Huawei has managed to convince many regional developers to get on board with its Google-services-missing platform
Huawei’s prowess in crafting flagship smartphones capable of rivaling those from any competitor is well established. This has been demonstrated time and again through its Mate and P series devices, which consistently push the boundaries of design, features, and mobile photography. The Huawei P50 Pro stays true to this tradition.
However, the persistent challenge lies in the software realm. Following the United States’ ban on Huawei’s use of Google services, the company has been diligently working on developing its own platform based on Android. Its aim is to entice app developers to make their offerings available on its proprietary App Gallery.
Depending on your location, Huawei has made notable strides in this area, with a plethora of popular regional apps and services now available in the App Gallery. However, the company still needs to secure the support of major developers. While platforms like Snapchat and TikTok are present, notable absentees such as Instagram and WhatsApp remain.
Setting aside software concerns, the Huawei P50 Pro once again stands out as an impressive contender against flagships from other leading manufacturers.
Its design is undeniably striking, boasting a sleek, lightweight profile that exudes luxury. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, performance is robust, with swift app launches and seamless operation. Although the 8GB of RAM may not lead the pack, it ensures a responsive user experience. Storage options vary by region; our review unit’s 256GB capacity should suffice for most users. However, it’s worth noting the absence of 5G support, a repercussion of US restrictions.
Photography remains a highlight, consistent with Huawei’s reputation as a trailblazer in mobile camera technology. While the primary camera excels in capturing stunning shots in diverse lighting conditions, the ultrawide and telephoto lenses fall slightly short in color accuracy compared to the main shooter.
Battery capacity may not be the largest, but it offers adequate endurance for moderate daily use. Additionally, Huawei provides rapid 66W wired charging and nearly as fast 50W wireless charging for convenient top-ups.
In summary, the Huawei P50 Pro embodies the quintessence of a 2022 flagship smartphone. The strides made in app availability on its platform are commendable. However, the decision to invest in this device ultimately hinges on your reliance on Google services like Gmail, Google Photos, Maps, and YouTube.
Huawei P50 Pro release date and price
The Huawei P50 Pro, initially unveiled in China last year, has now entered the global market, including availability in regions like the UK, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
However, it’s important to note that Huawei typically does not distribute its phones in the US or Australia, so consumers in those regions should not anticipate access to the device.
In both the UK and the UAE, the Huawei P50 Pro is offered in a singular configuration: 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at £1,099.99 / AED3,999. Comparatively, in terms of capacity, the Huawei P50 Pro presents better value than competitors such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Originally announced in four colors, the availability of the Huawei P50 Pro varies by region. In the UK, it is currently available in Golden Black and Cocoa Gold variants.
Design and display
Huawei is renowned for its penchant for producing aesthetically pleasing and premium-grade smartphones, and the P50 Pro exemplifies this reputation with its sleek and stylish design, offering a comfortable grip. With dimensions measuring 158.8 x 72.8mm and weighing 195g, the P50 Pro strikes a balance, neither oversized nor excessively heavy.
Following the trend seen in many recent Huawei flagship models, the volume buttons and power button are positioned along the right side, while the USB Type-C port and SIM tray are conveniently located at the bottom of the device.
Speakers are strategically placed at both the top and bottom, enhancing the audio experience, while the fingerprint sensor is seamlessly integrated beneath the screen. The display features curved edges that seamlessly blend into the metallic frame, adding to the device’s overall sophistication.
The Huawei P50 Pro offers a diverse range of color options, including Golden Black, Pearl White, Charm Pink, and Cocoa Gold. However, the availability of these colors may vary depending on your location. For our review, we examined the Cocoa Gold variant, which is showcased throughout this article.
Featuring a polished metallic surface with a subtle golden hue, the rear of the phone exudes a sleek aesthetic. Nonetheless, it is prone to attracting fingerprints. The rear of the device houses two sizable camera ring modules within a pill bump design, which, while noticeable, protrudes less than those found on some recent flagship models.
Referred to as the ‘dual matrix camera’ by Huawei, this distinctive camera setup is bound to evoke a range of reactions, from awe to curiosity, thanks to its prominent presence on the device’s rear.
The Huawei P50 Pro boasts a sizable 6.6-inch display, offering a resolution of 1228 x 2700 and a pixel density of 450ppi. By comparison, the Samsung S21 Ultra features a resolution of 1440 x 3200 at 515ppi, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max comes in at 1284 x 2778 with a density of 458ppi. While these numbers may vary, it’s important to note that all these smartphones feature high-resolution screens that deliver sharp visuals.
The OLED display of the Huawei P50 Pro excels in color reproduction, making it ideal for viewing movies and videos. Additionally, Huawei has enhanced the refresh rate to 120Hz, a notable upgrade from the P40 Pro’s 90Hz, resulting in a smoother navigation experience while interacting with the UI or scrolling through applications. Users have the option to adjust the refresh rate to Dynamic mode, which optimizes battery life by adapting to usage, although setting it to High ensures the smoothest performance across all tasks.
