The Huawei P50 Pro represents a significant milestone in Huawei’s continued pursuit of excellence in smartphone technology, showcasing the company’s ability to deliver high-quality devices despite substantial challenges. With its sleek design, powerful performance and outstanding primary camera, the P50 Pro stands as a testament to Huawei’s engineering prowess.
The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, ensuring smooth and efficient performance, while its 8GB of RAM and ample storage options cater to the needs of most users. The 6.6-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate offers vibrant and sharp visuals, making it ideal for multimedia consumption. Additionally, Huawei’s fast charging technology, both wired and wireless, provides convenience and ensures that users can quickly top up their battery when needed.
However, the P50 Pro’s lack of Google services and 5G capability presents significant challenges, particularly for users heavily reliant on Google’s ecosystem. The absence of Google services means that popular apps like Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube are not natively supported, requiring users to seek alternative methods or access these services through a web browser.
This can be a considerable drawback for many, potentially overshadowing the phone’s impressive hardware and design. Moreover, the lack of 5G support, a consequence of ongoing US restrictions, limits the device’s future-proofing in a world increasingly moving towards faster connectivity standards. Despite these limitations, Huawei has made commendable strides in developing its own app ecosystem and continues to innovate in areas such as mobile photography and seamless device connectivity within its own ecosystem.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional primary camera
- Premium feel in hand
- Fast wired and wireless charging
Cons
- No Google services
- No 5G capability
- Color accuracy issues with ultrawide and telephoto cameras
Huawei has consistently demonstrated its ability to create flagship phones capable of competing with any other manufacturer. The Huawei P50 Pro continues this tradition with its innovative design, features and top-notch mobile photography.
Design and Display
The Huawei P50 Pro boasts a stunning design, with a slim and lightweight build that feels luxurious. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, ensuring smooth performance. It comes with 8GB of RAM and offers ample storage options, although the lack of 5G support due to US restrictions is a notable limitation.
The P50 Pro excels in photography, particularly with its main camera, which captures excellent shots in various lighting conditions. However, the ultrawide and telephoto cameras fall short in color fidelity compared to the primary camera.
The phone’s battery is sufficient for a day of moderate use and Huawei’s fast charging capabilities, both wired (66W) and wireless (50W), allow for quick top-ups.
Overall, the Huawei P50 Pro has the features expected of a flagship phone in 2022 and Huawei’s progress in app availability on its platform is commendable. However, the extent to which you rely on Google services will influence your decision to choose this phone.
Availability and Pricing
The Huawei P50 Pro was first announced in China and has since become available internationally, including in the UK, UAE and Saudi Arabia. It is not typically sold in the US or Australia. In the UK and UAE, the P50 Pro is available in a single configuration: 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at £1,099.99 / AED3,999. This makes it competitively priced against other flagship phones like the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Design and Display Details
Huawei is known for its premium-feeling and stylish phones and the P50 Pro is no exception. The phone measures 158.8 x 72.8mm and weighs 195g, making it comfortable to hold. The volume and power buttons are on the right side, with the USB Type-C port and SIM tray at the bottom. The speakers are positioned on the top and bottom and the fingerprint sensor is integrated into the screen, which has curved edges that blend into the metallic frame.
The P50 Pro is available in several colors, though availability varies by region. The rear of the phone features a polished metallic surface that attracts fingerprints. The prominent dual matrix camera module on the back is distinctive and will garner mixed reactions.
The 6.6-inch OLED screen has a resolution of 1228 x 2700 with a pixel density of 450ppi. This high-resolution screen offers excellent color reproduction, making it ideal for watching videos. The refresh rate has been increased to 120Hz, providing a smooth user experience. The dynamic refresh rate can help save battery life, but for the smoothest experience, setting it to high is recommended.
Performance and Specifications
The Huawei P50 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, which supports LTE/4G connectivity. The review model comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, though other markets may offer 128GB and 512GB versions with up to 12GB of RAM. Storage can be expanded using Huawei’s Nano Memory (NM) card, which fits into the SIM tray.
In day-to-day use, the P50 Pro performs smoothly and scored 3018 in Geekbench 5, comparable to other Snapdragon 888-based phones. The lack of 5G is due to US restrictions and whether this is a significant drawback depends on your needs. A speed test using 4G showed a download speed of 292 Mbps, which is adequate for most tasks.
Huawei excels in device connectivity within its ecosystem, allowing seamless data sharing between Huawei laptops, tablets and monitors.
Camera Performance
The P50 Pro’s camera setup includes a 50MP primary wide camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 40MP monochrome sensor. This hardware allows the P50 Pro to capture stunning images, especially in daylight. Colors are more natural compared to previous models and the AI mode makes subtle adjustments to enhance photos.
The camera offers various shooting options, including ultra-wide and macro modes, though color consistency across different lenses needs improvement. The telephoto lens provides impressive detail at up to 30-50x zoom, though the 100x zoom is more of a novelty. The monochrome sensor is mainly appreciated by photography enthusiasts.
Low-light photography is good, though not as sharp as some competitors. The camera’s shutter speed can be slow, making it challenging to capture fleeting moments. Additionally, the viewfinder does not always accurately depict the final image, which can be overexposed in the viewfinder but well-exposed after processing.
Software Experience
The P50 Pro runs on EMUI, a skin on Android 10, without Google services due to US restrictions. This could be a minor inconvenience or a deal-breaker, depending on how much you rely on Google services. Huawei has made significant efforts to get apps on its App Gallery, but major apps like Instagram and WhatsApp are still missing, though they can be sideloaded. Google apps, however, are inaccessible except through a web browser.
EMUI 12 is polished and offers a beautiful interface with redesigned icons and user-friendly features like large folders and widget access. The lack of Google services is a significant drawback, but the UI itself is smooth and visually appealing.
Battery Life
The P50 Pro’s 4,360mAh battery is adequate for a full day of moderate use, with about 6-7 hours of screen-on time. Heavy users may need to recharge before the end of the day. The phone supports 66W wired charging, which can charge the battery from 0-70% in about 30 minutes and a full charge in under an hour. The 50W wireless charging support is impressive, though reverse wireless charging is not available.
Overall, the Huawei P50 Pro is a beautifully designed phone with excellent performance and a top-tier primary camera. The lack of Google services and 5G capability are its main drawbacks, but for those who can work around these issues, it remains a compelling flagship option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Huawei P50 Pro support Google services?
No, the Huawei P50 Pro does not support Google services due to US restrictions. Users need to find alternatives or access Google services through a web browser.
Does the Huawei P50 Pro have 5G connectivity?
No, the Huawei P50 Pro only supports 4G LTE connectivity as it lacks 5G capability due to US trade restrictions.
What processor powers the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Huawei P50 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, which ensures smooth performance and efficient multitasking.
How good is the camera on the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Huawei P50 Pro features an exceptional camera setup, with a 50MP primary wide camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens, a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 40MP monochrome sensor. It excels in capturing high-quality images, especially with its primary camera.
What are the storage and RAM options for the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Huawei P50 Pro offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Other regions might have additional configurations such as 128GB or 512GB of storage with up to 12GB of RAM.
How is the battery life of the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Huawei P50 Pro is equipped with a 4,360mAh battery, which provides adequate battery life for a full day of moderate use. It supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging for quick top-ups.
What colors are available for the Huawei P50 Pro?
The Huawei P50 Pro is available in several colors, including Golden Black, Pearl White, Charm Pink and Cocoa Gold. Availability of colors may vary by region.
How is the display quality of the Huawei P50 Pro? The Huawei P50 Pro has a 6.6-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 1228 x 2700 and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display offers vibrant colors, sharp visuals and smooth scrolling, making it excellent for multimedia use.
Does the Huawei P50 Pro support expandable storage? Yes, the Huawei P50 Pro supports expandable storage through Huawei’s Nano Memory (NM) card, which shares the same slot as the Nano SIM card.
Where is the Huawei P50 Pro available for purchase? The Huawei P50 Pro is available in various international markets, including the UK, UAE and Saudi Arabia. It is not typically sold in the US or Australia.