Best Huawei Phones – Talk Android

But when we thought that was the end of Huawei, they bounced back in 2023 as revenue soared to $100 billion. They remain a dominant force in the smartphone industry. If you want in on HarmonyOS, their unique Kirin processors, and better synchronization between devices, here are the top Huawei phones to buy.

Huawei is different, and here’s what’s changed

Since exiting the US smartphone market, Huawei has returned with its 5G-ready Mate Pro lineup. Also, the brand is betting resources on its own operating system, ending reliance on Android. You should also expect a new processor. You’ll find the full gist below:

HarmonyOS has replaced Android

HarmonyOS is Huawei’s operating system for many gadgets, from its phones to smart TVs. It came out in 2019 and brought impressive synchronization. Through distributed databases, your devices can talk to each other simultaneously and continue each other’s tasks. Think of it on a scale of controlling your tablet from your phone or moving files from one device’s screen to another with a swipe.

HarmonyOS features its own app store, App Gallery, but it’s still growing and cannot rival the Google Play Store. Because it lacks Google apps and services, popular choices like Instagram are not readily available. Huawei has developed workarounds, redirecting users to official websites for app installations. Replacement apps for Google services include Huawei Cloud for Drive, Huawei Email for Gmail, and Huawei Browser for Chrome.

Newer smartphones post-2019 will run HarmonyOS, while older Huawei phones will continue using Android without Google Play services unless sideloaded. Access to App Gallery remains available for these devices, with select models eligible for an upgrade to the new OS.

Huawei makes its own chipsets 

Huawei produces its own system-on-a-chip (SoC) under the Hsilicon Kirin brand rather than depending completely on Qualcomm. The processors are exclusively for Huawei’s phones, and you won’t find them on third-party manufacturer products. They cater to two smartphone markets, the flagship and mid-range or high-end models.

Popular among the flagships are the Kirin 9000, Kirin 9000E, and Kirin 990 chipsets with 5G connectivity and efficient 5nm fabrication, among other perks. On the mid-range or high-end spectrum, there’s the Kirin 810 with its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) based on Huawei’s Da Vinci Architecture. It’s designed to handle AI workloads and use less energy while doing so.

Then there’s the Kirin 650 with 16 nm FinFET+ process, which improves traditional planar transistors. The Fin Field-Effect Transistor has a 3D structure with part of it sticking up from the base where current flows through. This fin reduces current leakage and provides space for more transistors. Your phone’s performance doesn’t drop nor draw too much battery. Also, your phone can accommodate extra features without needing to buy a new one with a larger chip size.

This development doesn’t mark the end of Qualcomm chipsets on Huawei phones. The Chinese company will still use them. Despite the trade restrictions, Qualcomm received permission from the US government to sell 4G chipsets to Huawei. But there’s a catch. The license only permits them to supply 4G chips.

As 5G and newer networks become more common, Huawei phones without them might have compatibility issues. You’ll find that your 4G internet connection is slower and less reliable compared to the superior networks.

The best Huawei phones at a glance

• Best Huawei phone: Huawei P60 Pro
• Best value phone: Huawei Mate 50 Pro
• Best productivity phone: Huawei Mate X3
• Best camera phone: Huawei P40 Pro
• Best budget phone: Huawei P30 Lite

Huawei P60 Pro

Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Display: 6.6-inch LTPO OLED | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage size: 256GB, 512GB | OS: EMUI 13.1 (HarmonyOS 3.1) | Cameras: 13MP ultrawide selfie, 48MP wide, 48MP telephoto, 13MP ultrawide | Battery: 4815mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: $1,190

The Mate 60 Pro is an all-rounder. In design, it maintains a sophisticated build with subtle curves at the edges. You’ll find it in striking colors of Black, Green, Violet, and Rococo Pearl if you want to make a fashion statement. The Rococo Pearl variant, in particular, catches light most, adding to its aesthetic appeal. 

The display is a large 6.67-inch LTPO OLED screen with Kunlun Glass protection. Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset pairing with 12GB RAM. The triple rear camera combination includes a 48MP wide lens, a 48MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultrawide lens. When you’re capturing photos of scenic landscapes or zooming in on distant subjects, the P60 Pro delivers every time. 

The battery capacity is 4815mAh battery, a generous amount that places it among the top performing smartphones. With support for fast 88W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, you’ll hardly run out juice. More interesting is the presence of reverse wireless charging. You can use your phone as a powerbank for other devices, particularly useful in emergencies.

Huawei Mate 50 Pro

Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G | Display: 6.7-inch OLED | RAM: 8GB | Storage size: 256GB, 512GB | OS: EMUI 13 (HarmonyOS 3.0) | Cameras: 13MP ultrawide selfie, 50MP wide, 64MP periscope telephoto, 13MP ultrawide | Battery: 4700 | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: $890

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro has a large 6.74-inch curved OLED display. When you expand videos or photos to full screen, their quality shines at the maximum. The screen runs smoothly on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and 8GB of RAM. 

