Huawei Mate 50 Pro (8GB + 256GB) Review | 197 Data compared

According to a Forbes review, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is a "hardware masterpiece" notable for its variable aperture camera system, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip (limited to 4G), and premium design with a 120Hz OLED display, 3D face unlock, and IP68 water resistance. While excelling in low-light photography, its main drawbacks are the lack of Google Mobile Services and a high price tag, making it best suited for photography enthusiasts willing to work around software limitations.

The Huawei Mate50 Pro is hailed as a hardware masterpiece featuring a groundbreaking XMAGE camera system with a 10-size adjustable physical aperture and durable Kunlun Glass. A significant highlight is the integration of GBox, allowing users to run native Google apps like Maps and YouTube, effectively bypassing previous software restrictions. While praised for its premium build and exceptional photography, the device is limited by the lack of 5G connectivity, leaving users with 4G speeds.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is noted for its exceptional camera system featuring a unique physical aperture and premium hardware, but its appeal is significantly hindered by software limitations and a high price point. Key strengths include the adjustable physical aperture on the main camera for natural bokeh and excellent low-light photos, a vibrant 120Hz OLED display, fast performance, good battery life with rapid charging, and a durable IP68-rated design. However, the absence of 5G connectivity and reliance on proprietary Nano Memory cards are considered drawbacks. The primary disadvantage is the lack of Google Mobile Services, making many popular apps difficult to use and ultimately making the high price hard to justify for most users in Western markets despite the hardware quality.

NextPit reviewed the Huawei Mate 50 Pro, highlighting its premium hardware and camera system with a 10-step variable aperture as pros, but noting cons such as a dated notch design and proprietary memory format. Despite solid performance and fast charging, the review considers the device "impossible to recommend" for most users due to severe software limitations, lack of Google Mobile Services, and no 5G connectivity.

According to a Root-Nation review, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is a premium device praised for its futuristic design, durable Kunlun Glass build, long battery life, and fast charging. Its standout feature is arguably the camera system, potentially one of the best on the market, offering an adjustable physical aperture and excellent low-light performance, though the circular camera unit and large notch are noted cons. Despite strong hardware and a capable camera, significant cons include the lack of Google Mobile Services and 5G connectivity, making its high price difficult to justify for mainstream users who may need to sideload apps.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is described as a "hardware king" with advanced specifications and a premium design, featuring a 120Hz OLED display with high brightness and a powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. However, a significant drawback is its limitation to 4G connectivity and the absence of 5G at a high price point. The standout feature is the XMAGE camera system, praised as "truly outstanding" with a unique 10-step physical variable aperture on the main sensor and versatile telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. While the camera excels, the ultra-wide lens can occasionally experience focus hunting. The most critical con is the lack of Google Mobile Services and the official Play Store; while workarounds exist, they are often unreliable.

According to Tech Advisor, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro features world-class hardware but is hampered by significant software limitations, making it difficult to recommend to most users. Pros include a stunning design, a 6.74-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a versatile XMAGE camera system with a unique mechanical variable aperture and 3D face unlocking. However, the device lacks 5G and official Google services due to restrictions, with workarounds deemed unreliable; many apps are missing from the AppGallery, and there is limited software support.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is presented as a device with premium hardware but significant software limitations. The phone features a vibrant 120Hz OLED display, a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset for smooth performance (though limited to 4G), and praised build quality with a tactile vegan leather back. Its standout feature is the XMAGE camera system with a mechanical variable aperture, providing professional control over depth of field and resulting in outstanding photography, particularly in low light. Key pros highlighted include the stunning display, top-tier camera, excellent weight distribution, and exceptionally fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. However, major cons are the absence of Google services, which remains a significant hurdle for many users, and the lack of 5G connectivity. Minor criticisms include a large display notch and occasional focus issues with the ultrawide lens.

The ZDNET review describes the Huawei Mate 50 Pro as a top-tier flagship that balances exceptional hardware against significant software limitations. The standout feature is the XMAGE camera system, featuring the world's first 10-size adjustable physical aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0) for precise, natural control over background blur and superior low-light performance. Key advantages include a 6.74-inch 120Hz OLED display protected by durable Kunlun Glass, along with the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The device boasts strong battery life, clocking over 15 hours in tests, supported by 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, as well as a unique "Low-Battery Emergency Mode". However, the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) and 5G connectivity, combined with a premium price of around €1,199, makes it difficult to recommend for users outside China. Although the AppGallery has grown, these omissions "hamper" the overall value proposition compared to fully-featured competitors.