Huawei P40 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 P40, a flagship smartphone released in April 2020, boasts an array of impressive features that will leave you in awe. With its sleek design and stunning 6.1-inch OLED display, the P40 offers an immersive visual experience like no other. Powered by the Kirin 990 5G chipset, this device delivers exceptional performance and seamless multitasking capabilities. The standout feature of the P40 lies in its camera setup, featuring a Leica-powered triple camera system that captures stunning photos and videos. Additionally, this smartphone comes equipped with a 32MP front-facing camera for crystal-clear selfies. While the absence of Google Play Services may be a drawback for some, the P40's EMUI 10.1 and innovative features make it a tough contender in the market. Available in a variety of colors, including Silver Frost and Deep Sea Blue, the Huawei P40 offers a premium smartphone experience at a competitive price point.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei P40 boasts an elegant and premium design that exudes sophistication. Its sleek and slim form factor, with dimensions of 148.9 x 71.1 x 8.5 mm and a weight of 175g, makes it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The device features a glass front and back, which not only adds to its aesthetics but also gives it a premium look and feel. The aluminum frame adds a touch of durability and robustness to the overall construction.

The P40's physical appearance is enhanced by its minimal bezels, allowing for an immersive viewing experience on its 6.1-inch OLED display. The display itself is vibrant and sharp, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 86.3%. The sleek design and slim bezels contribute to the device's portability, making it easy to slip into pockets or bags.

The back panel of the P40 showcases a unique texture that not only adds visual interest but also improves grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips. The finishing touches on the device are meticulous, with precise placement of buttons and controls for easy accessibility. The inclusion of an under-display fingerprint sensor adds to the seamless design, eliminating the need for a physical button on the front or back.

Overall, the Huawei P40 exhibits excellent build quality and attention to detail. Its combination of premium materials, sleek design, and robust construction make it an aesthetically pleasing and durable device. Whether it's the ergonomic design, the pleasing texture, or the overall fit and finish, the Huawei P40 stands out as a well-designed and visually appealing smartphone.

Display

The Huawei P40 boasts a 6.1-inch OLED display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 86.3%. This means that the display covers a significant portion of the front panel, providing an immersive viewing experience. The display resolution stands at 1080 x 2340 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 422 pixels per inch. This ensures sharp and detailed visuals when using the device.

The OLED technology used in the P40's display offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, contributing to an enhanced visual experience. The color accuracy is commendable, making images and videos appear true to life. Additionally, the display supports a wide color gamut, allowing for more vivid and vibrant colors to be displayed.

With regards to brightness, the Huawei P40 does well, offering ample luminosity for comfortable use under various lighting conditions. It also features adaptive brightness, which adjusts the screen brightness automatically based on ambient lighting conditions. This helps to optimize readability and conserve battery life.

In terms of outdoor visibility, the display performs reasonably well, ensuring that content remains visible even in bright sunlight. Furthermore, the P40's display benefits from an anti-reflective coating, reducing glare and improving visibility in challenging lighting situations.

The Huawei P40's display is protected by durable glass, providing resistance against scratches and minor impacts. While the specific type of glass used is not mentioned, it is likely to be a variant of Gorilla Glass, which is known for its strength and durability.

Overall, the Huawei P40's display offers a visually appealing experience with vibrant colors, good brightness levels, and sharp image quality. Its OLED technology, wide color gamut, and adaptive brightness contribute to an enjoyable viewing experience for users.

Performance

The Huawei P40 boasts impressive performance capabilities thanks to its powerful chipset and efficient GPU. Equipped with the Kirin 990 5G (7 nm+) chipset, the P40 delivers solid performance across various tasks. Its octa-core CPU, consisting of two powerful Cortex-A76 cores and four Cortex-A55 cores, ensures smooth multitasking and app loading speeds. The GPU, Mali-G76 MP16, enhances the gaming experience and graphics scores.

When it comes to gaming, the Huawei P40 performs exceptionally well. The combination of the Kirin 990 5G chipset and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU allows for lag-free gaming and smooth visuals. The P40 handles demanding games with ease, providing an immersive gaming experience. The device's thermal management ensures that it stays cool during extended gaming sessions, preventing any performance throttling.

