The Huawei Mate 20 features a 6.53" IPS LCD, larger and taller than the 5.9" unit on the Mate 10, but the resolution is now 1080p - lower than both the Mate 10 and Mate 20 Pro. The actual pixel count is 2,244 x 1,080 meaning an 18.7:9 aspect ratio and 381 ppi density. There is a tiny waterdrop notch at the top for the selfie camera, while a sheet of Gorilla Glass protects the whole thing.
The screen has the same RGBW underlying matrix as the Mate 10 and should deliver superb brightness. It's HDR10-certified, too, and supports the larger DCI-P3 color space.
The RGBW subpixel arrangement replaces every second blue pixel with a white one - or rather every second blue filter is removed to let more light through. Which means instead of having a string of red-green-blue-white subpixels (RGBW), here you get a string, which looks something like GBR-GWR.
The screen of the Mate 20 has two Color modes - Normal and Vivid. Each of those also has three sub-modes - Default, Warm, and Cold.
The Vivid option corresponds to the DCI-P3 color space, while the Normal one switches to sRGB. Huawei hasn't specified this anywhere, so we had to find it by testing the screen in our lab.
Anyway, the Mate 20 comes set on Vivid by default and we suggest leaving it this way. The mode offers 491 nits of (manual) maximum brightness, but it can go as high as 780 nits in bright light if you leave it on auto. No matter the mode, the contrast is always excellent at north of 1400:1.
We also measured a minimum brightness of just 1.4 nits.
Display test
100% brightness
Black, cd/m2
White, cd/m2
Contrast ratio
Huawei Mate 20
0.347
491
1415
Huawei Mate 20 (Max Auto)
0.554
778
1404
Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
0.3
415
1383
Huawei Mate 10 (normal max auto)
0.456
630
1382
Huawei Mate 10 (max auto vivid)
0.468
667
1425
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
0.002
508
254000
Huawei Mate 20 Pro (Max Auto)
0.003
657
219000
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
0
422
∞
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (max auto vivid)
0
623
∞
Apple iPhone XS
0
660
∞
Apple iPhone XS Max
0
653
∞
Samsung Galaxy Note9
0
367
∞
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (Max Auto)
0
658
∞
Google Pixel 3
0
426
∞
Google Pixel 2 XL
0
420
∞
HTC U12+
0.2
366
1830
HTC U12+ (Max Auto)
0.214
389
1818
OnePlus 6T
0
453
∞
OnePlus 6T (Max Auto)
0
455
∞
Razer Phone 2
0.401
380
948
Razer Phone 2 (Max Auto)
0.403
426
1057
LG G7 ThinQ
0.225
460
2044
LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor)
0.499
920
1844
Xiaomi Pocophone F1
0.314
461
1468
Xiaomi Mi 8
0
458
∞
Xiaomi Mi 8 (Max Auto)
0.002
624
312000
The average deltaE we measured for the screen on Vivid is 3.4 with a maximum deviation of 8.5 - a fine enough. The color accuracy for the Normal (sRGB) mode is also fine with an average deltaE of 3.
The sunlight contrast on the Huawei Mate 20 is good, though washed out colors are expected under bright sunlight. You do get much better results if you use the auto mode that allows the phone to push the brightness much higher though.
