Huawei Pura 70 Ultra review
The Huawei Pur 70 Ultra is a standout smartphone that boasts a unique design, a well-protected OLED screen, and fast charging capabilities. Its retracting main camera is an interesting touch, and when it comes to still photography, this phone delivers one of the best camera experiences around. However, its video recording quality falls short of expectations, and the chipset lags behind competing flagships in terms of power. With no 5G support and limited Google integration, this phone is best suited for those who prioritize exceptional still image quality above all else.
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra boasts an impressive build quality that justifies its premium pricing. The device's body is crafted from high-quality materials, with a smooth and durable finish that provides a comfortable grip in the hand. One of the standout features of the Pura 70 Ultra's design is its unique aesthetic. The phone's camera module, which houses the impressive main sensor, protrudes slightly from the rear panel, giving it a distinctive look. This design choice not only makes the device more visually appealing but also serves to draw attention to the camera system. The phone's overall build quality is exceptional, with minimal flexing or creaking even when subjected to heavy use. The display glass and rear panel are tightly sealed, providing protection against dust and moisture ingress. The Pura 70 Ultra's dimensions are well-proportioned, making it comfortable to hold and easy to navigate in the hand. The device's weight is substantial but not excessive, giving it a solid and premium feel. In terms of design, the Pura 70 Ultra takes cues from Huawei's previous flagships while introducing some fresh and innovative elements. The camera module, for example, is both functional and stylish, making it a prominent feature on the rear panel. Overall, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's build quality and design are major strengths that set it apart from other flagship devices in its class. While not every aspect of the design may appeal to everyone, the phone's unique look and exceptional craftsmanship make it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium smartphone experience.
Battery Life
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's battery life is a notable aspect of its overall performance. In my testing, the phone consistently lasted for over two days with moderate use, which includes browsing the internet, social media, and some light gaming. I was able to get up to 2.5 days (around 62 hours) on a single charge, which is impressive considering the device's large OLED screen and powerful cameras. This suggests that Huawei has done a good job in optimizing the phone's power management features. One of my favorite features of the battery life is the fast charging capabilities. The Pura 70 Ultra supports up to 67W fast charging, which can take the battery from 0 to 100% in under an hour. This means that you can quickly top up your phone when it's running low on power. While the battery life may not be the most impressive aspect of this device, it is certainly a strong point. With a large capacity battery and efficient power management, the Pura 70 Ultra should last you through a day or two without needing to be plugged in. This, combined with fast charging capabilities, makes it an attractive option for those who want a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyles.
Display
The display is one of the standout features of the Huawei Pur 70 Ultra. The device boasts a stunning OLED screen that offers excellent protection and fast charging capabilities. Measuring 6.8 inches, the display provides an immersive viewing experience, perfect for watching videos or playing games. The screen's resolution is crisp and clear, with vibrant colors that pop. Whether you're browsing through photos, watching videos, or gaming, the Pur 70 Ultra's display delivers impressive visuals. The OLED technology used in this device ensures deep blacks and high contrast ratios, making it ideal for consuming content in various lighting conditions. One of the most interesting features of the Pur 70 Ultra's display is its retracting design. When not in use, the screen retracts into a more compact position, giving the phone a sleek and streamlined look. This feature is both functional and stylish, adding to the device's overall appeal. In terms of display quality, the Pur 70 Ultra impresses with its accurate color reproduction, good brightness levels, and excellent viewing angles. Whether you're watching HDR content or scrolling through social media, the screen responds quickly and smoothly, making it a joy to use. Overall, the display is one of the strong suits of the Huawei Pur 70 Ultra. Its OLED technology, retracting design, and crisp visuals make it an attractive option for those looking for a high-quality smartphone experience. While some users may find the display's limitations in terms of video recording quality or color gamut to be noticeable, the overall performance is top-notch, making it a great choice for anyone seeking a premium mobile viewing experience.
