Though pricey, standout traits make this our smartphone of 2018.
Huawei has joined its top-tier rivals in selling its flagship for a premium price. The question is whether that jump
was justified – and is the Mate 20 Pro worth almost a thousand pounds?
While the budget for your daily driver may be completely personal, we can all agree that almost a grand for a phone is
steep. However, the Mate 20 Pro is a massive departure for Huawei and is the device of the year.
The handset has the typical high-end smartphone specs for running videos and social media and snapping pictures
as smooth as can be, but it has unique standout traits that make this our smartphone of the year so far. The phone can wirelessly charge another smartphone that supports wireless charging – a party trick/ lifesaver that will no doubt
come in handy on long nights out. There’s also an in-screen fingerprint sensor, super fast 3D face unlock, plus a large
4,200mAh battery and AI functions that let the phone go a day and a half without a charge. Fill your boots.
Processor: Kirin 980
Screen: 6.39 inches
Resolution: 1440 x 3120 pixels
RAM: 6GB
Internal storage: 128GB
External memory: MicroSD up to 256 GB
Water-resistance: IP68
Rear camera: 40MP, 20MP and 8MP
Front camera: 24 megapixels
Video: 4K
Battery: 4,200mAh
Connectivity: WiFi, 4G, Bluetooth, NFC
Cellular Speed: CAT 21
Dimensions: 157.8 x 72.3 x 8.6 mm
Weight: 189 grams
Representing a momentous milestone in the history of the HUAWEI Mate Series, the Mate 20 Series embodies the pinnacle of innovation. Designed with the industry’s most powerful and sophisticated process technology, the latest Huawei flagship devices set a new bar by which all 2018 smartphones will be measured.
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is powered by Huawei’s densest and highest-performing system on chip (SoC) to date’the Kirin 980. The SoC offers improved performance and unprecedented smooth user experience. The new 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, 15W HUAWEI Wireless Quick Charge and large batteries work in tandem to provide users
with the best battery life. The Matrix Camera System includes a Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens that lets users
not only see wider, but also closer with its new macro distance capability. The Hyper Optical Pattern on the glass back plays
with light and shadows, producing an iridescent optical effect that is immediately captivating. The Matrix Camera System
adopts the iconic Four-Point Design that exudes personality, giving the device a unique visual identity.
If you want a top-quality phone and you have the money, the Mate 20 Pro is a worthwhile investment. It looks the
part, with the four uniform camera lenses on the back and a smooth curved plastic body. As many have pointed out, the chassis looks like the S9 and P20 Pro smashed together in the Large Hadron Collider. That means you’ll
have a handset to turn heads, especially if you go the way of the twilight colour. As expected from Huawei, the snapper
is on point for taking crisp sunsets and highly detailed macro-shots – although it is noticeably not as good in HDR mode compared with the Pixel 3 and iPhone XS.
The Mate 20 Pro’s battery life is impressive. It can last a whole day and night, though it will understandably be gasping by the time you wake up. Nonetheless, we still had confidence in it setting off the alarm in the morning! There’s not a lot the Mate 20 gets wrong as a handset. The price would be the biggest turnoff, followed by the EMUI, Huawei’s Android
skin. The EMUI can be a bit basic and not the most appealing to look at. But it is possible to counter this with a new Android launcher and icon packs.
