Huawei P20, P20 Pro and Mate RS hands-on review

27 March 2018
Huawei wasn't the first maker to use a dual-camera setup with the P9, but that's what became the spark of the multiple-camera revolution. The P10 series lost some of that momentum by focusing on experience instead of features, but with the P20 Huawei is back leading the camera race.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • qGa
  • 29 Mar 2018

Mixed feelings about this one. The camera hardware is impressive and Huawei managed to lean a little into their Kirin 970 chip for the software help, but not much else about the phone is as interesting. The 970 chip is nearly a year old now, so it's not exactly future proof, and I'm left scratching my head at the decision to put a larger chin on it for a fingerprint reader, especially since other phones made by Huawei have put it on the back. It's a little confusing to introduce what could have been a groundbreaking phone with 512 Gb and an in display fingerprint reader on a special Porsche design phone for $1,600. Not sure who it is appealing to.

    • N
    • Nzi97
    • fFA
    • 29 Mar 2018

    AnonD-747764, 27 Mar 2018It is not huge. Nokia sensors was huge, this is bigger but ... moreIt's still big by smartphone standard, couple with modern software and hardware, which the pureview nokia lack

      • A
      • AnalkinSkankwalker
      • nWt
      • 28 Mar 2018

      The P20 is a joke: notch AND chin combined with a LCD for 680€?
      Haaaaaard pass.

        • D
        • AnonD-743635
        • LEy
        • 28 Mar 2018

        anon4321, 28 Mar 2018isn't it amazing how DXO can take steady pictures with good... moreSteady is one thing, but color and exposure? To my knowledge GSMArena doesn't take the photos on manual or "pro" modes. Or are you refering at the scene chosen by the reviewer?

          isn't it amazing how DXO can take steady pictures with good colour & exposure but gsm arena always struggle when using a Sony or Huawei camera phone

            • D
            • AnonD-743635
            • LEy
            • 28 Mar 2018

            AnonD-110023, 28 Mar 2018Omg... im reading these comments and all you say that camme... more" how do you know have you seen any photo" what? if you read the article you are commenting on, you will see photos, photos are posted on many previews of the phone, including dxomark.
            ". and iso 100k or so is simulated its not a real iso value that would made horrible picture its all in huawei ai software and chip.." Yes, ISO is a sensitivity value, doesn't tell anything about the quality of the image taken at said value until you see the result

              • A
              • Adomas
              • 0FW
              • 28 Mar 2018

              AnonD-110023, 28 Mar 2018Omg... im reading these comments and all you say that camme... moreummm, there are plenty of camera samples to look at?

                • D
                • AnonD-110023
                • m@a
                • 28 Mar 2018

                Azmo, 28 Mar 2018Let me get this straight: there are people who hate the not... moreYou can mute down that part of screen and it looks like you do not have a notch and when you see it next to the galaxy s8 it looks really good

                  • D
                  • AnonD-110023
                  • m@a
                  • 28 Mar 2018

                  Omg... im reading these comments and all you say that cammera quality is bad... how do you know have you seen any photo... btw every reviewer sed that cammera looks great with a thons of details and superior to the galaxy s9... and iso 100k or so is simulated its not a real iso value that would made horrible picture its all in huawei ai software and chip... and about a sensor if sensor is 200% bigger then one thet iphone x or s9 use 40mp is a resonable choice

                    Anonymous, 28 Mar 2018the reason camera was integrated to phone is to make it eas... morePlus, with smartphone cameras increasingly getting better these few years, spending the amount of money on a high-end flagship is a much better deal than buying a SLR or DSLR now, because in a small package, other than getting a camera that can compete with some DSLRs, u are getting other essentials; pleasing display, speedy performance, great multitasking, listening to music etc, and remember, on a small package u are getting all of these that can fit into your pocket, unlike a DSLR which u have to bring a bag or hang it around your neck which can hurt if it is for long periods of time, so, isn't buying smartphones more worth it? There's are reason why most people would rather choose a high-end flagship over a SLR or DSLR if they were to decide on a good camera that is portable...

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                      • AnonD-687126
                      • P%P
                      • 28 Mar 2018

                      Anonymous, 28 Mar 2018Buy SLR+150 USD phone. Miles better combination than anythi... moreI'm not carrying around an DSLR every day.

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                        • VL
                        • gCT
                        • 28 Mar 2018

                        Indeed 40MP looks quite bad, too much noise. 10MP is way better, but then what is the point of 40MP if you will get a way worse quality.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 39x
                          • 28 Mar 2018

                          AnonD-747764, 28 Mar 2018P20 daul(+DXO CLICKBAIT SITE) and its fake cameras: ifrutX... moreIt's not a fake camera you know nothing and quality is great

                            • D
                            • Dara
                            • P@T
                            • 28 Mar 2018

                            It would have been great if such large 1/1.7" sensor packs 20MP instead of 40MP. 20MP should yield much better pixel grade quality and low light performance.

                              AnonD-122899, 28 Mar 2018Have you noticed the amount of noise level with the 40MP ph... moreBigger(or same) sensor, brighter lens, yet very bad, I mean worse. I wish I could take it for an error, but I guess not. If its not some kind of bug, its a big sham, presenting "a lot of details" while real use is with 10mp. What a shame, colors are not everything if it lacks details worthy of sensor resolution. As it is now xz2 is the best, I mean if its not about having a lot points for special effects.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • shY
                                • 28 Mar 2018

                                voltaire9, 28 Mar 2018So at the end of the day,are you buying a camera or a tel... moreAlmost every telephone can be a camera, but not every camera is a telephone.

                                  • H
                                  • HutHutHut
                                  • vGN
                                  • 28 Mar 2018

                                  I think I'll stick to Samsung or Google if camera IQ was my top priority. I'm just not feeling the love as far as this 40 MP sensor is concerned..... Too plasaticky / water-colourish in rendition... Low light is far from impressive... ISO 2000 is pretty much devoid of detail and looks like a painting... Forget about ISO 102K .... For that matter even the P20 is failing to even remotely impress me. Maybe just my personal opinion here... but I think these two phones marketed primarily around their respective camera's photographic prowess is a bit of a blunder on Huawei's part. For gods sake... my old Lumia 950 produces 100 times better images than these two phones.

                                    • E
                                    • Ed
                                    • Pxs
                                    • 28 Mar 2018

                                    AnonD-747764, 28 Mar 2018P20 daul(+DXO CLICKBAIT SITE) and its fake cameras: ifrutX... moreTake a look at the Scarf, so much detail was loss on iphone X

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • pXj
                                      • 28 Mar 2018

                                      Anonymous, 28 Mar 2018Buy SLR+150 USD phone. Miles better combination than anythi... morethe reason camera was integrated to phone is to make it easier for people to take pictures/videos at almost any time they need , it's not about the camera quality , its about carrying a camera with you all the time.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • kAF
                                        • 28 Mar 2018

                                        AnonD-687126, 28 Mar 2018Truthfully, a camera. I can get a functional telephone for... moreBuy SLR+150 USD phone. Miles better combination than anything in same price range