Huawei P20 Pro Review: Is it Worth it?

 

Huawei P20 Pro Review: Is it Worth it?

It has been made obvious by the Huawei P20 Pro that Huawei is no longer in the smartphone market just for making up the numbers. It shows that the company is fully prepared to go toe-to-toe with the best in the smartphone industry. Even though it doesn’t come cheap, its price has dropped gradually throughout the year and it has fallen below some of the most expensive flagship smartphones out there, which include the likes of the iPhone XS and also the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. Even though the Mate 20 Pro that followed this model is more powerful, the Huawei P20 Pro is one of the top smartphones of the year.

One of the top reasons why smartphone users might consider getting the Huawei P20 Pro is due to the camera array that the device has to offer. On the back of the phone, you will find three mini cameras. The first one is 40MP main sensor, the second is a 20MP black and white camera and the third one is the 8MP 3x zoom camera. It is possible to shoot at 3x without using digital zoom and even at 5x, the camera gives great results. The low light performance is undoubtedly the star.

Standard night shooting is no less than the best and you can also take low light shots with the dedicated night mode as the dynamic range of the phone rivals an APS-C DSLR. There is also a high resolution 24MP front camera on the Huawei P20 Pro for reliable face unlocking and detailed selfies. There are some conventional components in the device including 6GB of RAM, Kirin 970 CPU and 128GB storage. The highly reflective glass finish is another aspect of the P20 Pro that makes a solid impact. Plus, it also has a larger battery, but doesn’t add more bulk to its shell.

When it comes to the design of the Huawei P20 Pro, there is one word that can sum it up in the best possible way; shiny. Sure, the device is big and has a notch, but the phone stands out due to its reflective surface. Put simply, there are two plates of Gorilla Glass and the sides are finished off by a filling of metal. The metal used for the sides is none other than aluminum, but instead of being anodized, it has been polished and this makes it look more like steel. The frame can also stay scratch-free for long and this speaks a lot about the device’s durability as well.

While the blue and black version of the Huawei P20 Pro are more common, but there is also an eye-catching gradient version. The top is purple and it smoothly turns into turquoise-green at the bottom, something you are more prone to see on a supercar rather than a phone. However, this might divide the audience. Nevertheless, those looking for low-key finishes can try the other versions. One of the best things about the Huawei P20 Pro is that it houses a larger battery as compared to its peers.

However, this doesn’t become apparent from the device’s appearance or weight. As a matter of fact, the Huawei P20 Pro is actually lighter and slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus. One downside that some people might see is the notch, the display cutout that became famous with the iPhone X. According to Apple, the notch is necessary for the phone’s face unlocking feature to work like a regular camera, an IR camera, a proximity sensor and a dot projector. In contrast, Huawei doesn’t have a good enough excuse because its notch has a speaker and a high resolution camera only.

Another recent trend has been followed by the Huawei P20 Pro as the device doesn’t boast a headphone jack. There is a USB-C to 3.55mm adaptor or wireless earphones can be used. The smartphone is also water resistant to IP67, which means that it can be submersed in one meter of fresh water for approximately half an hour. The Huawei P20 Pro display also comes with a fingerprint sensor and like the recent Huawei devices, it is undoubtedly very fast. You can open the home screen in just a heartbeat. The face unlock on the Huawei P20 Pro is also exceptionally quick.

Unlike the clever IR techniques used in the iPhone X and XS, the Huawei device recognizes your face by using the high-resolution feed of the front camera. It also works quickly and also functions in low light, but this also indicates it is designed for speed and not much for security. There is no need for pressing the Power Button to make face unlock work. As soon as the phone is picked up, it will immediately scan your face and unlock your device. Moving on, the outer hardware was never going to be one of the top selling points for a Huawei device, the P20 Pro does feel expensive and as light and slim as can be expected.

When it comes to the screen, the Huawei P20 Pro has some really unusual numbers that are not in line with the other high-end devices. It is a 1080 x 2244 AMOLED screen. While the pixel density doesn’t even come close to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, it only becomes noticeable when the phone-based VR headset is used. As far as the display quality of the Huawei P20 Pro is concerned, it is undeniably excellent. Even when the phone is tilted, you will see minimal blue cast and the black is just perfect.

Choice is also available in terms of color profiles. The standard color is a tad more saturated than the old industry standard, but offers a natural and relaxed look. Like other Huawei devices, you have the option of adjusting the color temperature to your preference, but the default setting is pleasant enough. The device also comes with a pre-fitted screen protector and this gives it the best chance for avoiding scratches.

Thus, the price might make Huawei P20 Pro a tough sell, but the top specifications, great battery life and excellent camera make it a great choice.

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