Huawei has been largely absent from the U.S. smartphone market since facing sanctions under the previous Trump administration almost five years ago. However, in its home country of China, it competes frequently with Apple for the top position in the market. Apart from nationalistic appeal, Huawei’s success is driven by its phones that boast top-notch design, exceptional cameras, and unique features. These qualities are once again evident in the latest Huawei Pura 70 series launched in China, succeeding last year’s photography-centric P60 lineup.
The Huawei Pura 70 series consists of four models: the regular Pura 70, Pura 70 Pro, Pura 70 Pro+, and Pura 70 Ultra. With a focus on camera capabilities, the phones feature a distinctive triangular camera setup, while the Ultra model comes with a retractable lens for precise focusing, reminiscent of professional digital cameras.
The Pura 70 Ultra, in addition to the telescopic lens, features a 50-megapixel sensor with a large 1-inch format. Huawei claims that the Ultra has a high-speed shutter capable of capturing objects moving at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour (186mph).
Regarding the other three models, they also offer a primary camera with the same 50-megapixel resolution but in a smaller 1/1.3-inch format. All models include physical apertures that can be adjusted for light control, with the exception of the base Pura 70, which lacks this feature. Additionally, all models except the base Pura 70 are equipped with a 40MP super macro camera offering up to 35x magnification.
One notable feature of the Pura 70 Ultra is its embossed leather finish, resembling luxury handbags. The other models replicate this design using glass in various colors. All four phones boast a 6.8-inch OLED display with a dynamic refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz.
On the charging front, the Ultra, Pro+, and Pro models support 100-watt fast wired charging and 80W fast wireless charging, while the base Pura 70 model offers 66W wired charging only. The Ultra houses a slightly larger 5,200mAh battery compared to the 5,050mAh batteries in the other models. Notably, Huawei includes a charger in the box for all variants.
For storage options, the Ultra model offers up to 1TB of storage across all four variants. The top two models have 16GB of RAM, while the other two have 12GB. Internally, the phones are expected to be powered by Huawei’s latest Kirin 9010 chipset. The Ultra and Pro+ models also support dual satellite connectivity for communication in the absence of regular cellular network coverage.
On the software side, all models run on Huawei’s custom HarmonyOS 4.2, which, despite being based on an open-source version of Android, features a heavily skinned interface that draws inspiration from iOS.
In terms of pricing, the Huawei Pura 70 series commands a premium for its advanced features. The Ultra model, with its top-tier specifications, starts at 9,999 yuan (approximately $1,400), while the base Pura 70 model begins at 5,499 yuan (approximately $760). Prices may vary if the phones are launched in other markets like Eastern Europe, with a higher premium expected for the Ultra model.
Due to the U.S. sanctions, these Huawei phones are unavailable for purchase in the U.S. However, given their impressive specifications and elegant designs, many enthusiasts may still desire the Ultra model, despite the premium pricing.
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