Huawei is one of the top smartphone brands today. The company has produced countless innovative smartphones with sleek designs, powerful systems, impressive features, from long-lasting battery life to high-quality camera capabilities.
One of the hottest additions to Huawei’s wide selection of smartphones is the Huawei P40 5G. The company says this unit brings visionary cameras, design, and performance to the table. Let’s look into its features to see whether this new smartphone is worth purchasing.
Huawei P40 at a Glance
Body
- Size: 71.06 mm x 148.9 mm x 8.5 mm
- Weight: Approx. 175 g (battery included)
Display
- Size: 6.1 inches
- Color: 16.7 million colors
- Type: OLED Resolution: FHD+ 2340 x 1080 Pixels
The length of the screen is 6.1 inches diagonally when measured based on the standard rectangle given its rounded corners design on the display. (Note: the real viewable area is slightly smaller.)
Effective pixels are less since the resolution is measured as a rectangle with curved edges.
Battery
- 3,800 mAh (The actual battery capacity might be slightly different from the one stated.)
- 3,700 mAh rated capacity
The battery is fixed to the phone. If you wish to replace a deficient battery, you might want to visit an authorized Huawei service center.
Memory and Storage
- 8 GB RAM
- 128 GB long-term data memory or ROM
- Allows external memory support
- Compatible with SD cards with up to 256 GB of storage space.
Available built-in internal storage may vary since the software is installed on it. Actual memory space can be affected by applications, software updates, and more.
Rear Camera
- 50 MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture) + 16 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (f/2.2 aperture) + 8 MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
- Autofocus Mode: Autofocus
- Image Stabilization: OIS + AIS
- Zoom Mode: Digital Zoom, Optical Zoom, Hybrid Zoom
- Video Recording: Support for 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) 60 fps video recording
- Image Resolution: Support up to 8,192 x 6,144 pixels
- Video Resolution: Support up to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels
Front Camera
- 32 MP Selfie Camera (f/2.0 aperture), IR Camera
- Video recording: Support for 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) 60 fps video recording
- Image resolution: Support up to 6,528 x 4,896 pixels
- Video resolution: Support up to 3,840 x 2,160 pixels
The photo pixels may vary depending on the shooting mode.
All these specifications are from the Huawei Official Website.
Huawei P40 Release Date and Pricing
Huawei announced on February 24, 2020, that the company would launch the P40, “the world’s most powerful 5G flagship smartphone,” on March 26. Tech experts and smartphone enthusiasts were excited to get their hands on the newest unit in Huawei’s P series. On March 10, however, the firm announced that the launch will only happen online due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Many rumors circulated online about the features and design of Huawei P40 before the launching event. A sample of these rumors is the built-in 50-megapixel main camera sensor and 40W wireless charging compatibility.
Huawei P40 became available in the market in April. It is available in the UK, other parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. The phone is not officially on sale in the US because of the US ban on Huawei products. You can read up on this by visiting our Huawei 5G article.
The company released Huawei P40 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It also comes in three colors: Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, and Black. Each unit costs £699 or about $900. This is the most affordable compared to its big brothers: the Huawei P40 Pro (£899) and Huawei P40 Pro+ (£1,299), which was released in June.
If you’re interested to check out the best Huawei Phones, we have a list that can help you out.
Huawei P40 Design and Display
The Huawei P40 may be the smallest and the lowest-specification option among the P40 series, but it still doesn’t disappoint. Although Huawei P40 has a 6.1-inch screen, it is also equipped with the same power you’ll find in P40 Pro. It also has 5G connectivity and 50 MP primary camera sensor.
Unlike the Huawei P40 Pro, P40 doesn’t have the “Quad-Curve Overflow Display.” Instead, it has a flat sheet of glass on the surface, which makes the unit look more traditional. The Huawei P40 comes with a built-in screen protector, a dual-camera punch hole, and curved metal protective casing. Plus, it has an OLED screen that gives it an edge like the bigger units in the series.
The display has a 1080 x 2340 resolution for Wide Ful HD. But this is not the best class for its price because there are smartphones within the price margin that offer higher resolution. It is, however, better than the iPhone 11 when it comes to clarity.
The Huawei P40 is a tad thicker than other smartphones because of the camera bump that houses the massive 50 MP sensor. It also has a 3x zoom telephoto module that is also present in the Huawei Mate 30 Pro.
Like most smartphones today, you can find Huawei P40’s power button and volume keys on the side of the phone. The USB Type-C port and the single downward-firing speaker, meanwhile, are at the bottom. This is also where you can find the dual nanoSIM tray, which you can use to expand storage using Nano Memory cards.
Leica Powered Cameras
The cameras of the Huawei P40 are the pièce de résistance of this smartphone. Huawei has partnered with Leica to provide P40 a state-of-art camera setup. The P40 boasts a 50 MP and f/1.9 main camera, a 16 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and an 8 MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. But it doesn’t have a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor that P40 Pro has.
Huawei also still uses an RYYB filter on its newest flagship line. This time, however, Huawei went big. The sensor has a 1/1.28-inch size, which is the largest the comany has ever used. The Huawei P40’s main sensor can take 12 MP shots that perform better at low light compared to traditional 12 MP camera phones. The use of pixel binning, where four of the sensor’s pixels are merged into one superpixel, makes this possible.
XD Fusion Engine
Moreover, Huawei has debuted its XD Fusion Engine through the P40 series. XD Fusion uses AI technology to optimize your photos. As one of the pioneers that use AI, the firm has managed to produce impressive results on the P40. It can remove photo-bombers from a picture and unwanted reflections or glare. This is great especially when you’re taking photos behind glass.
