Huawei P50 Pro

Huawei P50 Pro Review: Stunning Camera, Familiar Dilemmas

I've spent the past few weeks putting the Huawei P50 Pro through its paces, and it's been a fascinating experience. At its price point, this phone isn't shy about targeting the premium segment, and after living with it as my daily driver, I have some strong opinions about its place in today's market.

My testing involved everything from the usual social media scrolling and email checking to more demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and, of course, extensively using its lauded camera system in various lighting conditions. Initial impressions are undeniably positive – the phone feels premium, the display is vibrant, and the camera module is undeniably striking. However, the shadow of the ongoing software situation looms large, and that's something any prospective buyer needs to seriously consider.

Market Context: A Familiar Story

The Huawei P50 Pro arrives in a market landscape where the company continues to navigate significant challenges, particularly regarding access to Google Mobile Services. From my perspective, Huawei's strategy here is clear: double down on what they excel at – hardware design and imaging – and build out their own ecosystem as best they can.

This phone matters right now because it showcases Huawei's continued engineering prowess despite the headwinds. It’s a statement piece, reminding the world of their capabilities. The price tag firmly places it in competition with flagships from Samsung and Apple, a bold move considering the software limitations. Personally, I find the pricing ambitious. While the hardware is undeniably top-tier, the software experience inevitably impacts the overall value proposition. It feels like you're paying a premium for cutting-edge hardware while accepting a compromise on the software front.

Design & Hardware: A Masterclass in Aesthetics

Picking up the P50 Pro, the first thing that strikes you is its undeniable beauty. The "Golden Black" variant I tested has a subtle shimmer that catches the light beautifully, although yes, it does attract fingerprints like moths to a flame. At 195g, it has a reassuring heft without feeling overly bulky. The curved glass on the front and back seamlessly blends into the polished metal frame, making it incredibly comfortable to hold, despite its size. The materials feel undeniably premium, and there's a sense of meticulous craftsmanship that's hard to ignore.

While I haven't intentionally put it through any drop tests (and wouldn't recommend you do either!), the build quality suggests a decent level of durability for everyday use. However, a robust case is still a wise investment for peace of mind. The standout design element is undoubtedly the dual-matrix camera system on the rear. It's a bold and instantly recognizable look that sets it apart from the competition.

Display: A Visual Feast

The 6.6-inch OLED display on the P50 Pro is simply stunning. The colours are incredibly vibrant and punchy, thanks to its support for 1 billion colours. I found the brightness more than adequate even under direct sunlight, making outdoor visibility a non-issue. Media consumption on this screen is an absolute joy. Watching videos and browsing photos is a treat, with sharp details and excellent contrast.

Gaming on the 120Hz display is also a smooth and immersive experience. The high refresh rate makes scrolling and animations buttery smooth, enhancing the overall fluidity of the user interface. In my daily use, the display has consistently impressed, offering a premium viewing experience for everything from browsing the web to enjoying multimedia content.

Performance: Powerhouse Under the Hood

Under the sleek exterior lies the Kirin 9000 chipset, and it delivers flagship-level performance. In my testing, the P50 Pro handled everything I threw at it with remarkable ease. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is seamless, and there's no noticeable lag, even when switching between resource-intensive applications.

Gaming sessions were equally impressive. Demanding titles ran smoothly with high frame rates and detail settings. While the phone can get a little warm during extended periods of heavy gaming, it never became uncomfortably hot in my experience. Temperature management seems generally well-optimized. I didn't encounter any significant performance quirks or slowdowns during my time with the device, highlighting the raw power on offer.

Camera System: A True Photography Champion

The camera system is where the Huawei P50 Pro truly shines, and it's the aspect I was most eager to test. My experience taking photos with this phone has been nothing short of exceptional. The 50MP True-Chroma main lens captures images with incredible detail and dynamic range, even in challenging lighting conditions. I was particularly impressed with its low-light performance, producing bright and clear images with minimal noise.

The 40MP monochrome lens adds a unique dimension to photography, capturing stunning black and white images with impressive depth and detail. The 64MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom allows for capturing detailed shots from a distance, although the digital zoom does introduce noticeable grain at higher magnifications, as expected. The 13MP ultrawide lens is also excellent, capturing expansive landscapes and offering a useful perspective for creative shots, and its macro capabilities allowed me to get surprisingly close to subjects.

Compared to other top-tier camera phones, the P50 Pro holds its own and, in some areas, surpasses the competition, particularly in colour accuracy and detail rendition. In real-world usage scenarios, from capturing quick snapshots to more deliberate compositions, the P50 Pro consistently delivered outstanding results. The video recording capabilities are also impressive, offering smooth and stable footage, although the lack of 8K recording might be a minor drawback for some.

Battery & Charging: Solid Endurance, Lightning-Fast Refills

The 4360mAh battery in the P50 Pro provides solid, if not class-leading, battery life. In my observation, it comfortably lasted a full day with moderate usage, including browsing, social media, and some light gaming. However, on heavier days involving more demanding tasks like GPS navigation and extended gaming, I did find myself needing to top it up in the early evening.

The 66W SuperCharge is where this phone truly excels in the power department. It's incredibly fast, taking the phone from zero to a significant charge in a remarkably short amount of time. The 50W wireless charging is also a welcome addition, offering a convenient way to charge overnight or during downtime. The power management seems efficient overall, but heavy users might still want to keep a charger handy for those particularly demanding days.

Software: The Lingering Question Mark

Daily usage of the software is where the absence of Google Mobile Services is most keenly felt. While Huawei has made significant strides in developing its own ecosystem and the AppGallery has improved considerably, it's still not a like-for-like replacement for the Google Play Store. Many popular apps are available, but some key ones are missing, requiring workarounds like using web versions or third-party app stores.

The EMUI interface is generally smooth and intuitive, with a clean design. Features like MeeTime for video calls and Huawei Share for file transfer work well within the Huawei ecosystem. However, the lack of seamless integration with Google services, which many users rely on daily, remains a significant hurdle. Thoughts on update policy are mixed; while Huawei does provide updates, the long-term outlook without full Android and Google support remains a concern for some users.

Value Analysis: A Complex Equation

Assessing the value of the Huawei P50 Pro is a nuanced process. On one hand, you get a phone with a breathtaking display, incredible camera capabilities, and flagship-level performance. On the other hand, the absence of Google services is a significant compromise for many users.

I believe this phone is primarily for users who prioritize camera performance above all else and are willing to navigate the limitations of the Huawei ecosystem. It's also a good option for those already invested in the Huawei ecosystem and less reliant on Google services.

Those heavily dependent on Google apps and services or who prefer the seamless integration of the standard Android experience should likely look elsewhere. In the competitive landscape, devices from Samsung, Google, and OnePlus offer comparable performance and camera quality with the full Android experience.

Conclusion: A Powerful Phone with a Caveat

The Huawei P50 Pro is undoubtedly a top-tier smartphone with a standout camera system and a stunning display. The hardware is exceptional, and the performance is right up there with the best in the market.

However, the elephant in the room remains the lack of Google Mobile Services. This is a factor that potential buyers must carefully consider. If you can live within the Huawei ecosystem or are willing to use workarounds for missing apps, the P50 Pro offers a compelling experience, particularly for photography enthusiasts.

Ultimately, my recommendation comes with a caveat. If camera prowess is your absolute priority and you're comfortable with the software situation, the Huawei P50 Pro is a fantastic phone. But for users who prioritize seamless access to Google services, other options might be a better fit. It's a powerful and beautiful phone, but the software experience defines who it's truly for.