Sunlight contrast ratio
Apple iPhone XS 5.171
Apple iPhone X 5.013
Huawei Mate 20 Pro 4.965
OnePlus 5T 4.789
Samsung Galaxy S8 4.768
Samsung Galaxy S8+ 4.658
Samsung Galaxy S9 4.63
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 4.615
Samsung Galaxy S9+ 4.537
Samsung Galaxy Note9 4.531
Apple iPhone XS Max 4.516
Sony Xperia XZ3 4.502
Motorola Moto Z2 Play 4.459
Oppo R11 4.454
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge 4.439
OnePlus 3 4.424
Samsung Galaxy S7 4.376
Google Pixel 3 4.35
OnePlus 6 4.321
HTC One A9 4.274
Oppo R15 Pro 4.251
Samsung Galaxy Note7 4.247
Samsung Galaxy A3 4.241
Nokia 8 4.239
Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update) 4.234
OnePlus 3T 4.232
Google Pixel XL 4.164
ZTE Axon 7 4.154
Samsung Galaxy Note8 4.148
Meizu Pro 7 Plus 4.147
OnePlus 6T 4.138
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) 4.124
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 4.124
vivo V11 4.113
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal) 4.096
Samsung Galaxy Note5 4.09
Huawei P20 Pro 4.087
Xiaomi Mi 8 4.086
Meizu 15 4.082
Nokia 6 (2018) 4.052
Google Pixel 2 (pre-update) 4.023
LG V30 4.022
Huawei Nexus 6P 4.019
vivo NEX S 4.012
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro 3.998
OnePlus X 3.983
Vivo Xplay5 Elite 3.983
LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor) 3.978
Oppo R7s 3.964
Apple iPhone 7 3.964
Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone) 3.957
Huawei P9 Plus 3.956
Oppo Find X 3.954
Meizu Pro 6 Plus 3.935
Lenovo Moto Z 3.931
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) 3.918
OnePlus 5 3.914
Samsung Galaxy C5 3.911
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE 3.901
Samsung Galaxy C7 3.896
Samsung Galaxy A5 3.895
Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor 3.879
Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor 3.873
Motorola Moto G6 Plus 3.865
Samsung Galaxy A8 3.859
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) 3.842
Microsoft Lumia 950XL 3.837
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) 3.834
Sony Xperia XZs 3.818
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) 3.817
Motorola Moto X (2014) 3.816
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) 3.812
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) 3.804
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode 3.802
Xiaomi Redmi Pro 3.798
LG V20 Max auto 3.798
Sony Xperia XZ 3.795
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) 3.789
Apple iPhone 6s 3.783
Meizu Pro 5 3.781
Microsoft Lumia 650 3.772
Xiaomi Mi 6 3.767
Sony Xperia XZ1 3.765
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) 3.756
Nokia 8 Sirocco 3.745
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact 3.729
Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone) 3.725
Oppo F1 Plus 3.709
Vivo X5Pro 3.706
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) 3.688
Huawei P20 3.683
Apple iPhone SE 3.681
Huawei Mate 9 3.68
Samsung Galaxy A7 3.679
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact 3.675
Meizu PRO 6 3.659
BlackBerry Priv 3.645
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 3.597
Apple iPhone 7 Plus 3.588
Sony Xperia XZ2 3.58
LG G6 3.556
Apple iPhone 6s Plus 3.53
Motorola Moto Z Play 3.526
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) 3.523
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode 3.523
Acer Jade Primo 3.521
Microsoft Lumia 950 3.512
Oppo R7 Plus 3.499
Nokia 7 plus 3.479
nubia Z11 3.466
Huawei P10 Plus 3.456
HTC U Ultra 3.453
Motorola Moto G6 3.448
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra 3.445
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus 3.445
Samsung Galaxy J7 3.422
Motorola Moto G6 Play 3.419
Meizu MX5 3.416
LG V20 3.402
Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) 3.397
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera 3.393
LG G7 ThinQ 3.39
Huawei P10 3.379
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3.378
Oppo R9s 3.352
Honor Play 3.349
Honor 8 Pro 3.341
Oppo F7 3.333
Oppo R7 3.32
Lenovo P2 3.316
Archos Diamond Omega 3.305
Honor 9 3.289
Xiaomi Mi 5s 3.276
Nokia 5 3.261
Nokia 6 (Chinese version) 3.244
Xiaomi Mi 5 3.24
Nokia 6 (Global version) 3.238
Samsung Galaxy J2 3.235
Oppo Realme 2 Pro 3.235
Sony Xperia X Performance 3.234
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 3.228
