The new Huawei P50 and P50 Pro are official. These flagships are highly anticipated, especially in terms of their ability to stand up to their rivals on a photographic level.
The only thing we knew for sure of all the rumors was the striking design of the rear module, which we saw in advance in the Honor 50 and perhaps also inspired the design of the ZTE Axon 30 5G. Otherwise, this is Huawei’s biggest phone launch so far this year, and they are armed to the hilt to compete in their era without Google services.
Huawei P50 and Huawei P50 Pro Datasheets
| Huawei P50 | Huawei P50 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions and Weight | 156.5 x 73.8 x 7.92 mm | 158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm |
| Screen | 6.5 inch OLED 90 Hz, FHD+ | 6.6 inch OLED 120 Hz, FHD+ |
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 4G | Kirin 9000 / Snapdragon 888 4G |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8/12 GB |
| Storage | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512 GB |
| Rear Cameras | 50 megapixels f/1.8 13 megapixels wide angle f/2.2 Telephoto: 12 megapixels f/3.4 OIS, 5x optical zoom | 50 megapixels f/1.8 Monochrome camera 40 megapixels f/1.6 13 megapixels wide-angle f/2.2 Telephoto: 64 megapixels f/3.5 OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom |
| Front Camera | 13 megapixels f/2.4 | 13 megapixels f/2.4 |
| Battery | 4,100 mAh 66W fast charge | 4,360 mAh 66W fast charge 50W wireless charge |
| Operating System | HarmonyOS 2.0 | HarmonyOS 2.0 |
| Connectivity | 4G WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB C 3.1 NFC GPS | 4G WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB C 3.1 NFC GPS |
| Others | IP68, under-screen fingerprint reader, stereo sound | IP68, under-screen fingerprint reader, stereo sound |
| Price | From $695 at the exchange rate (4,488 yuan) | From $925 at the exchange rate (5,988 yuan) |
Goodbye to a not so discreet module
As we said in the introduction, this design confirms the curved corners of the Huawei P40 Pro+ and other predecessors, although there are differences in the screen. While the P50 maintains the flat panel, the P50 Pro does draw a curvature on the sides of the screen.
The backs shine with a uniform color reflection that we see in gold, white, and black (with two more shades for the Pro, pink and blue), keeping the color of the module in common with that of the back. This module, as we saw, spreads three of the lenses in a circumference leaving the fourth next to one of the flashes.
With no audio mini-jack, the USB Type-C port is centered on the bottom edge accompanied by the main speaker. The physical buttons are all on one side, on edges that also mimic the back with color, and have IP68 water and dust resistance certification.
The panels are where we start to see some distinctions between the models, although there is something in common that also distinguishes them from their predecessors: the front camera (a single one) is in the center, peeking through a much more discreet hole than what we saw in the Huawei P40 Pro or Huawei P40 HarmonyOS. For the rest, there are differences in both shape and design:
- Huawei P50: 6.5-inch OLED with 2,770 x1,224 pixels + resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate (300 Hz touch refresh rate).
- Huawei P50 Pro: 6.6-inch OLED display with 2,770 x1,228 pixel resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate.
This means that, while strictly still having a FullHD+ resolution, there is an increase in the number of pixels compared to last year. The fingerprint reader, by the way, is built into the display in both cases.
Two new devices with HarmonyOS and goodbye to 5G
Part of the most unexpected aspects we have seen in these new phones is in the Snapdragon 888 processor that integrates one of the versions of the P50 Pro, leaving the other with the Kirin 9000. In both cases, however, without 5G modem and therefore supporting 4G and WiFi 6. For the P50, there is the Snapdragon 888 as the only option, seeing that they also differ in the memories:
- Huawei P50: 8 GB and 128/256 GB (with an option to expand with NM card).
- Huawei P50 Pro: 8/12 GB and 128/256/512 GB (with an option to expand with NM card).
Another of the main unknowns was the software, especially seeing Huawei’s big bet to update numerous devices to HarmonyOS 2.0. Indeed, the P50s are included in this list and will run the system that already exists in the brand’s consumer products.
For autonomy, the Huawei P50 Pro has a 4,360 mAh battery with fast charging up to 66 W (with Huawei accessories) and 50 W wireless, while the P50 is left with a 4,100 mAh and without wireless charging. And in terms of connectivity, both have Bluetooth 5.2, as well as stereo sound.
Winning the zoom war
The new Huawei mobiles comply with their lineage and do not leave aside the optical zooms with optical image stabilization. But curiously, it is the P50 that wins in this regard with 5x optical zoom, with a 3.5x optical zoom for the Pro, which wins in digital zoom up to 100x (leaving the P50 at 50x digital zoom).
Thus, although there are some similarities in some of the cameras, the Pro surname dictates the superiority in the number of cameras, resolution of the telephoto sensor, and digital zoom:
- Huawei P50:
- Main camera with 50-megapixel sensor and lens with f/1.8 aperture.
- Wide-angle with a 13-megapixel sensor and f/2.2 aperture lens. Telephoto with a 12-megapixel sensor and f/3.4 aperture, with OIS. 5x optical and 50x digital zoom.
- Huawei P50 Pro:
- Main camera with a 50-megapixel sensor and f/1.8 aperture lens.
- Camera with 40-megapixel monochrome sensor with f/1.6 aperture lens.
- Wide-angle with a 13-megapixel sensor and f/2.2 aperture lens.
- Telephoto with a 64-megapixel sensor and f/3.5 aperture lens with OIS. 3.5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom.
The brand also continues to bet on its AIS or Artificial Intelligence Stabilization, presenting an evolution of the same and seeing that the new phones will be able to record up to 4K. They also incorporate a new image engine, XD Fusion Pro, which allows combining images to improve results.
Price and availability of the Huawei P50 and Huawei P50 Pro
The two phones have been presented in China and have not made any comments about their international release. The prices for the Chinese market are as follows:
- Huawei P50 8/128 GB: $695 at the exchange rate (4,488 yuan)
- Huawei P50 8/256 GB: $770 at the exchange rate (4,988 yuan)
- Huawei P50 Pro 8/128 GB: $925 at the exchange rate (5,988 yuan)
- Huawei P50 Pro 8/256 GB: $1,000 at the exchange rate (6,488 yuan)
- Huawei P50 Pro 8/512 GB: $1,200 at the exchange rate (7,488 yuan)
- Huawei P50 Pro 12/512 GB: $1,240/$1,320 at exchange rate (7,988/8,488 yuan). The higher price corresponds to a collector’s version built with a more resistant glass, according to the brand.
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