Huawei Mate 50 Pro Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is the latest addition to the Chinese smartphone manufacturer's flagship lineup, released on September 28, 2022. With its sleek design, cutting-edge features, and advanced camera technology, the Mate 50 Pro is poised to take on the top-tier competition in the smartphone market.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts an impressive physical appearance that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who lays their eyes on it. With its sleek and modern design, this smartphone is the epitome of style and sophistication. The phone's dimensions of 162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) make it easy to hold and use, and it weighs in at a comfortable 205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz). The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is available in four different colors: Black, Silver, Purple, and Orange.

The phone is constructed using high-quality materials that are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Its IP68 dust/water-resistant feature ensures that the device is protected from water damage, up to a depth of 6 meters for 30 minutes. The phone's back panel is made from glass, which gives it a premium look and feel. This premium feel extends to the phone's edges, which are constructed using an aluminum frame. The back panel of the phone is curved, which makes it comfortable to hold.

Overall, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro's design is both stylish and functional. The phone's construction is top-notch, and its use of high-quality materials makes it feel like a premium device. The phone's slim profile and lightweight design make it easy to carry around, and its IP68 rating ensures that it can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Display

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts an impressive OLED display with 1B colors and a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen size of 6.74 inches and screen-to-body ratio of 91.3% make for an immersive viewing experience. The resolution of 1212 x 2616 pixels and 428 ppi density ensure sharp and vibrant visuals.

Thanks to Huawei Kunlun Glass, the Mate 50 Pro has excellent protection against scratches and drops. The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are also noteworthy. Users can expect a smooth and seamless experience when interacting with the phone.

The color accuracy and vibrancy of the display are also impressive. Images and videos look lifelike, with accurate color reproduction and deep blacks. The brightness of the screen is also noteworthy, making it easy to use outdoors even in bright sunlight.

Overall, the display of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is one of its standout features. It offers an immersive and enjoyable viewing experience with excellent color accuracy and protection against damage.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is nothing short of impressive. Powered by a Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset and an octa-core CPU consisting of a 3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510, this phone can handle even the most demanding of tasks with ease. The Adreno 730 GPU ensures that graphics-intensive apps and games run smoothly and without any lag.

The phone comes with two RAM and storage options - 256GB 8GB RAM and 512GB 8GB RAM, both of which utilize the ultra-fast UFS 3.1 technology. Multitasking is a breeze on the Mate 50 Pro, and apps load quickly and smoothly.

Speaking of gaming, the Mate 50 Pro is a true powerhouse. It can handle even the most demanding games out there without breaking a sweat. We tested popular games like PUBG, Genshin Impact, and Call of Duty Mobile, and the phone performed admirably, with no stuttering or lagging even during intense gameplay.

In terms of benchmark scores, the Mate 50 Pro scored an impressive 979921 on AnTuTu v9, 3839 on Geekbench v5.1, and 68fps on GFXBench ES 3.1. These scores are among the highest we've seen on a smartphone, and they reflect the phone's impressive processing power.

Real-world usage of the Mate 50 Pro was flawless. We did not experience any lag or slowdowns, even when running multiple apps at the same time. The phone truly shines when it comes to performance, and it's a great choice for power users who demand the best performance from their devices.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro runs on EMUI 13, which is based on the HarmonyOS 3.0 for the Chinese market. The user interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. The design is consistent with Huawei's signature style, featuring a range of customization options, including themes, wallpapers, and fonts.

The software is optimized for the device's powerful hardware, ensuring smooth performance and fast response times. The Mate 50 Pro also comes with a range of pre-installed apps that are useful and practical, including Huawei Health, Petal Maps, and AppGallery. However, the device does come with some bloatware that cannot be uninstalled, which may be a downside for some users.

One of the standout features of the Mate 50 Pro is the multidimensional touch system, which allows for more intuitive and precise gesture controls. The device also supports a range of advanced features, including split-screen multitasking, screen recording, and eye comfort mode.

Huawei is known for providing regular software updates, and the Mate 50 Pro is no exception. The device is set to receive regular security updates and software upgrades, ensuring that it remains up-to-date and secure.

Overall, the software and user interface of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro are top-notch, providing a seamless user experience that is both practical and enjoyable. The device's customization options, advanced features, and regular software updates make it a great choice for users who appreciate a well-designed and optimized user interface.

Camera

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts a triple rear camera setup that includes a 50MP wide lens with f/1.4-f/4.0 aperture, PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens with f/3.5 aperture, PDAF, OIS, and 3.5x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultrawide lens with f/2.2 aperture and PDAF. The camera system also features LED flash, panorama, and HDR, and supports 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS video recording.

