Huawei’s latest device is being dubbed the most advanced smartphone camera on the market and so, as a self-professed photographer and social media addict, I decided to take the phone for a little test drive.
When it comes to purchasing a smartphone, there are a few things I look out for. A great camera, a decent battery and a pretty finish. It seems quite basic enough but, surprisingly very tough to achieve.
Like many Millennials and Gen Zs alike, these three factors are the make and break for me. My career and my free time is spent largely online, consuming and producing content to share with the world and so, I need a smartphone that can keep up with my serious battery usage and need for a sharp snap.
Thus, enter the Huawei P30 Pro – a new device that’s said to pack the best smartphone camera currently on the market. To explain the nitty-gritty of what gives this camera it’s high remarks, it’s equipped with a new Leica Quad Camera System which includes a 40MP main camera with the Huawei SuperSpectrum Sensor. On top of that, it has a 20MP ultra-wide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, the Huawei ToF Camera and a 32MP front camera that’s basically unheard of for selfies.
So, you can see why I was seriously intrigued to drop my trusty iPhone and give it a go.
Swapping my iPhone for a Huawei was something I’ve never done before. For some reason I’ve previously found myself to be loyal to the iPhone despite the fact its battery and camera have both repetitively disintegrated on me over time. I blindly never thought of actually shopping around for a different phone and switching to the Huawei has certainly opened my eyes.
One of my first shots on my Huawei P30 Pro – completely unedited.
To put the Huawei camera to the test, I brought it away with me on a weekend trip to Finn Lough. From photographing scenery to selfies, I was ready to test all its features and settings and it’s safe to say it did not disappoint. The camera is so clear and smart, picking up the surrounding lighting and adjusting itself correctly so you take the perfect photo.
A feature called AI HDR+ enables the front and rear cameras to combine multiple photos taken in quick succession to eliminate overexposed and backlit images. The clarity of images taken at night is also impressive with images taken in extreme low light to even have enhanced detail, colour and clarity.
An image quickly snapped at sunset, picking up the array of colours in the sky.
As a lover of Instagram, I had so much fun playing around with this phone and even found myself taking fewer shots to actually hit the one that was upload worthy. This camera was honestly made for mobile photography.
And it’s not just images that made me swoon about the Huawei P30 Pro – it’s video quality and battery life is also utterly splendid. The SuperZoom Lens allows for crisp close-ups, while the AI Video Editor enables you to add background music and special effects to your videos, allowing you to create content that can then be uploaded directly to your feed without the need for bulky equipment.
Lastly, as I said above, the battery needs a mention. Easily something that causes me daily distress as I’m constantly on my phone and never with a charger, the Huawei unlike others, doesn’t fail to keep going all day with my battery still on roughly 60 percent come 6pm after a day of constant use – what a gem.
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If you’re on the hunt for a new smartphone, this is seriously one to put on your radar even if you were once like me and blinkered to one brand, you too could find yourself pleasantly surprised.
While pricing varies by operator, the Huawei P30 Pro will be available from €79.99 on Bill Pay and €999 RRP sim free, and the P30 will be available from free on Bill Pay and €739 RRP sim free. Stockists are Vodafone, Three, eir, Carphone Warehouse, Virgin and Harvey Norman.
Huawei gave this writer the use of a P30 Pro phone on a complimentary basis in return for a review. However, the brand was told in advance that the appraisal would be an honest one, and they otherwise had no control over or input into this feature.