Specs and performance
The Huawei P50 Pro is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, a staple in many flagship phones from the previous year. However, it notably lacks 5G connectivity and operates solely on LTE/4G networks.
Paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in our review unit, the device offers ample storage capacity for most users. Other markets offer 128GB and 512GB variants, with the latter also boasting 12GB of RAM. Storage expansion is possible through Huawei’s Nano Memory (NM) card, which shares the same form factor as a Nano SIM card, simplifying its integration into the device’s SIM tray.
In day-to-day usage, the Huawei P50 Pro delivers smooth and responsive performance typical of flagship smartphones. Benchmark tests, such as Geekbench 5, yielded a score of 3018, aligning with the performance of other Snapdragon 888-based devices.
The absence of 5G capability is a consequence of restrictions imposed on Huawei. Whether this limitation affects your usage depends on your individual needs. In our testing, the Huawei P50 Pro achieved a download speed of 292 Mbps on 4G networks, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max, operating on 5G, achieved double the speed at 586 Mbps. However, it’s worth noting that a minimum of 25 Mbps is required for streaming 4K content, providing context for these speeds.
Huawei has also streamlined connectivity within its ecosystem, facilitating seamless data sharing between Huawei devices such as laptops, tablets, and Mate View monitors. This interconnectedness enhances user experience by enabling effortless connectivity and data synchronization across devices.
Camera
The Huawei P50 Pro features a distinctive pill-shaped camera module housing four AI-powered Leica cameras. This impressive setup includes a 50MP primary wide camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom capabilities, a 13MP ultra-wide lens, and a 40MP monochrome sensor.
With such advanced hardware, it’s no surprise that the P50 Pro delivers stunning imagery. The camera system consistently impresses, particularly in daylight conditions, producing sharp, detailed photos with an expansive dynamic range.
In the past, Huawei smartphones were often criticized for oversaturating colors to enhance vibrancy. However, the P50 Pro’s image processing prioritizes accuracy, resulting in colors, including crucial skin tones, appearing true to life. Additionally, the dedicated AI mode has been refined to apply more nuanced and targeted adjustments to photos, moving beyond simple vibrancy enhancements.
Software
Like most recent Huawei devices, the P50 Pro operates on Android, albeit without Google services, owing to restrictions imposed by the US government. Interestingly, Huawei has opted to equip the international variant of the P50 Pro with EMUI, a custom skin based on Android 10, rather than HarmonyOS, which is utilized in China and is essentially a fork of Android.
The absence of Google services and the Play Store presents a notable consideration for users, varying in significance depending on geographic location and reliance on Google services. This limitation could range from a minor inconvenience to a decisive factor in one’s decision-making process regarding this phone.
Huawei has dedicated substantial efforts to encourage app developers to adapt their offerings for the App Gallery, Huawei’s alternative to the Play Store. However, app availability differs by region, with the Middle East seeing support for numerous popular apps, albeit with notable omissions such as Instagram and WhatsApp. While users can sideload such apps, integrating Google services onto Huawei devices remains a challenge.
For users dependent on Gmail, Google Photos, or YouTube, accessing these services solely through a web browser is less than optimal. This frustration, stemming from factors beyond Huawei’s control, contrasts with the phone’s otherwise excellent UI, characterized by a visually appealing design and smooth performance.
EMUI 12, based on Android 10, introduces refined aesthetics to the user interface. Redesigned icons and fonts contribute to an enhanced visual experience, while interface adjustments, such as larger folders on the home screen and widget accessibility through app icon long-pressing, enhance daily usability.
Battery life
The Huawei P50 Pro is equipped with a 4,360mAh battery, which, considering the phone’s 8.5mm thickness, may seem relatively small. However, since the device lacks 5G support, its battery capacity proves adequate for sustaining a full day of moderate usage.
Typically, users can expect around 6-7 hours of screen-on time before needing to recharge. For heavy users who frequently engage in online activities, utilize GPS, and capture media, screen-on time may decrease to below six hours, necessitating a recharge before the day’s end.
Fortunately, Huawei has integrated a range of built-in charging features to mitigate potential battery concerns. The inclusion of a 66W charging speed with the provided adapter allows users to reach a 70% charge in approximately 30 minutes, with a full charge achievable in under an hour.
Additionally, the P50 Pro supports impressive 50W wireless charging capabilities when paired with the optional proprietary charger. This feature ensures that users who habitually place their smartphones on wireless charging pads during work hours are unlikely to face critical battery depletion at crucial moments.
Regrettably, despite these advancements, the flagship device lacks support for reverse wireless charging, a feature seen in previous Huawei models, which may come as a surprise to some users.