The camera performance of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is outstanding. The photos captured by the device are sharp, detailed, and vibrant. The wide-angle lens produces excellent low-light shots, while the periscope telephoto lens provides crisp and clear images even when zoomed in. The ultrawide lens captures a wider field of view and allows for creative shots.

The camera system also excels in video recording. The 4K@60fps footage is smooth and stable, and the 1080p@480fps slow-motion videos are impressive. The device's gyro-EIS system ensures that footage is steady, even when moving around.

The front-facing camera is a 13MP ultrawide lens with f/2.4 aperture, which is perfect for taking selfies and making video calls. The camera also features HDR and panorama and can record 4K@60fps and 1080p@240fps videos.

Overall, the camera system of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is one of the best in the market. The device is perfect for photography enthusiasts and content creators who want to capture high-quality photos and videos on the go.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro offers a wide range of connectivity and networking options, making it a versatile device for both personal and professional use.

In terms of cellular network compatibility, the phone supports GSM, CDMA, HSPA, CDMA2000, and LTE technologies. This means that users can enjoy fast and reliable internet speeds and call quality on most carriers worldwide.

The phone also has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 capabilities, which translates to fast and stable wireless connections. Dual-band Wi-Fi Direct is also available for easy file sharing between devices.

Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, and LE are supported, allowing for seamless pairing with compatible devices such as headphones, speakers, and smartwatches. The phone also comes with NFC support, making it easy to make wireless payments on the go.

For navigation, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro features GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), and NavIC (L5) technologies. This means that users can enjoy accurate and reliable location services, even in areas with poor signal coverage.

The phone also features an infrared port, which can be used to control compatible home appliances such as TVs and air conditioners.

Lastly, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro comes with a comprehensive set of sensors, including a fingerprint scanner, face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer, compass, and color spectrum sensor. Overall, the phone offers a robust set of connectivity and networking features that cater to the needs of most users.

Additional Features

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is packed with a number of additional features that make it stand out from the crowd. Firstly, the phone boasts an impressive water and dust resistance rating of IP68, meaning it can withstand being submerged in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

Another noteworthy feature is the phone's expandable storage options, with support for NM (Nano Memory) cards up to 256GB. This means users can store more photos, videos, and apps without worrying about running out of space.

Audio quality is also a major selling point of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, with the phone supporting 32-bit/384kHz audio for a crisp and immersive listening experience. Unfortunately, the phone does not have a headphone jack, so users will need to use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter or wireless headphones.

The phone's speaker performance is also impressive, with stereo speakers providing clear and powerful sound. Additionally, the phone's advanced sensor technology includes a color spectrum sensor for more accurate color reproduction in photos, and a TOF 3D sensor for improved depth sensing and biometric authentication.

Finally, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is notable for its innovative BDS Satellite Message feature, which allows users to send messages even in areas without cellular coverage. This feature could prove invaluable for outdoor enthusiasts or those living in remote areas with limited connectivity.

Overall, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro offers a range of additional features that make it a top contender in the smartphone market. From water and dust resistance to expandable storage and advanced audio and sensor technology, this phone is sure to impress even the most demanding users.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Huawei Mate 50 Pro to other related phones, there are a few notable options to consider. One such phone is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which boasts a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a comparable camera setup with a 108MP primary shooter. However, the Mate 50 Pro's Kirin 9000 processor offers better benchmark scores than the S22 Ultra's Exynos 2200 chipset.

Another comparable phone is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which also features a large OLED display and a triple camera setup. However, the Mate 50 Pro's 50MP primary camera and 64MP periscope telephoto lens offer greater zoom capabilities and image stabilization than the 14 Pro Max's setup.

The Xiaomi 12 Ultra is another phone that can be compared to the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, with a similar screen size and resolution, as well as a comparable camera setup with a 50MP primary shooter. However, the Mate 50 Pro's IP68 rating for water and dust resistance provides greater durability than the 12 Ultra's IP53 rating.

Overall, while there are other phones on the market that offer similar features and specifications to the Mate 50 Pro, its combination of a powerful processor, versatile camera setup, and durable construction make it a standout option in its class.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is a top-of-the-line smartphone that boasts impressive specs and features. From its stunning OLED display to its powerful processor and chipset, this device delivers top-notch performance across the board. Its camera setup is a particular highlight, offering exceptional image quality and zoom capabilities. The battery life is also impressive, with fast charging and wireless charging options.

However, the lack of a headphone jack and the absence of Google services may be a drawback for some users. Additionally, its high price point may put it out of reach for many.

Overall, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is an excellent choice for those in the market for a premium smartphone. Its superior performance, cutting-edge features, and impressive camera capabilities make it a worthy contender in the competitive smartphone market. If you can overlook its few drawbacks and are willing to invest in a high-end device, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is definitely worth considering.