Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Review: Exceptional Mobile Photography with Advanced Camera System

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is the flagship model from the renowned yet embattled Chinese tech giant, leading the charge in their newly branded Photography series. With its innovative Kirin 9010 chipset and top-tier technology, this device aims to redefine mobile photography. Despite the P series rebranding to Pura, Huawei’s commitment to delivering exceptional on-the-go photography remains unchanged. Central to this promise is the impressive triple camera setup on the back of the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, warranting a closer look.

Specifications and Unboxing

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra features a cutting-edge 50MP 1″ Sony IMX989 sensor with sensor-shift stabilization and a variable aperture high-end lens. This is complemented by a 40MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and a 50MP telephoto camera offering 3.5x optical zoom and up to 10x hybrid zoom. For selfies, the 13MP front camera with an ultrawide-angle lens and autofocus is promising.

Aesthetically, the Pura 70 Ultra impresses with a curved design, an eco-leather back, a futuristic camera housing, and vibrant colors. It boasts a durable build with Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass over the screen, an aluminum frame, and IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED screen offers a resolution of 1260p, 1B colors, and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device is powered by the Kirin 9010 chipset and a 5,200mAh battery capable of 100W wired, 80W wireless, and 20W reverse wireless charging.

Key Specifications

Body: 162.6×75.1×8.4mm, 226g; Glass front, aluminum frame, eco-leather back; IP68 dust/water resistant.

Display: 6.80″ LTPO OLED, 1260x2844px resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 2500 nits peak brightness.

Chipset: Kirin 9010 (7 nm) with Octa-core CPU.

Memory: 256GB/16GB RAM, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1TB/16GB RAM.

OS: HarmonyOS 4.2.

Rear Camera: 50 MP main, 50 MP telephoto, 40 MP ultrawide.

Front Camera: 13 MP.

Battery: 5200mAh; 100W wired, 80W wireless, 20W reverse wireless.

Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Infrared port.

Miscellaneous: Under-display fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, BDS Satellite Calling and Messaging.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is a striking device with its curved panels, large screen, and unique back panel design dominated by a prominent camera housing. The Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass, exclusive to the Ultra model, offers superior scratch and drop resistance. The frame is polished aluminum, and the back is eco-leather, both featuring a 2.5D curvature.

The large camera housing accommodates the retractable primary camera lens, helping to manage the size without compromising safety. Available in white, brown, and black, the device also features a 6.8-inch X-True Display LTPO OLED screen with thin bezels and a small perforation for the selfie camera.

Despite its weight and size, the Pura 70 Ultra offers excellent grip and handling, making it a standout in day-to-day use.

Display

The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display of the Pura 70 Ultra offers a resolution of 1260p, dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 2,500 nits of peak brightness. The Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass adds to the screen’s durability, being 300% tougher than regular Kunlun Glass.

In our tests, the display showed impressive brightness levels and solid performance across various tasks. The refresh rate options include Standard (60Hz), High (120Hz), and Dynamic (auto-switch up to 120Hz), adapting well to different apps and content.

Battery Life and Charging

The 5,200mAh battery of the Pura 70 Ultra delivers robust performance, supported by the energy-efficient LTPO OLED screen and Kirin chipset. It scored well in our battery tests, particularly excelling in call and video streaming.

The included 100W charger and cable offer fast charging, achieving 90% battery in just 30 minutes and a full charge in 48 minutes. The device also supports 80W wireless charging and 20W reverse wireless charging.

Software: EMUI 14.2 / Harmony OS 4.2

The global version of Huawei’s OS, EMUI 14.2, based on HarmonyOS 4.2, brings new interactive themes, enhanced Celia assistant features, and improved security. It supports APK installations through Huawei’s AppGallery and other repositories, with workarounds like GBox enabling Google app functionality.

EMUI 14.2 offers familiar features such as large folders, widgets, air gestures, and smart sensing. It includes default apps like Gallery, Music, Video, Health, File Manager, Smart Remote, Petal Maps, and Petal Search. While AppGallery’s ads can be intrusive, overall app support is broad.

Performance and Benchmarks

The Kirin 9010 chipset powers the Pura 70 Ultra, featuring an 8-core CPU and HiSilicon Maleoon 910 MP4 GPU. While its performance aligns with upper mid-range chipsets, it falls short of recent flagship Snapdragon models. The device handles everyday tasks and gaming well, though it can warm up during intensive use.

Despite having a 5G modem, the Pura 70 Ultra is limited to 4G in Europe.

Camera

The Pura 70 Ultra’s camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with a retractable lens, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 40MP ultrawide lens. The main camera’s variable aperture and XD Motion engine enhance its versatility, while the telephoto lens also doubles as a macro shooter. The ultrawide lens offers autofocus and macro capabilities.

The 13MP front camera supports autofocus and offers three crop modes for versatile selfies.

Pros

• Great design and build quality.
• Excellent OLED display with HDR and high brightness.
• Good battery life with fast charging options.
• Outstanding photo quality.

Cons

• No Google Mobile Services, with some apps not working despite workarounds.
• Mid-range chipset performance at a flagship price.
• No 5G in Europe.
• Mediocre overall video recording quality.

In conclusion, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is an impressive flagship with standout photography features, a robust design, and solid performance. While it faces challenges with Google services and 5G limitations, it remains a compelling option for photography enthusiasts and those seeking a premium smartphone experience.