Huawei P20 and P20 Pro: the Smartphone Every Photographer Would Like to Have

We are witnessing a photographic revolution. In a way that is as silent and progressive as it is abysmal. After the transition from analog to digital, a revolution is taking place with mobile photography. As much as some think that it is not photography, every day it is clearer that it is, that there are great photographers who work with mobile phones and excite as much or more than those who capture with a SLR. Just as the Samsung S9 has done with the opening, the Huawei P20 in its Pro version goes one step further and presents a Smartphone with a triple rear camera.

We have already commented on it on occasion, we do not know if we are buying camera phones or cameras with built-in phones. This new Huawei model has been revolutionizing and that is what we are going to tell you, whether you want it (or can) buy it or not, as a photography lover you should know it and know what such a small thing is capable of ;).

But before we get into the matter, you will surely be interested in knowing this complete guide that we have prepared with all the tricks and tips to improve your photographs with your mobile.

Features P20 Pro

We are going to focus, both in this Pro version and in the P20, on the most basic general characteristics and those of the camera, since that is what interests us the most here.

• Weight: 180g
• Screen: 6.1″ with 2240x1080px resolution and Technology: OLED. Its OLED technology is one of the differentiating points in this Pro version, with much more vivid colors.
• Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970 + NPU
• Operating system: Android 8.1, EMUI 8.1
• Memory: Internal: 6GB RAM, 128GB Flash
• Building: metal frame with glass body.
• Camera:
  • Rear: Leica Vario-Summilux optics. 40 Megapixel RGB sensor with Light Fusion technology and f/1.8 aperture. 20 Megapixel monochrome sensor and f/1.6 aperture. 8 Megapixel telephoto lens and f/2.4 aperture. 5x hybrid zoom. predictive approach. Slow motion video recording at 960 FPS and 720p
  • Front: 24 mpx, f / 2.0

So you can see what the zoom brings… Keep in mind that in this case it is not the typical digital zoom that Smartphones bring, that all it does is enlarge the image and crop with its consequent pixelation, but it is a hybrid system, a different system that we do not need to break down here in a technical way. All you need to know is that it offers a quality that has nothing to do with digital zoom.

• Drums: 4000mAh
  • Charging time: about 1.5h
  • Standby: about 22 days
  • Talk time: about 25h
  • AI manages energy performance for maximum efficiency.
• Price: N/A
• Colors:

Images taken with the Huawei P20 Pro

I leave you some images taken in different situations. And if you want to see more, take a look here.

P20 Features

• Weight: 165g
• Screen: 5.8″ with resolution: 2244x1080px and technology: TFT. Vivid colors and high contrast.
• Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 970
• Operating system: Android 8.1, EMUI 8.1
• Memory: Internal: 4GB RAM, 128GB Flash
• Camera:
  • Rear: Dual camera 20 MP mono + 12 MP RGB, f / 1.6 and f / 1.8
  • Front: 24 mpx, f / 2.0

This is the zoom magnification in this version, it is the same type of zoom as in the pro but with less magnification:

• Drums: 3400mAh (typical value), 3320mAh (minimum value). Charging time: approximately 1.5h. Standby: about 16.9 days. Talk time: about 19h
• Sound: detect the type of sound you’re listening to and adjust the levels to give you the optimal sound experience. The AI ​​system that it incorporates also distinguishes between your voice and the background sound to cancel it out.
• Others: transforms into a desktop computer without the need for accessories. Project your screen, using the Huawei P20 as a touchpad or keyboard.
• Price: €346.47
• Colors: is available in this range of colors

More about the camera

The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro camera uses AI technology to recognize the subject in real time and automatically adjust the camera settings to achieve the perfect photo. Despite not having a stabilizer as such, its AI technology also makes the images look better stabilized and with great sharpness, it is even possible to do night photos or in low light without a tripod thanks to its night mode. It also has facial recognition to create beautiful bokeh and optimize lighting. It offers a no-lag shutter to capture the fastest images. And speaking of being fast, you can take a photo (screen off) in 0.3 seconds.

If we talk about zoom, It can reach up to 10x magnification in the pro version, although its maximum efficiency will be up to 5x magnification, which is how far its hybrid system works, beyond that it will be a mere digital clipping that we do not recommend at all.

Not bad for a mobile, right? That said like that, it seems that they are two things of nothing, but if you analyze it, it is reinforcing to an impressive level all the weak points of mobile cameras, blurring, low light photos, shooting speed, zoom… I think that this marks a clear before and after, don’t you think?

The best

The most remarkable thing about the Huawei is that its lenses are Leica, which is a guarantee against the lenses of other Smartphones. Among the advantages of your camera, we find terminals that offer very good performance in low light conditions, a super slow motion with 960 fps, the supermarket 5x hybrid zoom in the pro version to get closer to the scene. On the other hand, Huawei does not skimp with the front cameras (yes, the one of the selfie) and in both versions they offer 24 MP and an f/2.0 aperture, and also the facial recognition that we talked about before.

If to that you add the dust and water resistance in the Pro version (up to 1 meter deep) of course it becomes tempting, right? Now, with regard to water…, one thing is the accidents, or that rainwater falls and another thing is to dare to submerge it. That is a very risky decision that everyone must decide whether to take or not 😉 .

drawbacks

It’s bullshit, but for those who want to keep their terminal spotless, they should keep in mind that the material is glass and the fingerprints are nice, if you’re going to carry it without a cover, no problem, if not… get used to them ;).

Now the drawbacks a little more serious… It does not have an input for Micro SD although it has enough internal memory: 115 Gigs for the user (128 in total), for some users it is a significant impediment. It also does not have a standard port for headphones (they include some in the box that adapt to the USB port and an adapter for those you have). As you will see, they are inconveniences more or less salvageable…

Actually, the biggest drawback of this Smartphone is still the price, which is not within the reach of many pockets. But if you can afford it, the Huawei P20 Pro is probably now the best option offered by the mobile phone market in terms of photographic results.

Main differences between P20 and P20 Pro

Both versions are very similar to each other in general terms, although, of course, the price difference and the fact of offering a Pro version must be justified, and that is what I am going to tell you now. The main differences are:

• the screen (inches and technology, larger and more vivid colors)
• on battery (4,000mAh vs. 3,400mAh)
• three rear cameras compared to the two of the P20 version
• 6GB of RAM compared to 4GB of the P20 version
• add infrared connectivity
• it is waterproof, which the P20 is not
• incorporates Artificial Intelligence in the photographic capture
• size
• weight

Conclusions

If you are going to choose this phone for its photographic capacity, it is worth opting for the Pro version, because in photographic matters it is where the differences are most appreciated. And if you are hesitating between Samsung S9 and this one, users agree that Samsung outperforms video (except in slow motion) and in photography, especially at night, Huawei takes the lead. Depending on your needs, you can choose one or the other.

What is clear is that Huawei, which began as an economic alternative, has carved out a (deserved) niche for itself in the high-end range. Photographically speaking, it has nothing to envy to other leading brands with a lot of fame behind them. This model has come stepping very strong.

If you found it useful, don’t forget to share it! You already know that every photographer would like to have it 😉 . Thanks for your time and until next time.