We’d expected Huawei to use its Kirin chipsets, but they decided to stick with Qualcomm. The company still has a licence to supply Huawei afterall, but they’re limited to 4G capability. So there’s the drawback of not having the latest mobile network speeds.

Unlike most flagships, this one doesn’t use anything like Corning’s scratch resistant glasses. In fact, its Kunlun glass display is much stronger and almost unbreakable. During a concrete drop test from waist height, it survived a few scrapes on the curved edges and the frame’s corners. The phone is also IP68 dust and water resistant, making it not only stylish but durable. 

The triple rear camera system is a key attraction, featuring a 50MP main lens, 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 13MP selfie camera on the front with a depth-sensing TOF 3D sensor, enhancing background separation for more natural results. No more awkward blurring of body parts in bokeh mode. 

Huawei Mate X3

Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G | Display: 6.4-inches (folded), 7.8-inches (unfolded) | RAM: 8GB, 12GB | Storage size: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | OS: EMUI 13.1 (HarmonyOS 3.1) | Cameras: 2x 8MP wide selfie, 50MP wide, 12MP periscope telephoto, 13MP ultrawide | Battery: 4800mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C | Price: 

The Huawei Mate X2 stands out as an exceptional phone for productivity and multitasking. It’s primarily because of its expansive 7.8-inch OLED foldable display. It gives you space for running multiple apps in split-screen mode and viewing documents in full detail. 

Surprisingly, the crease in the middle isn’t so visible — but the bezels are distracting for anyone who’s a sucker for wide screens. The screen refresh rate reaches 120Hz, surpassing its predecessor with 90Hz, the Mate X2. The drawback is that the higher refresh rate hurts battery life, as seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and similar phones.

A 50-megapixel main sensor leads the quad-camera system, along with a periscope-style telephoto lens offering 5x zoom, ultrawide and wide sensors. Additionally, the device carries a 4,500mAh battery and supports fast charging for comfortable use throughout the day. 

Huawei P40 Pro

Processor: Huawei Kirin 990 5G | Display: 6.5-inches OLED | RAM: 8GB | Storage size: | OS: EMUI 10.1 (based on Android 10) | Cameras: 32MP wide selfie, 50MP wide, 12MP periscope telephoto, 40MP ultrawide | Battery: 4200mAh | Earphone jack: USB Type-C| Price: $789

The Huawei P40 Pro delivers outstanding image quality through a 50MP main sensor. Coupled with that is 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom capabilities for capturing distant objects without losing clarity. Huawei’s collaboration with Leica also means that the 40MP ultrawide lens retains colors and minimizes distortion. Capturing group photos or scenic landscapes becomes easier, and the shots won’t have warped or stretched edges. 

All lenses have optical image stabilization, so your photos and videos will be sharp and clear, even if your hands are a bit shaky. The P40 Pro also supports recording in 4K at 60 frames per second, along with HDR support.

AI features like scene recognition, night mode, and portrait mode assist you in shooting like a professional. For example, night mode pushes through the limitations of dim environments, and portrait mode creates blurred backgrounds to make subjects stand out.

Huawei P30 Lite

Processor: Kirin 710 (12nm) | Display: IPS LCD | RAM: 4GB, 8GB, 6GB | Storage size: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | OS: EMUI 10 (based on Android 9 Pie) | Cameras: 24MP wide selfie, 48MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth | Battery: 3340mAh | Earphone jack: 3.5mm | Price: 

The P30 Lite has a simple design. But it’s way too simple for anything reaching $279, from the LCD display, plastic frame, and a circle fingerprint sensor on the back. If you cough out a few extra dollars, you could get a mid-range phone with more offerings in the A series.

If you’re switching from phones like that to this model, you will notice the shortcomings. The display doesn’t offer the same vibrancy and viewing angles as newer AMOLED panels on most expensive Huawei phones, but it does make for a compact phone. It doesn’t stretch beyond 6.1-inch, allowing it to comfortably sit in your hands. 

It stays true to Huawei’s processor, spotting the Kirin 710, and the Mali-G51 means you get the most out of games like Minecraft (on the lowest setting). The phone comes preinstalled with EMUI 10, which is based on Android 9 Pie. You won’t get the latest features and security updates, but it has full Android access to Google Play Services. Basically, Huawei has licence to use the OS for pre-existing devices before the US sanction.

The P30 Lite also offers a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. But expect the older Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2 standards. The 3340mAh battery capacity leaves much to be desired, but its support for 18W fast charging makes up for it.

You’re one step away from your Huawei phone

If you’ve made the decison to buy a Huawei phone, get the Huawei P60 Pro for a balanced performance every aspect. If you don’t want much out of a phone, the P30 Lite model is satisfactory. Remember; HarmonyOS doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store. Although App Gallery doesn’t leave you completely stranded, it’s not the same as Google’s comprehensive store with almost everything you need.

If phone software is a big deal for you, you’ll want to check out other brands to find your ideal device. To start, Samsung phones run an OS that’s not 100% Android, but they offer great value and an iconic OneUI skin. They’re on the high-end side, but you’ll find fairly budget options around $299. Plus, they’re recognized worldwise.