Huawei is dramatically growing its presence outside of China. From being a not-so-well-known brand before to the rise of the P20 Pro in 2018, Huawei has successfully entered the global stage as a brand. Nowadays, most people will agree that Huawei phones have the ability to compete with other high-end phone brands. They manufacture top-of-the-line phones that can go against the likes of Google, Samsung, and Apple.
This article will give you a comprehensive buying list 0f some of the most impressive Huawei phones any tech fan should look into.
Impressive Huawei Phones You Should Check Out
We’ve narrowed down the best Huawei phones you can get your hands on to 15 items. We’ve also provided what makes them impressive in their own rights to help you make a choice.
Legend Reborn. This is how Huawei is branding its new flagship smartphone, the Huawei P50. Looking at its specs, one can definitely say Huawei has gone all out in producing this smartphone that can outsmart its previous releases and even some of its competitors.
The Huawei P50 comes with Dual-Matrix Camera Design, which is perfectly supported by its geometric design. Additionally, it has a 6.5-inch True-Chroma Display, 90 Hz Refresh Rate, and is a certified IP68 Splash, Water, and Dust Resistance device. Moreover, the device supports supercharging, has dual stereo speakers, and is equipped with a 4,100 mAh battery under its hood.
Its new strengths lie in its improved capabilities. These include the following:
- Intelligent Cross-Device Collaboration
- Smooth and Fast Operation
- Privacy and Security
It is available in three minimalistic yet sophisticated colors: cocoa gold, pearl white, and golden black.
Put the color band in your hands with this lightweight Huawei flagship device.
The big brother to the P40, the P40 Pro is on the top of the line among Huawei phones. It’s built with a glass front and back with an aluminum frame. Not only that, but it’s also IP68 water/dust resistant (up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes).
The screen is a huge 6.58”, 1200×2640 (441 PPI), HDR10 screen. It also has a 90 Hz refresh rate, making it buttery smooth to use. Internally, it runs on a Kirin 990 5G (yes, 5G-capable) with 8 GB of RAM and 128/256/512 GB of storage.
On top of that, the mouthwatering camera comes with a 50 MP + 12 MP + 40 MP + ToF quadrupole camera system with HDR. On the front, it boasts a stunning 32 MP selfie camera with HDR.
Other features include infrared facial recognition and an in-display fingerprint sensor. It has a 4,200-mAh battery, 40W fast-charging, 27W wireless, and reverse wireless charging.
Again, the only downside is it’s only Android 10 without any Google apps. However, its specs are mouthwatering enough that people will still buy it.
An absolute beast, the P30 Pro is the largest and best phone out of the P30 series.
It comes with a 6.57” FHD+ OLED screen. Under the hood, it runs on a Kirin 980 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 128/256/512 GB of storage. As for the battery, it comes with a generous 4,200 mAh for all-day use.
The camera system is really where this phone shines. It comes with a 40 MP + 20 MP + 8 MP + ToF rear camera system. The front camera comes with a 32MP lens. These specs aren’t the star, though. It’s the 5x, 10x, and 50x digital zoom that really takes the cake. In addition, it has low-light capabilities. Not only these, but it also comes with beautiful aesthetics due to the colors it comes in.
Now comes some of the latest Huawei phones of 2020, and this flagship rivals its highest-end flagships on the market like the Galaxy S20.
It comes with a mesmerizing 6.1”, 1080×2340, 422 PPI OLED screen. With a matte glass back feel and beautiful design, the P40 is stunning to anyone who sees it.
Internally, the P40 sports a Kirin 990 5G processor making it ready for our 5G future, and also comes in 128 GB (6/8 GB of RAM) or 256 GB (8 GB of RAM only)— enough for almost anyone.
The camera’s really the stand-out feature of the P40. It has 50 MP + 8 MP + 16 MP, HDR-capable lenses. For selfies, it comes with an outstanding 32 MP camera with HDR.
Other features include facial recognition and an in-display fingerprint sensor. It also has a 3,800 mAh with a 22.5W fast-charging battery.
Perhaps the only downside is its disconnection to the Google Ecosystem. That makes it ship with the open-source Android 10. However, if you’re okay with that shortcoming, you can buy it on Amazon.
Related: Is Huawei P40 Worth Buying? Here’s What We Think
If you thought the Mate 30 was amazing, the Mate 30 Pro is a step up. It comes with the bumped-up specs of the Mate 30 — truly a pro phone.
It’s built with aluminum, along with Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back. For dust/water resistance, the Mate 30 Pro comes with an IP68 rating (2 meters deep for 30 minutes).
