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Huawei P20 Pro review: All-new design, triple cameras, and more!

Huawei’s new flagship phone, the P20 Pro, features all of the bells and whistles that you have come to expect from Huawei’s top offerings. It has an insane 40MP camera, decent battery and internal components that allows this device to compete favourably with the likes of Samsung and Apple. Let us take a look and see how it compares with similarly rated devices.

Huawei P20

Why would you consider the P20 Pro?

1. The cameras are insane.

If you decided that you preferred the Samsung S9 over the iPhone X due to the camera ratings of the S9 being slightly better, on paper anyway, then prepare to be disappointed. The secondary camera is double the megapixel rating of the S9, at 24MP. The primary camera is a gargantuan 40MP, with f/1.8, 1/1.7”, OIS + 20MP f/1.6 + 8MP f/2.4, with Leica optics and a 3 x optical zoom. Overkill is one way of putting it.

2. How does the P20 Pro stack up against the iPhone X?

The comparison between these two phones isn’t necessarily a fair one, considering that the P20 is based on the Android operating system, and is almost 6 months newer than the Apple. However, the specs from Huawei’s P20 Pro far outperform those of the Apple. Huawei has an octa core processor with 6GB or RAM, which allows the phone to easily trump the iPhone X’s 3GB of RAM and 6 core CPU.

3. How does the P20 Pro stack up against the S9?

The story is similar, with the Huawei blitzing the Samsung S9 in the hardware spec front, with the P20 boasting more RAM, more or less equal processing power, a much better camera system, and an excellent battery. Huawei have pulled out all the stops with this phone, but the Achilles heel might be the price of the phone.

Coming in at around $1155.00 CAD, the device is firmly in the higher price bracket that is usually reserved for Apple and Samsung products.

Be sure to check below for price drops between retailers:

Does the device make sense as a purchase?

1. You need a phone camera that rivals a DSLR.

The emphasis on the cameras on this device is understandable, it is not every day that we get to see a triple camera system, and the appeal is there for some users that actually need to take high resolution pictures with a smartphone. The usefulness of such a high quality camera system will vary from person to person though, so that is something to think about if you are considering this device.

2. Other Features.

The fingerprint sensor on the standard pro model is built into the home button, and by all accounts seems to work just fine. The device is IP67 rated, which is enough for the device to survive brief submersion in shallow water. For those looking for a more weather resistant and waterproof kind of build, then they would do better to go with the Samsung S9.

3. That Battery.

Samsung and Apple fall way behind in terms of battery life when you compare the battery specifications of over 4000mAh of the P20 Pro versus the 3000mAh of the Samsung S9, and the wimpy 2716mAh of the iPhone X. How this translates into real world battery life will depend on how you use the device, but it is a big factor to consider when looking at purchasing one of these high end devices.

Huawei P20 Presentation

So, what’s our verdict on whether you should you buy the Huawei P20 Pro?

As with most things in tech and in life, it all boils down to what it is exactly that you plan on doing with the device. Sure, if you are a nature lover, or a socialite that must have exceptionally lit and focussed photos that look as though you have a professional photographer following you around, then this is definitely the phone for you. Superior battery life, great build quality and excellent performance makes this a winner, and an great choice for your next upgrade.