Huawei Mate 50 Pro

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is available in Qatar at varying prices depending on the storage capacity. The 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant is priced at QAR 3,899, while the 8GB RAM + 512GB storage option costs QAR 4,299.

The phone comes in four color options: Black, Silver, Purple, and Orange.

Huawei Mate 50 Pro Specifications

Feature	Specification
Display	6.74″ OLED, 1212 x 2616 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4G only)
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB / 512GB, expandable via NM card
Main Camera	50MP (f/1.4-f/4.0) + 64MP (3.5x zoom) + 13MP (ultrawide)
Front Camera	13MP + 3D depth sensor
Battery	4700mAh, 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging
Operating System	EMUI 13 (based on Android, without Google services)

 

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro was released on September 28, 2022. It stands out with its variable aperture main camera, which can adjust between f/1.4 and f/4.0, allowing for greater control over depth of field and low-light performance. The phone also features a durable Kunlun Glass display and IP68 water and dust resistance.

Camera Capabilities

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts a powerful camera system. Its main 50MP sensor uses RYYB color filter array technology, which helps capture more light. The 64MP periscope telephoto lens offers 3.5x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom.

The 13MP ultrawide camera provides a 120-degree field of view, ideal for landscape shots. For selfies, the 13MP front camera is paired with a 3D depth sensor for improved portrait mode effects and secure face unlock.

Performance and Battery Life

Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, the Mate 50 Pro delivers strong performance for everyday tasks and gaming. However, due to US restrictions, it lacks 5G connectivity.

The 4700mAh battery supports 66W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging, providing all-day battery life for most users. Huawei claims the phone can reach a 50% charge in just 20 minutes with the included charger.

Software and User Experience

The Mate 50 Pro runs on EMUI 13, Huawei’s custom Android-based operating system. While it offers a smooth and feature-rich experience, it lacks Google Mobile Services, including the Google Play Store.

Users must rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and third-party app stores for applications. This limitation may be a significant drawback for some potential buyers who heavily rely on Google’s ecosystem.

Comparison with Other Smartphones

When compared to its predecessor, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro, the Mate 50 Pro offers several improvements. These include a more advanced camera system with variable aperture, a slightly larger display, and a newer processor. However, the lack of 5G support in the Mate 50 Pro is a step back from the 5G-capable Mate 40 Pro.

In the same price range, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra offers similar premium build quality and camera capabilities, with the added benefit of S Pen support and full access to Google services. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, while more expensive, provides comparable performance and camera quality, along with the iOS ecosystem.

The OnePlus 11 5G offers similar performance at a lower price point, with the advantage of 5G connectivity and OxygenOS, which many users prefer for its clean interface. The Google Pixel 7 Pro offers exceptional camera performance and the purest Android experience for those who can import it.

Compared to mid-range options like the Realme GT Neo 3 or the Oppo Reno8 Pro, the Mate 50 Pro justifies its higher price with superior build quality, camera performance, and overall user experience. However, these mid-range devices offer 5G connectivity and full Google services support, which may be more important to some users than the Mate 50 Pro’s advanced camera system.

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro faces strong competition from devices like the Xiaomi 12 Pro and the Vivo X80 Pro, which offer similar flagship specifications and camera capabilities, often at slightly lower prices. These alternatives also come with full Google services support, making them more appealing to users deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

When considering older flagship models, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro offers a similar premium experience at a lower price point. However, it shares the same limitation of lacking Google services and has an older processor and camera system. The Mate 50 Pro’s improvements in camera technology and overall performance may justify the price difference for photography enthusiasts and power users.

In the mid-range segment, phones like the Nokia X30 5G or the Infinix Zero Ultra offer 5G connectivity and decent performance at much lower prices. While they can’t match the Mate 50 Pro’s camera capabilities or build quality, they provide better value for budget-conscious consumers who prioritize 5G and Google services over cutting-edge camera technology.