The screen is a breathtaking 6.53”, 1176×2400 + 409 PPI, HDR10-capable, OLED screen. Internally, the Mate 30 Pro comes with Android 10 and sports a Kirin 990 processor. It has 8 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of storage.
For cameras, it comes with 40 MP + 40 MP + 8 MP rear cameras with HDR. As for selfies, you have a 32 MP, HDR-capable front cam.
Other features include facial recognition and an in-display fingerprint sensor. The battery’s impressive at 4,500 mAh with 40W fast charging. Plus, it has wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities under its hood.
For those wanting a bit of the P30 experience without going bankrupt, Huawei unveiled its younger brother, the P30 Lite.
It comes with a mid-range-quality 6.15”, 1080×2312 LCD screen. The phone runs on a Kirin 710 processor, 4/6 GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. On the other hand, in terms of battery, the phone does take a bit of a hit coming at 3,340 mAh.
Don’t think it’s all downhill, though. Even if it’s not like its brothers, the P30 Lite does have a competent camera system. It comes with 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP triple rear cameras and a 24 MP front camera.
It also looks and feels good with a teardrop front cam and a glass-backed design, and you can be sure you’re getting a mid-range phone with high-end feels. In addition, it has facial recognition. Overall, it’s a satisfactory mid-range phone.
Coming as a successor to the P20, the Huawei P30 remains one of Huawei’s best phones.
With a 6.1”, 1080×2340 FHD+ OLED screen, the P30 gives you a stunning visual experience. It’s got a Kirin 980 processor with 8 GB of RAM and 64/128/512 GB of storage. Furthermore, it also has a 3,650-mAh battery. That’s plenty good for all your smartphone needs. Even heavy-duty games will run on your phone smoothly.
Not only that, but the P30 also comes with a great camera system. That’s not surprising since it’s become Huawei’s edge when it comes to its smartphones. It has a 40 MP + 16 MP + 8 MP system at the back. On the front, it employs a 32 MP selfie camera. One of the camera’s highlights is its 30x zoom. That’s plenty for when you want to record concerts at a seat that’s far away. It also has low-light capabilities, which give a great overall camera experience.
With a premium build, quality, and features, the Huawei Mate 30 certainly is one of the Huawei phones that won’t disappoint.
Built with a glass front and back, and an aluminum frame, the Mate 30 lives up to its flagship status. Its body is high-quality with an IP53 dust and splash protection rating.
When it comes to the screen, it has a 6.62”, 1080×2340, HDR10-capable OLED screen with 389 PPI. Under the hood, the Mate 30 comes with a Kirin 990 processor. It also has 128 GB storage and 6/8 GB RAM and ships with Android 10.
With a flagship phone comes flagship cameras. The Mate 30 has a 40 MP + 8 MP + 16 MP triple camera system. For selfies, it’s equipped with a 24 MP lens.
Other features include facial recognition, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4,200-mAh battery with wireless charging. As a bonus, it also has reverse wireless charging and a headphone jack!
Stepping into the pro league, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is certainly worth taking a look at. While it does come at a higher price than the others, it’s still worth considering especially for its features.
Coming in at 6.39” with a 1440 x 3120 resolution, this phone’s a worthy contender against many high-end phones. Not to mention its AMOLED display makes the screen even more stunning with pure blacks and no light bleeding. Plus, its HDR10 support makes games, movies, and videos look stunning. It’s also pretty easy to access your phone with an in-display fingerprint scanner. The only downside to the screen is its large notch on top.
With a Kirin 980 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB of storage, the Mate 20 Pro certainly lives up to its price. Even the battery isn’t one to joke around about as it comes with a 4,200-mAh capacity. Top it off with a triple-lens 40 MP + 20 MP + 8 MP rear camera system and a 24 MP selfie cam, and you’ve got a real higher-end competitor. If you don’t mind the price, you can purchase yours on Amazon.
If you want a solid phone for the price, the Mate 20 is a good option. It’s one of the strongest Huawei phones given the specs and the price tag.
The Mate 20 sports a huge 6.53”, 1080 x 2244 LCD screen. It also has a modern teardrop front-facing camera design giving you lots of screen real estate.
For its internals, it employs a Kirin 980 with 128 GB of storage and 4/6 GB of RAM. Battery power is also pretty impressive coming in at 4,000 mAh. It’s got a large capacity and can last for a full day’s worth of heavy usage.
To top it off, the Mate 20’s triple-camera system makes it versatile for photography. The rear lenses come in at 12 MP + 16 MP + 8 MP while the front camera is a large 24 MP.
