Huawei Mate 80 Pro Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Huawei Mate 80 Pro – More Expensive, but Less Balanced?

Of course, the new Mate line of flagship smartphones from the Chinese company Huawei doesn't just include one device. The Pro version is more interesting than the "standard" model in a number of ways, but the difference isn't as great as we'd like. Let's find out why today's review subject might not be a bestseller compared to its younger sibling.

The appearance of the new model is virtually identical to that of its previously reviewed sibling, but this isn't a drawback. A metal frame, an updated glass back panel with a pattern that replicates the stylish round photo module block, and extremely thin screen bezels – all of this is complemented by IP68 water resistance and looks superb. The 6.75-inch AMOLED display is very good, although far from perfect. The resolution isn't record-breaking, but it's optimal for the diagonal (2832x1280 pixels). There's a generous 3000 nits of brightness, smooth images at a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and natural color rendition combine to create a stunning image.

The technical specifications, however, aren't exactly impressive. Yes, it now features the latest Kirin 9030 chipset, paired with 12GB/16GB of RAM and a Maleoon 935 GPU, but its performance is modest compared to top-end options from Mediatek and Qualcomm. In the AnTuTu synthetic benchmark, the processor scores just over a million points; in resource-intensive games, you'll have to consider lowering the graphics presets. Genshin Impact, though a bit older, still impresses with its highly detailed open world and CPU demands. To ensure a stable frame rate, graphics settings should be set to medium-high. The 5750mAh battery isn't mediocre, but competitors often boast about 7000-8000mAh alternatives. However, even this battery can realistically squeeze out around 9-10 hours of active screen time. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1024GB.

Photography capabilities are worthy of the device's flagship status. The high-quality 50MP main sensor and the improved 48MP telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom feature hybrid stabilization and are capable of preserving detail in photos and videos even in low light or with intense subject motion. Noise reduction is excellent. The 40MP wide-angle sensor is also impressive, and a ToF sensor further enhances the trio. Loud stereo speakers with immersive sound, NFC, and 5G support add to the device's appeal, though the lack of Google services and the peculiar HarmonyOS operating system are a bit of a draw. Ultimately, the underwhelming performance and the aforementioned shortcomings prevent us from fully recommending the phone.