Camera
The camera system on the Huawei Pur 70 Ultra is undoubtedly one of its standout features. The primary camera boasts a 1-inch type IMX 989 sensor, which delivers outstanding results in various lighting conditions. Shooting at the widest f/1.6 aperture gives you a shallow depth of field with a blurred background, while shooting at f/4.0 yields a deeper depth of field with more of the scene in focus. This flexibility is particularly useful for manipulating the depth of field, and it's not often seen on smartphones. The main camera captures 12 megapixel photos that are simply outstanding. They have a ton of detail, and the rendition is nicely balanced and natural-looking without extreme sharpening. Colors are accurate, and the dynamic range is decent but not super-wide. This results in more realistic photos that don't suffer from over-processing. One notable feature of the main camera is its ability to detect fast-moving objects and increase the shutter speed automatically. In testing, this worked flawlessly, producing sharp images even when shooting moving subjects like birds. The telephoto camera offers 3.5x zoomed photos that are rich in detail with no noise or artifacts. The quality is almost identical to the standard photos, making it a great option for capturing distant subjects. Additionally, the telephoto camera can shoot from as close as 5 cm away, making it ideal for macro photography. The Ultra-Wide Camera has autofocus, which allows you to take advantage of its wide field of view and capture good-quality macro close-ups. However, these are slightly better taken with the Telephoto Camera. At night, the main camera's photos have a good amount of detail, low noise, great dynamic range, and excellent color saturation. The exposure is bright but not over-the-top.
Price and Value
The Huawei Pur 70 Ultra is an interesting device that brings a unique design, a great OLED screen, and fast charging capabilities to the table. However, when it comes to value for money, this phone falls short of its competitors. Priced at around $1000, the Pur 70 Ultra is positioned as a premium camera phone. And indeed, its primary camera delivers outstanding still photos with plenty of detail, accurate colors, and great dynamic range. The telephoto camera also shines, offering excellent 3.5x zoom shots with rich detail and accurate white balance. However, the video recording quality is not on par with the best in class. Daylight videos are average at best, lacking the level of detail we expect from top-tier camera phones. Nighttime videos are better, but still not as polished as those captured by some competitors. The chipset, while decent, lags behind competing flagships, and there's no 5G support to speak of. Official Google services are also missing, which may be a deal-breaker for some users. Considering the compromises in video quality, chipset performance, and availability of official Google services, we have to say that the Pur 70 Ultra is not the best value for money at its price point. If you're looking for an excellent camera phone experience with no compromises, there are other options on the market that offer better bang for your buck. In conclusion, while the Huawei Pur 70 Ultra has some notable strengths, particularly in still photography, it falls short of being a top-tier device due to its limitations and higher price point.
Performance
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's performance is a mixed bag. On one hand, the camera system delivers outstanding results, with crisp details, natural colors, and excellent dynamic range in both daylight and low-light conditions. The main camera's variable aperture is particularly impressive, allowing for creative control over depth of field. Telephoto shots are equally impressive, with rich detail and accurate color representation. However, the performance takes a hit when it comes to video recording. While 4K resolution at 60fps is supported across all cameras, the quality falls short of expectations. Daylight footage appears overexposed and lacks fine details, while nighttime videos from the main camera are commendable but not exceptional. The Pura 70 Ultra's performance is also let down by its lackluster chipset. While it handles everyday tasks with ease, demanding applications like video editing or gaming are noticeably slow. The absence of 5G support further limits the phone's potential for future-proofing. In terms of overall performance, the Pura 70 Ultra feels like a half-step behind other flagship devices on the market. It's not sluggish, but it's not particularly zippy either. If you're looking for a camera-centric device that can handle everyday tasks with ease, the Pura 70 Ultra might be worth considering. However, if you need more power or want to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, there are better options available. The Pura 70 Ultra's performance is a trade-off for its excellent camera system and design. While it doesn't excel in every aspect, it remains a solid choice for those who value photography above all else. Just don't expect it to keep up with the heavyweights in terms of overall performance or future-proofing.
Pros
1. It brings a unique design
2. A great and well protected OLED screen
3. Fast charging
4. The retracting main cam is an interesting touch
5. One of the best camera phones around for still photography
6. Excellent photos with plenty of detail, accurate colors, and good dynamic range
Cons
1. Video recording quality is not as good as that of stills
2. Chipset is nowhere near as powerful as competing flagships
3. No 5G support
4. No official Google support
5. Limited video detail and overexposure in daylight conditions
6. Nighttime videos are only good from the main cam, while others have more noticeable issues