Huawei phones come in all shapes and sizes — and we mean that literally. If you’re a fan of all things big (big battery, big storage, big screen), check out the Mate 20 X.
Coming in with a whopping 7.2” screen, the Mate 20 X is practically a tablet! If you’ve got big hands, this might not be a problem for you. However, many people will have a hard time fitting this into their hands.
If you don’t mind the screen size, it does come with pretty good specs. It has a 1080 x 2244 resolution with an OLED display for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The phone also comes with a Kirin 980 processor, 6/8 GB RAM, and 128/256 GB of storage.
The design is premium and modern with a teardrop front-facing camera and a quality build. It’s also future-proof with a 5G capability. Plus, it has a huge all-day battery that’s 5,000 mAh. Thus, if you want to watch videos and play games, you won’t have to worry about your phone dying.
Huawei phones didn’t always get this much recognition back in the day. However, if you were following the smartphone industry a while back, the P20 Pro really created a buzz. You couldn’t name Huawei’s best phone without mentioning the P20 Pro at the time.
Nowadays, the P20 Pro is still a solid choice despite its age. It comes with a 6.1”, 1080×2240 resolution OLED screen. Under the hood, it sports a Kirin 970 processor with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. In terms of battery life, it’s still a good performer — giving you a generous 4,000 mAh for all-day usage.
What really stood out about the P20 Pro in the past (and to this day) is its camera system. It has a 40 MP wide, 20 MP ultra-wide, an 8 MP telephoto camera, and it gives you 3x optical zoom, by the way. On the front, it sports a 24 MP camera in its small notch. Additionally, the P20 Pro is surprisingly good at night shots, which isn’t common in smartphones. If you’re planning to get one, you can purchase yours on Amazon.
Huawei P20
If you want a solid phone with a solid price, check out the Huawei P20. It’s one of the older Huawei phones worth looking into.
With a 5.8”, 1080×2240 screen, the P20 is a pretty decent phone. That’s especially true if you want something a bit smaller than most high-end phones. It runs on a Kirin 970 with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. While that’s not the best in terms of specs, it is pretty ample for the price. You’ll also get a decent battery life at 3,400 mAh. For photos, you get a pretty good 12 MP + 20 MP rear camera system and a 24 MP selfie cam.
As a successor to the Mate X, the Mate XS is the most recent Huawei foldable phone. It adds a few refinements to the previous Mate X.
As you can expect, it’s still a Huawei smartphone and tablet all in one. It’s pretty much the same as the Huawei Mate X on almost all fronts, though. The same build, screen, resolution, and size. Even the camera systems are still the same megapixels with the same features. The same side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 4,500-mAh battery, and 55W fast-charging capability.
The main difference with the Mate XS is the chipset. It still comes with 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. However, the chip is a Kirin 990 5G SoC. What that means is both the processor and the 5G modem are all in one chip. With the Mate X, you had to separately install a 5G modem.
Additionally, the Mate XS ships with Android Open Source 10 instead of last year’s Android 9. That’s because of the whole debacle with Google and the issue of banning Huawei phones. Moreover, Huawei claims there are minor hinge tweaks for a firmer and sturdier folding mechanism.
The Huawei X2 revolutionizes the design and experience many users had with its predecessor, the Huawei X. Essentially, Huawei X2 enters the fold with upgraded features and specs.
The design of the Huawei X2 is slightly wedged to ensure the smartphone remains lightweight and slim. The design also enables users to have an easy grip on the device. It’s even made more powerful by the improved Kirin 9000 5G chipset under its hood; the chip makes the Huawei X2 capable of high-speed data processing. Additionally, the chipset pushes AI processing to a new level, while the 24-core Mali-G78 GPU offers heightened image processing.
Moreover, the device has smart antennas positioned strategically to ensure that it adapts to any changes in position.
Huawei Phones in the US
There exists a buy ban on any Huawei-affiliated technology in the US. This goes back as far as 2012 when the US first sighted concerns Huawei phones and technology can be used to spy on companies and countries outside of China. Fast forward to May 2019, Huawei has formally been added to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List. The current US Government Administration shows no sign of reversing the decision made in 2019.
For this reason, any US citizen wanting to buy a Huawei phone must source it from Huawei’s global link as there is no direct seller of Huawei smartphones in the US.
Conclusion
Huawei is becoming a top contender when it comes to consumer smartphones. However, the whole Google Play ban is one huge thing that Huawei does have to deal with. Apart from that, Huawei phones are a solid choice in terms of both build quality and features.