Motorola Moto X Play 3.222
Oppo F3 Plus 3.218
BlackBerry KEY2 3.212
Huawei Mate 9 Pro 3.206
Huawei P9 3.195
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 3.19
ZTE Nubia Z17 3.159
Oppo R11s 3.153
Lenovo Vibe Shot 3.113
HTC U11 Life 3.108
Motorola Moto X Force 3.105
LG Nexus 5X 3.092
HTC U11 3.089
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite 3.087
HTC U12+ 3.085
Xiaomi Redmi S2 (Y2) 3.077
Huawei Mate S 3.073
Oppo F9 3.069
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL 3.065
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 3.061
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 3.059
Huawei Mate 20 3.052
Huawei Mate 20 Lite 3.051
Apple iPhone 6 Plus 3.023
Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL 3.019
Sony Xperia XA1 3.012
Motorola Moto X4 3.012
Oppo Realme 2 3.006
Sony Xperia L1 2.994
Sony Xperia X 2.989
LG Q6 2.987
Huawei P10 Lite 2.974
Samsung Galaxy Note 2.97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro 2.966
Huawei P20 Lite 2.952
Xiaomi Redmi 5 2.951
Huawei Mate 8 2.949
Sony Xperia XA2 2.938
Oppo Realme 1 2.932
Razer Phone 2 2.932
Xiaomi Redmi 4 2.92
Xiaomi Redmi 3S 2.913
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 2.913
Sony Xperia XA Ultra 2.906
LG G5 2.905
Huawei Honor View 10 2.896
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime 2.893
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus 2.884
Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB) 2.877
Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2.877
Sony Xperia Z5 2.876
Nokia 3 2.871
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium 2.867
Microsoft Lumia 550 2.851
Nokia 3.1 2.837
Lenovo Moto M 2.813
Nokia 7.1 2.804
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro 2.803
Sony Xperia Z5 compact 2.784
Honor 10 (Vivid) 2.757
Nokia 2 2.752
Meizu MX6 2.751
LG V10 2.744
Huawei Mate 10 (normal) 2.742
Motorola Moto G5S Plus 2.737
Xiaomi Redmi 3 2.735
Huawei Honor 7X 2.734
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) 2.714
Meizu M5 2.71
Xiaomi Mi A2 2.696
Sony Xperia M5 2.69
Xiaomi Mi A1 2.689
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto) 2.582
Motorola Moto G4 Plus 2.582
Meizu M5s 2.58
Xiaomi Mi 4c 2.574
LeEco Le Max 2 2.567
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 2.563
Microsoft Lumia 640 2.563
Huawei P Smart 2.563
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 2.561
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A (Y1) 2.556
HTC U11+ 2.556
Motorola Moto G 4G 2.546
Lenovo Moto G4 2.544
Lenovo K6 Note 2.544
Oppo F1 2.528
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 2.525
Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c 2.506
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 2.503
BlackBerry Motion 2.494
Huawei nova plus 2.329
Razer Phone 2.328
HTC One E9+ 2.305
Alcatel One Touch Hero 2.272
Sony Xperia L2 2.266
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note 2.254
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra 2.253
HTC U11+ (EU) 2.253
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) 2.249
Sony Xperia C4 Dual 2.235
Xiaomi Mi Note 2.234
Motorola Moto G (2014) 2.233
LG Nexus 5 2.228
Huawei P8 2.196
Meizu M5 Note 2.189
Huawei Honor 6 2.169
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 2.166
OnePlus Two 2.165
HTC One X 2.158
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20) 2.145
LG Aka 2.145
Battery life
Huawei Mate 20, just like the Mate 10, is powered by a large 4,000 mAh battery sticking to a tradition dating back to the Mate 7 in 2014.
The Mate 20 supports the company's proprietary SuperCharge at 5V and 4.5A. The required cable and charger are bundled with the Mate 20 and they can fill 55% of a depleted battery in half an hour and reach 100% in an hour and a half.
There is no wireless charging support on the Mate 20. That, and the 40W Super Charge support, are reserved for the Mate 20 Pro.
In our testing, the Mate 20 lasted upwards of 14 hours looping videos and twenty hours running our web browsing script. The 3G voice call test returned a 23h talk time. All these standalone tests returned impressive scores, indeed.
The overall Endurance rating ended up 92 hours. Just as on the Mate 20 Pro, that's a bit lower than what we expected after such an excellent job on the screen-on tests, but the standby performance is just average, and it took its toll.
Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Huawei Mate 20 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Speakers
Huawei failed to mention this, but the Mate 20 enjoys the same stereo speakers as the Mate 20 Pro, P20 Pro and Mate 10 Pro, among other devices. But unlike the Mate 20 Pro, the Mate 20 has its bottom speaker outside of the USB-C port.
Sadly, the Mate 20 still uses the tiny and squeaky earpiece for a second speaker, and it still sounds rather poorly. Yes, it does the stereo effect, but the loudness of the speakers is mostly uneven, and you can tell. At some point, it might even become annoying.
The Huawei Mate 20 speakers scored a Very Good mark in our loudness test, a decibel shy of Excellent. The sound quality is about average though, far from the best in the industry. While playing some music, the audio was loud enough, but it's rather shallow and often squeaky.
Speakerphone test
Voice, dB
Pink noise/ Music, dB
Ringing phone, dB
Overall score
Huawei Mate 20 Lite
67.8
70.0
84.2
Very Good
Samsung Galaxy S9+
68.4
74.0
80.1
Very Good
Xiaomi Mi 8
68.1
72.3
82.2
Very Good
Huawei Mate 10 Lite
67.8
71.0
84.5
Very Good
OnePlus 6T
67.2
72.5
84.5
Very Good
Apple iPhone XS
71.5
75.7
78.9
Very Good
Samsung Galaxy Note9
71.2
74.9
80.2
Very Good
Huawei Mate 20
74.3
70.2
82.6
Very Good
Sony Xperia XZ3 (ClearAudio+)
68.0
75.3
84.0
Very Good
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
70.3
73.4
83.8
Very Good
Huawei Mate 10 Pro
70.1
73.8
84.2
Excellent
Apple iPhone XS Max
70.5
74.0
84.7
Excellent
Sony Xperia XZ3
71.0
75.4
82.9
Excellent
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
70.5
74.1
85.2
Excellent
Huawei P20 Pro
71.8
69.2
91.0
Excellent
Xiaomi Pocophone F1
72.8
74.7
86.6
Excellent
Razer Phone
69.3
75.0
90.5
Excellent
LG G7 ThinQ
78.3
76.4
82.3
Excellent
HTC U12+ (Music)
76.0
73.6
88.5
Excellent
Huawei Mate 10
90.6
73.7
84.0
Excellent
Audio quality
The Huawei Mate 20 delivered decently accurate audio output in both parts of our test. All its scores were excellent with an active external amplifier and the damage dealt by headphones was minimal too.
Unfortunately, volume was only average so if you have very high-impedance headphones you may find the Mate 20 somewhat lacking. If that's not the case though, you should be happy with its performance.
Test
Frequency
response
Noise
level
Dynamic
range
THD
IMD
+ Noise
Stereo
crosstalk
Huawei Mate 20
Pro
+0.02,
-0.09
-87.7
87.0
0.0024
0.012
-87.8
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
(headphones)
+0.15,
-0.07
-92.1
92.0
0.0029
0.149
-82.2
Huawei Mate 20
+0.02,
-0.16
-92.1
92.0
0.0017
0.013
-85.6
Huawei Mate 20
(headphones)
+0.07,
-0.07
-92.1
92.4
0.0021
0.106
-66.5
OnePlus
6T
+0.03,
-0.05
-93.4
93.3
0.0010
0.0070
-93.8
OnePlus 6T
(headphones)
+0.17,
-0.15
-93.2
93.1
0.0056
0.245
-61.1
Sony Xperia
XZ3
+0.01,
-0.02
-91.2
93.2
0.0024
0.0080
-88.7
Sony Xperia XZ3
(headphones)
+0.38,
-0.21
-93.1
92.5
0.0049
0.233
-61.7
Samsung Galaxy
Note9
+0.01,
-0.03
-93.7
93.7
0.0017
0.0074
-94.1
Samsung Galaxy Note9
(headphones)
+0.03,
-0.02
-93.6
93.5
0.0033
0.046
-93.2
HTC
U12+
+0.02,
-0.15
-94.3
94.3
0.0021
0.0069
-94.3
HTC U12+
(headphones)
+0.18,
-0.13
-93.7
93.6
0.0024
0.104
-52.7
Huawei Mate 20 frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing
process here.
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