Ultra Vision Main Camera
The Ultra Vision main camera is an awesome inclusion for the P40. The main camera also features a Multi-Spectrum Color Temperature Sensor that supports AI AWB Algorithm. The Huawei P40 has 45 percent color precision and can analyze and segment environments and people accurately. This restores the original look of the photo with enhanced effects. These effects include better lighting, natural color, and sharp details. This allows you to be ready to take high-quality portraits anytime and anywhere.
The front camera is placed in an oblong cut-out on the front of the screen. Boasting a 32 MP camera sensor and a depth sensor, this is more than your average smartphone front camera. The Huawei P40 is ideal for self-portraits as it is packed with autofocus and a flattering camera for a perfect selfie.
The Huawei P40 is not only perfect for taking pictures. It also has impressive video recording capabilities. You can capture 4K videos at up to 30 fps, whether you’re using the front or rear cameras.
Long-Lasting Battery Capacity
Stay connected all day with the Huawei P40’s powerful battery. It is built with a 3,80- mAh battery with an AI allocation mechanism to achieve high performance and longer working time. The phone also has an innovative CPU architecture that provides high power efficiency.
The Huawei P40 also offers a safe and fast charging experience using 22.3 W Huawei SuperCharge13.
Powerful Processor and Memory
The Huawei P40 is powered by Kirin 990 5G chipset, the first integrated 5G SoC in the word. This gives you ultra-fast speed and provides high efficiency. 7nm+ EUV technology and innovative CPU architectures allow the system to be fluid.
Huawei also built the P40 with Mali-G76 MC16 GPU for an incredible graphics performance. You’ll also experience exceptional image processing, which is powered by the enhanced ISP and state-of-the-art AI capability in the dual-core NPU.
Since it is built with an advanced processor, you can enjoy clear and fluent 4K Livestream with ultra-high network speed with low delay time. The Huawei P40 also has Dual SIM Plus eSIM9 that allows you to receive calls or access the internet simultaneously.
When it comes to memory, the Huawei P40 has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of ROM. Take note, however, that the internal storage is occupied by software so the available memory may be smaller. The memory space may also vary because of application updates and user operations, among other factors. You can expand the phone memory up to 256 GB using an NM SD Card.
5G Connectivity Capability
The Huawei P40 uses Wi-Fi 6 Plus. This feature offers Dynamic Narrow Bandwidth compatibility with the P40. This allows the phone to penetrate more walls and floors. The phone also supports 160 MHz bandwidth to provide optimal speed and reach up to 2.4 Gbps.
The Huawei P40 also supports 5G, SA, NSA network architectures, and other frequencies. This capability allows you to connect to different networks even when you’re abroad.
Moreover, the device is equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 and supports BLE, AAC, SBC, and LDAC. It comes with USB Type-C, USB 3.1 GEN1. The ear jack also uses USB Type-C.
State-of-the-Art Software
The Huawei P40 allows you to multi-task and switch from one app to another. It runs with Android 10 operating system with EMUI 10.1. When scrolling through apps or switching between them, you won’t notice a lag. But it doesn’t feel as nippy as other devices as it lacks a 90 Hz refresh rate screen. Despite that, P40 is still powerful.
Not Google Supported
Despite the phone’s OS being Android 10, the Huawei P40 doesn’t have any Google Service due to the US ban. This forbids Huawei users to have access to the Play Store and other Google Services. Instead, the phone uses Huawei’s AppGallery. There are also other Google Play Store alternatives such as Pone Clone or the APK Pure store if you want to get apps on board.
The lack of Google services, however, may affect how the apps perform. Huawei is working to fix any problems that apps encounter due to the absence of Google support. The company develops its own Harmony OS that offers a unique user experience across a variety of devices.
Security Features
Another notable feature of the Huawei P40 is its security. Like many smartphones, the phone has a Face Unlock feature that allows you to use your face as your password. This feature detects your facial features so you can unlock your screen or access certain apps. It works regardless of the environment you’re in.
Aside from Face Unlock, you can also use your fingerprints to unlock your phone. Fingerprint scanning offers a fast verification process with veracity. The Huawei P40 also has an impressive front gesture sensor that works together with dual NPU. This allows the device to recognize hand gestures and lets you control the phone without touching it. You can also do this when taking a screenshot. It can detect if someone else is looking at your phone, as well. If it does, it will show the private notification without the details to protect your privacy.
The Huawei P40 has achieved CC EAL 5+ for its overall protection. This is the highest level of security certification for consumer device OS worldwide. This helps prevent potential interception and theft because all payment and other sensitive operations run in the system.
Our Verdict: Is the Huawei P40 Worth It?
Huawei is one of the manufacturers that offer powerful hardware. The company again has produced impressive smartphone technology through the P40 series. The Huawei P40 is an ideal smartphone for individuals who are looking for high-quality cameras that they can carry around with them in their pockets. The Leica technology gives the phone an advantage over other smartphones within the same price point.
The multi-tasking feature is another advantage of the phone. You wouldn’t feel frustrated about any lags whenever you’re working or using different apps at the same time. Charging time will also be reduced because P40 is packed with a powerful battery and Huawei’s fast-charging technology may come handy.
The absence of Google services, however, is probably the smartphone’s downside. Although the phone will perfectly work without Google, you might face some challenges when using apps that need such services.
The Huawei P40 is worth purchasing given the powerful and impressive features it has to offer with its prie. But P40’s big brothers have better things to bring to the table at a higher cost.