The Tecno Phantom X2 Pro and the Realme GT2 Pro are other alternatives worth considering. They offer flagship-level performance and impressive camera setups at competitive prices. While they may not match the Mate 50 Pro’s variable aperture camera or build quality, they provide a more balanced package with 5G support and full access to Google services.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro features a premium design with a glass back (or vegan leather in the orange variant) and an aluminum frame. The front of the device is dominated by a curved 6.74-inch OLED display, which offers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The display is protected by Huawei’s Kunlun Glass, which the company claims is ten times more drop-resistant than standard glass.

The phone’s rear is highlighted by a large, circular camera module that houses the triple-lens setup. This design element gives the Mate 50 Pro a distinctive look compared to other smartphones on the market. The device is available in four colors: Black, Silver, Purple, and Orange, with the orange variant featuring a vegan leather back for a unique texture and grip.

With dimensions of 162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm and a weight of 205 grams (209 grams for the vegan leather version), the Mate 50 Pro is a substantial device. However, its curved edges and balanced weight distribution make it comfortable to hold for extended periods.

The phone’s build quality is top-notch, with tight tolerances between materials and a solid feel in hand. It also boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes. This is particularly impressive for the orange vegan leather version, which maintains the same level of water resistance as the glass-backed models.

Display Technology

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro’s 6.74-inch OLED display is one of its standout features. With a resolution of 1212 x 2616 pixels, it offers a crisp and clear viewing experience with a pixel density of approximately 428 ppi. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth scrolling and fluid animations, enhancing the overall user experience.

The screen supports 1 billion colors and HDR10+, ensuring vibrant and accurate color reproduction. This makes it excellent for viewing photos, watching videos, and playing games. The peak brightness of 1200 nits ensures good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.

One unique aspect of the display is its curved edges, which extend the screen to the sides of the device. While this creates an immersive viewing experience, it may lead to accidental touches for some users. Huawei has implemented palm rejection technology to mitigate this issue, but it’s worth considering if you prefer flat displays.

The display also features an under-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. This optical sensor is fast and accurate, providing a convenient way to unlock the device and authenticate for secure apps and payments.

Performance and Hardware

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which is a high-end processor known for its strong performance and power efficiency. However, due to US restrictions, this version of the chip is limited to 4G connectivity, lacking 5G capabilities.

The processor features an octa-core CPU configuration:

• 1x Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz
• 3x Cortex-A710 performance cores clocked at 2.75 GHz
• 4x Cortex-A510 efficiency cores clocked at 2.0 GHz

This configuration allows for efficient task handling, balancing performance and power consumption. The phone also includes the Adreno 730 GPU, which provides excellent graphics performance for gaming and other visually demanding tasks.

The Mate 50 Pro comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking and app switching. Storage options include 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage, providing fast read and write speeds. The storage is expandable via Huawei’s proprietary NM (Nano Memory) card, which uses the shared SIM slot.

In terms of benchmarks, the Mate 50 Pro performs admirably:

• AnTuTu v9: Scores around 1,000,000 points
• GeekBench 5: Single-core scores of about 1,300 and multi-core scores around 4,200

These scores place it among the top-performing Android devices, though slightly behind the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered phones.

The phone’s performance is further enhanced by Huawei’s AI capabilities, which help in task scheduling and resource allocation. This contributes to a smooth and responsive user experience, even when running demanding applications or games.

However, it’s important to note that the lack of 5G support may be a significant drawback for users in areas with 5G coverage or those planning to use their device for several years as 5G networks expand.

Battery Life and Charging

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is equipped with a 4700mAh battery, which provides solid battery life for a flagship device. Despite the large, high-resolution display and powerful processor, most users can expect the phone to last through a full day of moderate to heavy use.

Charging capabilities include:

• 66W Huawei SuperCharge wired fast charging
• 50W wireless charging
• 5W reverse wireless charging

With the 66W wired charging, Huawei claims the phone can charge from 0 to 50% in about 20 minutes, and reach a full charge in under an hour. This fast charging capability is particularly useful for quick top-ups during the day.

The 50W wireless charging is also impressively fast for a wireless solution, though it requires Huawei’s proprietary wireless charger to achieve these speeds. With standard Qi wireless chargers, the charging speed will be lower.

The reverse wireless charging feature allows the Mate 50 Pro to charge other Qi-compatible devices, such as wireless earbuds or smartwatches, by placing them on the back of the phone. While not particularly fast at 5W, it’s a convenient feature for emergency charging of accessories.

