[UPDATE] Huawei P10 and P10 Plus to come in EIGHT colors, Malaysian launch date confirmed!

The Huawei P10 and P10 Plus has finally been announced at MWC 2017, and Huawei has taken a step further with their strategic partnerships with Leica and also Pantone Color Institute to bring a device that literally blows our mind.

First off, the Huawei P10’s Leica Dual-Camera 2.0. From their partnership with Leica since the Huawei P9, Huawei flagships have enjoyed Leica’s input on the camera. This time, the Huawei P10 will feature a 20MP monochrome sensor paired with a 12MP RGB sensor with Leica Summarit-H F/2.2 lenses. The larger Huawei P10 Plus will feature an even more impressive Leica Dual Camera 2.0 Pro which features stunning Summilux-H F/1.8 lenses. This promises better performance in low-light conditions as more light reaches the sensor through a wider aperture.

The optics are not the only things that have improved over yesteryear’s P9, as an all new precise 3D facial detection technology that leverages 190 detailed identification nodes for quicker, more accurate feature recognition for better portrait shots.  A new smart imaging algorithm was created to apply studio-like re-lighting and beautifying effects for radiant portraits. A new depth-of-field algorithm is also in play, a natural bokeh effect creates sharper, clearer and more vivid colors in the foreground, while the background remains elegantly blurred. The natural bokeh effect is available in the RGB and monochrome modes, and can be refocused after the image is taken.

Previous smartphones from the Chinese company only made use of Leica’s expertise on the rear camera, but the Huawei P10 series adds a 8 MP Leica front camera with a F/1.9 aperture for exceptional selfies. It can even automatically switch to wide-angle mode when it detects many people in the shot.

Via their partnership with Pantone Color Institute, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus will be made available in a slew of unique colors and finishes to reflect your unique personality. The Hyper Diamond-Cut finish will be available in Dazzling Blue and Dazzling Gold. Greenery, Rose Gold, Mystic Silver, Graphite Black and Prestige Gold will be available with a sandblast finish, and Ceramic White will be available in high gloss. In addition to a colorful metal finish for a minimalistic, clean design, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus’ fingerprint sensor is now on the front of the phone and lies under one continuous pane of glass. The fingerprint sensor replaces the navigation bar making the screen view bigger, while also making smart touch navigation gestures faster and more ergonomic. Design wise, the P10 series is simply faultless.

Moving on, the performance of the Huawei P10 series will be courtesy of the Kirin 960 SoC which is developed in-house. Mated to the powerful processor is 4GB RAM for the Huawei P10, and a choice of either 4GB or 6GB for the P10 Plus. EMUI 5.1 builds upon EMUI 5.0 with Huawei Ultra Memory layered upon the machine learning algorithm for optimal management of RAM, for superb fluidity in multitasking and quick app loading times. Through machine learning, the Huawei P10 smartphones can also learn and anticipate users’ behavior, improving performance and extending battery life. Speaking of which, the Huawei P10 will feature a 3200 mAh battery, while the P10 Plus packs a 3750 mAh battery. Both devices will sport Huawei SuperCharge technology which pumps 5V/4.5A to your device for faster charging without the heat usually associated with quick charging technologies.

Pricing for the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus in Europe are as follows:

Worry not though as the Huawei Mate 9 is retailing for less here in Malaysia than when it was first launched in Europe, so while the price tag may shock you, the official RRP here in Malaysia may be more palatable. Malaysia has been listed as one of the countries where the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus will be available beginning in March 2017, so do look out for updates from us about the price and availability!

[UPDATE] : The Huawei P10 series launch in Malaysia is CONFIRMED to be on 8th March, so stay tuned!

Pokdepinion: So many colors, but there is no red… The front fingerprint sensor looks cool and all being part of the same sheet of glass, but I still prefer having one on the back. Since this one replaces the navigation buttons, I might find it acceptable too. But that will have to wait until I get my hands on one.