The Huawei Mate 70 Pro+ Is a Beast of a Phone – But You’ll Pay a Price (Literally and Figuratively)
Let me start with this: The Mate 70 Pro+ feels like holding a luxury car engine in your hand. It’s powerful, polished, and unapologetically ambitious. But like a high-performance vehicle, it demands compromises. Let’s break it down.
The Screen: A Cinematic Beast That’s Easy on the Eyes
That 6.9” OLED isn’t just big—it’s smart. The 1440Hz PWM is like having a candle flicker so fast your eyes never notice, reducing strain during late-night doomscrolling. I watched a 4K nature documentary on this thing, and the dual-edge display made it feel like waterfalls were spilling over the sides. But at 226g, your pinky finger will feel those binge sessions. Tradeoff alert: You want immersive? Prepare for wrist fatigue.
Performance: Kirin 9020 Flexes Hard (But HarmonyOS Is the Wild Card)
The Kirin 9020 chipset chews through apps like a woodchipper. I threw Genshin Impact at max settings, and it didn’t even break a sweat—no cooling system needed. But here’s the rub: HarmonyOS 4.3 still feels like a VIP party where half your Google apps aren’t invited. Need YouTube or Google Maps? You’re side-loading or using clunky alternatives. For China-based users? Perfect. For everyone else? It’s like having a Ferrari that only runs on premium fuel you can’t find locally.
Camera Magic – With a Dash of Overkill
That variable aperture (f/1.4-4.0) is sorcery. In a dimly lit bar, my test shots looked like they had studio lighting. The 3.5x optical zoom is brilliant for concert snekshots, but the 100x digital zoom? That’s Huawei showing off. At max zoom, your moon photos will look great—if you want your Instagram followers to think you own a telescope. Real talk: 95% of users will never use this, but it sure sounds impressive at cocktail parties.
Battery Life: The Energizer Bunny’s Big Brother
With a 5700mAh battery and 100W charging, this thing is apocalyptic-prep ready. I drained it with 8 hours of GPS navigation (screen blasting at 120Hz) and still had 15% left. The 80W wireless charging? My coffee went cold faster than this phone charged. But that chunky battery contributes to the weight—it’s like carrying a power bank that’s permanently glued to your phone.
The Ecosystem Elephant in the Room
Let’s address the HarmonyOS-shaped elephant. If you’re deeply invested in Google services, this phone will feel like moving to a new country where you don’t speak the language. App Gallery has improved, but it’s still the B-team compared to Google Play. However, for privacy hawks who want off the Google grid? This is your bespoke suit in a world of off-the-rack Androids.
Who Should Buy This (And Who Should Run)
Perfect for:
- Tech-savvy travelers who need a tank (IP68/IP69K = survives monsoon season)
- Photography nerds who geek out on manual controls
- Anti-Google rebels who want Android alternatives
Avoid if:
- You live in Google Maps
- You like lightweight phones (this’ll bend your gym shorts)
- You want mainstream app support without workarounds
My Personal Take: Would I Use It?
As someone who needs Google Workspace daily? I’d struggle. But if I were based in China or willing to embrace the HarmonyOS ecosystem? In a heartbeat. That camera system and battery life are industry-leading, and the screen is pure tech cocaine. But like adopting a wolf puppy, you’d better know what you’re signing up for.
The Mate 70 Pro+ isn’t just a phone—it’s a statement. Huawei’s saying “We don’t need Google to make killer hardware.” They’re right. But whether you need this particular killer hardware? That depends on how much you’re willing to bend your digital life to its vision.