In benchmark tests, the Huawei P40 consistently achieves impressive scores. The powerful chipset and GPU result in high scores in synthetic benchmarks, showcasing the device's overall performance capabilities. CPU benchmarks highlight the processor's efficiency, while gaming benchmarks demonstrate the device's gaming prowess. These performance metrics indicate that the P40 is optimized for delivering a smooth user experience and excels in various tasks.

The Huawei P40's performance is further enhanced by the device's system optimization. The combination of Android 10 and EMUI 10.1 ensures efficient resource allocation and smooth operation. The device handles multitasking effortlessly, allowing users to switch between apps seamlessly. The P40's performance is reliable and consistent, providing a lag-free user experience.

Overall, the Huawei P40 delivers impressive performance across various aspects. Its powerful chipset, efficient GPU, and optimized software contribute to its stellar performance. Whether it's gaming, multitasking, or general usage, the P40 excels in providing a smooth and lag-free performance. With its impressive benchmark scores and efficient thermal management, the Huawei P40 proves to be a reliable and high-performing device in the market.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei P40 runs on the Android 10 operating system with Huawei's custom skin, EMUI 10.1. However, due to the US trade ban, the P40 does not have access to Google Play Services, which includes popular apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps. This means that users have to rely on Huawei's AppGallery, which is the company's alternative app store. While AppGallery is continuously growing and adding more apps, it still lacks some popular apps found in the Google Play Store.

EMUI 10.1 brings several customization options to the Huawei P40, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, providing a user-friendly experience. However, some users may find the absence of Google apps and services as a drawback, especially if they heavily rely on them for their daily activities.

The P40 comes with a few pre-installed apps, including Huawei's own apps such as Huawei Music, Huawei Video, and Huawei Browser. While these apps provide alternatives to popular third-party apps, some users may view them as bloatware if they prefer using other apps for these purposes. However, it's worth noting that Huawei allows users to uninstall or disable most of these pre-installed apps if they are not needed.

Overall, the software experience on the Huawei P40 is smooth and responsive, thanks to the powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset. The absence of Google Play Services may be a dealbreaker for some, but Huawei is actively working on expanding its app ecosystem and providing alternative solutions to ensure a seamless user experience.

Camera

The Huawei P40 boasts an impressive camera setup that allows users to capture stunning photos and videos. With a triple camera system, including a 50-megapixel main camera with a wide aperture of f/1.9 and a focal length of 23mm, the P40 ensures high-resolution images with excellent depth of field. The camera's sensor size of 1/1.28" and multi-directional PDAF contribute to quick and accurate autofocus, while optical image stabilization (OIS) helps to reduce motion blur and ensure sharpness in both photos and videos.

When it comes to image quality, the P40 excels in various shooting conditions. In daylight photography, the camera captures vibrant and natural colors, while maintaining excellent sharpness and detail. Whether you're capturing indoor or outdoor scenes, the P40's camera performs well, delivering impressive dynamic range and accurate exposure. In low-light situations, the P40's camera performs admirably, thanks to its low-light sensitivity and advanced noise reduction capabilities. The night mode further enhances low-light performance by capturing multiple exposures and combining them to produce well-exposed and noise-free images.

The camera of the P40 also offers a range of features to enhance your photography experience. Portrait mode delivers professional-looking bokeh effects, blurring the background and keeping the subject in focus. HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode ensures balanced exposure in high-contrast scenes, while panorama mode allows you to capture sweeping landscapes. The pro mode gives you full manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, allowing for creative freedom. The AI scene recognition automatically adjusts camera settings based on the subject, optimizing image quality.

Video recording on the P40 is equally impressive, with the ability to shoot 4K videos at 30 or 60 frames per second. Video stabilization ensures smooth and steady footage, while slow-motion and time-lapse modes add creative options for capturing unique moments. The P40 supports various video formats, allowing for easy sharing and editing of your videos. Overall, the camera of the Huawei P40 offers a versatile and high-performing photography experience that is sure to impress even the most discerning users.

Battery Life

The Huawei P40 is equipped with a non-removable Li-Po 3800 mAh battery, which provides a decent amount of power for everyday use. The battery life of the P40 is rated with an endurance rating of 89h, indicating that it can last for a considerable amount of time on a single charge. The phone also supports 22.5W wired fast charging, allowing for quick top-ups when needed. However, it does not support wireless charging, which may be a drawback for some users who prefer the convenience of wireless charging. In terms of power efficiency, the P40 performs well with its Kirin 990 5G chipset and EMUI 10.1 software, which includes battery optimization features to maximize battery performance and minimize battery drain. The P40's battery capacity, coupled with its efficient optimization features, ensures that users can enjoy a satisfactory battery backup and usage throughout the day. Overall, while the P40's battery may not have the largest capacity or the most advanced charging technology, it offers a reliable and efficient power source for daily use.