Huawei has implemented several software optimizations to extend battery life:

• AI-powered battery management
• Dark mode to reduce power consumption on the OLED display
• App hibernation for rarely used applications

These features work together to maximize battery efficiency, allowing users to get the most out of the 4700mAh capacity.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro runs on EMUI 13, Huawei’s custom Android-based operating system. While it’s built on an Android core, it lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to ongoing US restrictions. This means users won’t have access to the Google Play Store, Google Maps, Gmail, or other Google apps out of the box.

Key features of EMUI 13 include:

• SuperHub: A clipboard-like feature for easy content sharing between apps
• Smart folders: Automatically categorize apps on the home screen
• Privacy Center: Centralized control over app permissions and data access
• SuperStorage: Compresses rarely used apps and files to save space

The user interface is sleek and customizable, with features like:

• Always-on display with customizable themes
• App drawer option for those who prefer it over a home screen-only layout
• Gesture navigation or traditional button navigation

To address the lack of Google services, Huawei offers its own ecosystem:

• AppGallery: Huawei’s app store with a growing selection of apps
• Petal Search: A tool to find and install apps from various sources
• Huawei Mobile Services (HMS): Alternatives to Google’s services

While the AppGallery has improved significantly, with many popular apps now available, users may still find some apps missing compared to the Google Play Store. Workarounds exist for installing some Google apps and services, but these may not be official or fully supported.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Despite lacking 5G, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro offers a range of connectivity options:

• 4G LTE with dual SIM support
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• NFC for contactless payments
• Infrared port for using the phone as a remote control

The phone also includes several sensors and features that enhance its functionality:

• In-display fingerprint sensor
• Face recognition using the 3D depth camera
• Dual-frequency GPS for improved location accuracy
• Barometer for altitude measurements

A unique feature of the Mate 50 Pro is its ability to send text messages via satellite in emergencies, even without cellular coverage. This feature is currently limited to China but showcases Huawei’s innovation in connectivity.

Audio and Multimedia Experience

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro offers a compelling audio experience with its stereo speaker setup. The speakers produce clear, loud sound with good separation, enhancing the experience of watching videos, playing games, or listening to music without headphones.

For personal audio, the phone supports:

• High-resolution audio playback
• Bluetooth audio codecs including AAC and LDAC for high-quality wireless audio

However, it’s worth noting that the Mate 50 Pro does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Users will need to rely on USB-C headphones or wireless options.

The large, high-quality OLED display makes the Mate 50 Pro excellent for multimedia consumption. The phone supports various video formats and can play HDR10+ content, offering vibrant colors and deep contrasts for supported videos.

Gaming Performance

With its powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and Adreno 730 GPU, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is well-equipped for mobile gaming. It can handle demanding titles like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9 at high settings with smooth framerates.

The 120Hz display contributes to a fluid gaming experience, while the touch sampling rate of up to 300Hz ensures responsive touch inputs, crucial for competitive gaming.

Huawei’s GPU Turbo technology optimizes game performance and power efficiency. However, the lack of Google services means some popular games available on the Play Store may not be easily accessible or may require sideloading.

Price and Value Proposition

At QAR 3,899 for the 256GB model and QAR 4,299 for the 512GB variant, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is positioned as a premium flagship device. Its pricing is comparable to other high-end smartphones from brands like Samsung and Apple.

The Mate 50 Pro offers several features that justify its price tag:

• Exceptional camera system with variable aperture
• Premium build quality with water resistance
• High-performance hardware
• Long battery life with fast charging capabilities

However, potential buyers should consider the following factors:

• Lack of 5G support
• Absence of Google Mobile Services
• Limited availability of some popular apps

For users who prioritize camera performance and are comfortable with Huawei’s ecosystem or willing to use workarounds for missing apps, the Mate 50 Pro offers good value. Its unique features, particularly in photography, set it apart from many competitors.

However, for those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem or requiring 5G connectivity, alternatives from other brands might provide better value, even if they lack some of the Mate 50 Pro’s advanced camera features.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro