Huawei Mate 20 Pro Review: A Week Full of Innovative Usability

Huawei unveils a high-end smartphone twice a year. For example, at the end of 2018, there is room for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Traditionally, the Mate range also includes the most innovative gadgets. Has Huawei pursued this strategy this year?

Even before the presentation of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro in London, it became clear that the device would focus on: innovation. No wonder considering the past of the Mate smartphones series over the years. Innovation is enhanced by a powerful and up-to-date SoS HiSilicon Kirin 980 (SoC), which has one of the first accesses to the 7nm process, which guarantees a more powerful processor while consuming less power. However, the innovation of the Mate 20 Pro was marked by the unlocking of the phone, the charging of the phone and the excellent cameras. Has Chinese society built a phone that you "must" have?

Unlocking Using the Screen

To unlock the phone, this is always possible in different ways. One of the possibilities is the use of the fingerprint reader, which has now changed places. Where the Huawei Mate 10 Pro was still in the back, this is no longer the case with the Mate 20 Pro. Instead, it is now fully processed on the screen. This is also specified when setting up the phone. If you place your finger on the indicated area, the screen will be unlocked in a few seconds. It is also possible to unlock the phone with your face. This happens with a 3D sensor at the front of the phone. The sensor creates a 3D image of your face to compare with your face when unlocking. This makes it impossible to unlock the phone with a 2D image, such as an image. Experts say that this can be even safer than a fingerprint, which is also much easier to copy.

Huawei uses a sensor that is actually under the AMOLED panel.

The sky of the camera

It is the cameras of his smartphones that have surprised Huawei the most in recent years. Since the collaboration with Leica, which goes beyond the simple brand name Leica, the Chinese manufacturer of smartphones is able to offer beautiful cameras. With the Mate 20 Pro, it's no different. For starters, there is the 40 MP sensor with an f / 1.8 aperture, in addition to a 20 MP camera with an f / 2.2 aperture, the latest sensor has a resolution of 8 MP and an aperture f / 2.4 . The 40 and 20 MP sensors are both designed to take wide-angle shots, which is useful if you want to place a larger building on the photo, for example. Finally, there is an 8 MP sensor, which is then used to zoom three times. During the tests, it became clear that Huawei has his business very well in order, there are really happy pictures of, during the day as well as in the middle of the night. At night, you can also use the night mode: it avoids (too) dark photos and you get a photo with as much detail as possible.

During tests, it becomes obvious that Huawei is doing very well the case. In order, there are really great pictures.

Of course, there are also "portrait" and "aperture" modes to effectively apply a bokeh effect. Since this has to be done by measuring the depth using cameras, the result is unfortunately still … suboptimal. It's not that I'm a fan of it, I prefer to leave these modes on the left. In cases where it works, it's an interesting function and I can confirm that I would like to see it even better. Fortunately, the camera knows how to create a natural bokeh effect without the fashions in some cases, which seems to be the best in my opinion. The selfie camera has – of course, it should not be missed here – of course also a "portrait" mode, although it works as well in the back. It does not say anything about the selfie camera because it works very well. Even if I am the king of selfies in ruins, it looks good. In November, I will come back with selfies from this camera. I will first have to train again to improve my selfie game.

An awesome phone too …

Previously, I had already had the control system on my computer. There, the HiSilicon Kirin 980, this processor comes from the factories of a Huawei subsidiary and offers as one of the first upgrade the 7nm process. What does this mean for the end user? Well, for starters, the phone goes through all the tasks you want to perform. No problem or unnecessary delay in using the phone: the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a phone you can count on day after day. The life of the battery also contributes, if only thanks to its enormous capacity of 4,200 mAh. Incidentally, the battery can be charged wirelessly, for the first time with a 15 W charger, or if you prefer to use a wire: the Huawei Mate 20 Pro charges in 30 minutes, from 0% (empty) to 70%. For fast cable charging, no additional purchase is required, Huawei has integrated the 40W charger into the box, as does the cable that can carry up to 5A (amperes).

EMUI Version 9.0 has undergone a significant change compared to EMUI 8.0. It is now also very enjoyable to use, even if you are not a fan of the 'skins'.

Now the software, the boss of the phone, can not be forgotten. Huawei is one of the first manufacturers to provide Android 9.0 Pie on a phone. This is done in combination with EMUI 9.0, to be precise, the device runs at version 9.0.0.113 at the time of writing. It is a software available for launch. It is therefore possible that small adjustments will be made if the device becomes available in November. Coincidentally, I just finished the review of the Huawei Mate 20 Lite, which runs on EMUI 8.2 on Android 8.1.0 Oreo. It immediately becomes clear that there is a completely different experience on Android 9.0. For example, Huawei has adjusted the notification panel to changes made by Google. With this, the operating system becomes more white. The settings menu also received adjustments, all changes that make EMUI even more enjoyable to use. As a stock-Android fan, a shell like EMUI will never be my favorite, but Huawei is getting closer every day. With the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, I can not say anything else that I like to use the software.

Good smartphones have a price

Also in 2018, Huawei has brought new gadgets for the phone whether it is the fingerprint reader on the screen or charging with a 40W charger. Moreover, there is no question of "failed" innovation. The new features make the phone use a little more sophisticated, it's like being in a phone that will stay long with me. For the context: most phones are not used more than 6 months with me, although this is possible with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. As soon as you take the phone out of the box, you feel it: Huawei has managed to make it a whole. The price of 999 euros is a bit difficult to swallow, although it is a personal matter.

Huawei's "Reverse Charge" feature allows you to charge other cordless phones if it supports wireless charging. Huawei sees it primarily as a function to help your friends in "emergency situations".

This is not the end for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro: there is still much to discover. In a month, there will also be an article on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, which will deepen the most important functions. This is also the time when the device is already available to the consumer. Practical, because it is then fair to see how the software, which will be available to consumers, knows how to keep it on a daily basis. Buy a case first … This is a must for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, the design may be there, but without a case, the device will almost escape your hands.

Interested in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro? Buy it via Coolblue.