickly attach your phone to an external monitor (with a USB-C to HDMI adapter) to create a desktop computing environment. There’s also Samsung’s digital assistant, Bixby, built into the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. For the most part it’s a more limited version of Google Assistant, however it does play well with other Samsung smart devices. Samsung also has Intelligent Scan, which lets you unlock the phone and apps with your iris and face. Both phones have awesome features that are hard to find on other phones, but the Note 9 has the edge here. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Price Both the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are flagships phones, and carry the hefty price tag that comes along with the latest technology. While U.S. pricing has yet to be announced, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro will sell in Europe for 1049 euros (around $1,220). The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 starts at $999. Overall winner: Huawei Mate 20 Pro When all is said and done, you can’t go wrong with either of these phones. But since this is a specs comparison, we have to give the crown to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. In addition to having a beefier processor and battery, the Mate 20 Pro also offers impressive advancements like 40W charging and reverse wireless charging. And we’d definitely be remiss if we didn’t take the camera module into consideration. The Huawei P20 Pro produced some of the best photos we’ve ever seen from a smartphone. Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the latest Huawei phablet, and as a big-screen Android flagship its main competition arguably comes from the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Both phones are new, big, powerful, jam-packed full of features and have some other major similarities, such as curved screens. But they also have lots of differences, including their chipsets and cameras. So to help you get to grips with the similarities and differences between these two handsets we’ve compared them across a range of key areas. Update: We've now got the Huawei Mate 20 Pro price from the launch: €1049 (around $1215 / £920) for the 6GB and 128GB variant. Compare that to the Note 9, which costs $1,000 (£899 / AU$1,499 for the same spec. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9 design The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a curved screen with a notch cut out at the top and a slim bezel below. The thin frame of this phone is metal, while the back is all glass. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 also has a curved screen, a metal frame and a glass back, but it doesn’t have a notch, instead relying on thin bezels both above and below its screen. The corners are also slightly less curved on the Galaxy Note 9, giving it a more rectangular shape than the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. The back looks quite different too, despite both phones being clad in glass. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a horizontally arranged set of camera lenses and flash, while the Mate 20 Pro arranges them in a square. The Galaxy Note 9 also has a fingerprint scanner below the camera, while the Mate 20 Pro’s scanner is built into the screen. The Galaxy Note 9 on the left and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro on the right The two phones have different dimensions and weights as well. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is 157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6mm and 189g, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8mm and 201g. So the Note 9 is slightly bigger in every dimension, as well as being a bit heavier. And of course it comes in different colors. Specifically, you can get the Note 9 in Metallic Copper, Lavender Purple, Ocean Blue and Midnight Black, while the Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes in Emerald Green, Midnight Blue, Twilight, Pink Gold and Black shades. The Twilight color is worth highlighting as this shifts between different shades, much like the Twilight version of the Huawei P20 Pro does. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9 display The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a 6.39-inch curved OLED screen with a resolution of 1440 x 3120, an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and support for HDR. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on the other hand has a 6.4-inch curved Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2960, an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 and support for HDR. The Galaxy Note 9 on the left and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro on the right So the screen tech is similar, but the Mate 20 Pro has a slightly smaller and slightly higher resolution display. It also has a marginally different aspect ratio, but on paper at least these two phones sound to have quite similar screens. That’s no bad thing, as in our Note 9 review we praised its screen, calling it “bright and punchy”. How the Huawei Mate 20 Pro’s screen will compare in practice remains to be seen – stay tuned for our full review to get a better idea. Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 9 OS and power The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has an octa-core Kirin 980 chipset, clocked at up to 2.6Ghz. It also has a Mali-G76 GPU and dual neural processing units (NPUs). The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on the other hand has either an octa-core Snapdragon 845 chipset clocked at up to 2.8GHz and paired with an Adreno 630 GPU (if you’re in the US), or an octa-core Exynos 9810 chipset clocked at up to 2.7GHz and coupled with a Mali-G72 GPU (in most other regions). These are all top-end chipsets, but as a newer chipset made on a 7nm process the Huawei Mate 20 Pro’s is likely to be more powerful and efficient than the 10nm chipsets used in the Galaxy Note 9.