Connectivity and Networking

The Huawei P40 offers a wide range of connectivity options, making it a versatile device for staying connected. With support for 5G network compatibility, users can enjoy faster data speeds and a more reliable connection. The device also supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, allowing for seamless wireless internet access. Bluetooth 5.1 ensures efficient and stable connections with other devices, while NFC enables easy contactless payments and data transfers. The USB Type-C 3.1 port provides fast charging and data transfer capabilities. Additionally, the Huawei P40 supports dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two different phone numbers simultaneously. For navigation purposes, the device features GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, and NavIC, ensuring accurate location tracking. The P40 can also serve as a mobile hotspot, allowing other devices to connect to its internet connection. Overall, the Huawei P40 offers a comprehensive range of connectivity features, ensuring that users can stay connected and enjoy a seamless experience.

Additional Features

The Huawei P40 comes with several standout features that make it a compelling choice in the smartphone market. One of its notable features is its IP53 rating, which provides dust and splash resistance. This means that the device can withstand minor water splashes and is protected against dust particles.

In addition to its water and dust resistance, the Huawei P40 also supports wireless charging. With Qi wireless charging capabilities, users can conveniently charge their device without the need for cables. This feature adds convenience and eliminates the hassle of dealing with tangled wires.

The smartphone is equipped with advanced sensors, including an accelerometer and a gyroscope. These motion sensors enable the device to detect and respond to movements, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience. The Huawei P40 also features a sensor suite that includes environmental sensors, allowing for enhanced functionality and performance.

Overall, the Huawei P40 offers a range of additional features that enhance its usability and durability. From its water resistance and wireless charging capabilities to its advanced sensors, the device provides a comprehensive and reliable smartphone experience.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Huawei P40 is a flagship smartphone that offers a range of impressive features and specifications. When comparing it to related devices in the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy S20 and the iPhone 11 Pro, the Huawei P40 holds its ground with its powerful performance and unique features.

In terms of specifications, the Huawei P40 boasts a Kirin 990 5G chipset, which is on par with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 found in the Galaxy S20 and the Apple A13 Bionic found in the iPhone 11 Pro. This ensures smooth and efficient performance across all devices.

One area where the Huawei P40 truly stands out is its camera system. With a triple camera setup including a 50 MP wide-angle lens, an 8 MP telephoto lens, and a 16 MP ultrawide lens, it offers exceptional versatility and image quality. The Galaxy S20 and iPhone 11 Pro also have impressive camera systems, but the Huawei P40's Leica optics and advanced camera features give it an edge.

When it comes to software, the Huawei P40 runs on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1, but lacks Google Play Services due to trade restrictions. This may be a drawback for some users who heavily rely on Google apps and services. However, Huawei has been working on building its own ecosystem of apps and services to compensate for this limitation.

In terms of pricing, the Huawei P40 is competitively priced compared to its competitors. It offers a great value for money considering its high-end specifications and camera capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S20 and iPhone 11 Pro are priced higher, making the Huawei P40 an attractive option for those looking for a premium smartphone at a more affordable price point.

Overall, the Huawei P40 competes strongly with other flagship smartphones in the market. Its powerful performance, impressive camera system, and competitive pricing make it a strong contender among the competition. While the absence of Google Play Services may be a drawback for some, the Huawei P40 offers a unique and compelling alternative for those looking for a high-quality smartphone experience.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Huawei P40 offers an impressive array of features that make it a formidable smartphone. With its sleek design, stunning OLED display, and powerful Kirin 990 5G chipset, it delivers a seamless and immersive user experience. The Leica triple camera system captures exceptional photos and videos, while the 32MP front-facing camera ensures stunning selfies. However, it is important to note that the lack of Google Play Services may be a drawback for some users. Despite this, the Huawei P40 remains a top contender in the smartphone market, especially for those who prioritize camera performance and sleek design. Potential buyers seeking a device with cutting-edge technology and an excellent camera system should definitely consider the Huawei P40.