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Here’s all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+
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Here’s all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+

by Vyncent ChanMarch 26, 2020
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As members of the HUAWEI P-series, you would expect that the HUAWEI P40 series will feature a strong emphasis on its camera department. And you would be spot on because the HUAWEI P40 series comes with the best cameras they have ever put into a smartphone, and they even highlighted the camera very apparently on the back of the device.

Here’s a recap of the global launch event, in case you would rather watch a video than read about it:

Three models, three different camera configurations

So unlike previous years, the HUAWEI P40 series comes with three members: the HUAWEI P40, HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+. Between these three devices, the main difference would be their camera configurations. Most of what was leaked yesterday were revealed to be true, although the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ eluded us. So here are the main differences in the camera hardware:

HUAWEI P40 HUAWEI P40 Pro HUAWEI P40 Pro+
Main camera 50MP f/1.9, UltraVision RYYB sensor, 1/1.28″ sensor
(23 mm eqv. focal length)
50MP f/1.9, UltraVision RYYB sensor, OIS, 1/1.28″ sensor
(23 mm eqv. focal length)
50MP f/1.9, UltraVision RYYB sensor, OIS, 1/1.28″ sensor
(23 mm eqv. focal length)
Ultra-wide camera 16MP f/2.2
(17 mm eqv. focal length)
*supports macro from as close as 2.5cm
40MP f/1.8, SuperSensing RGGB 1/1.54″ 3:2 sensor
(18 mm eqv. focal length)
40MP f/1.8, SuperSensing RGGB 1/1.54″ 3:2 sensor
(18 mm eqv. focal length)
Telephoto 8MP f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS
(80 mm eqv. focal length)
12MP f/3.4, RYYB sensor, 5x optical periscope zoom, OIS
(125 mm eqv. focal length)
8MP f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS
(80 mm eqv. focal length)
Secondary telephoto N/A N/A 8MP f/4.4, 10x periscope optical zoom, OIS
(240 mm eqv. focal length)
3D ToF Camera N/A Yes Yes

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 30

The HUAWEI P40’s camera setup is pretty much identical to the one in the HUAWEI Mate 30, while the HUAWEI P40 Pro shares more in common with the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro, with the exception of the much improved zoom camera. HUAWEI actually went the distance to source a 12MP RYYB sensor for the HUAWEI P40 Pro’s telephoto camera though, which should promise improved low-light performance.

And while the HUAWEI P30 series faced complaints of inaccurate white balance due to its SuperSpectrum sensor, the HUAWEI P40 will strive to deliver more precise white balance with an AI Auto White Balance (AWB) algorithm paired with a multi-spectrum color temperature sensor that can feed the algorithm with 8 color channels versus the 3 color channels that typical color temperature sensors can identify.

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 31

Meanwhile, the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ sports the most impressive camera array with five cameras in total covering a range of 0.8x to 10x zoom, although it does miss out on the fancy new RYYB sensor in the telephoto camera. The 10x zoom module in the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ features multiple prisms to allow HUAWEI to cram such a long zoom into the limited space in the HUAWEI P40 Pro+.

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 32

In terms of software, HUAWEI is debuting the HUAWEI Golden Snap feature which throws in more AI features such as AI Remove Reflection, AI Best Moment and AI Remove Passerby to improve your images. The names are pretty self-explanatory. There’s also something HUAWEI calls XD Fusion Image Engine which can use data from multiple cameras to create better images especially when software-based bokeh is applied.

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 33

The HUAWEI P40 series will all feature 32MP selfie cameras aided by an IR Depth sensor which lets you take better bokeh-enhanced selfies and also enables low-light facial unlocking. The HUAWEI P40 comes with a 32MP f/2.0 fixed-focus selfie camera, while the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 pro+ comes with 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera with autofocus.

Stunning new colors, ceramic is now an option

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 34

Well, ceramic is not really an option if you don’t pick the HUAWEI P40 Pro+. Only the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ is offered in Black and White with a nano-tech ceramic back. Meanwhile the HUAWEI P40 and HUAWEI P40 Pro come in Silver Frost, Blush Gold, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White and of course, the classic Black. All the finishes are matte, which is a nice touch for those who just hate wiping off fingerprints. Of course, you will most probably slap it into a case anyway.

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 35

Aside from the new colors, the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ and HUAWEI P40 Pro will feature a new 6.58″ Quad Curve Overflow Display. From the renders and product photos, it’s obvious that the display doesn’t curve nearly as sharply as the Horizon Display in the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro. In fact it doesn’t even look nearly as curved as the HUAWEI P30 Pro’s panel. It does look very sleek though and hopefully we can get a better idea of how it feels when we finally get our hands on a review unit. Speaking of feeling the device, the displays in the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ run at up 90 Hz for a more fluid user experience.

Here's all you need to know about the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ 36

The display of the HUAWEI P40 is decidedly more boring, as it comes with a flat 6.1″ FHD+ OLED screen that sports a 60 Hz refresh rate instead.

5G across the board and 40W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge

HUAWEI has equipped all three members of the HUAWEI P40 series with the Kirin 990 5G, which means that they are currently running the fastest chipset HUAWEI has to offer. It also means that all of them come with 5G connectivity, which is important as 5G deployment is expected to ramp up in 2020. Aside from that, it might also mean that TSMC has managed to improve the yields on its 7nm+ EUV process to supply enough Kirin 990 5G chips to power the entire HUAWEI P40 series, but I digress.

All three models also get 8GB RAM, although the HUAWEI P40 only gets 128GB storage, while the HUAWEI P40 Pro makes do with 256GB and the range-topping P40 Pro+ gets 512GB. All of them are support expansion via NM cards though, so you should be fine even if you use the cameras extensively.

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HUAWEI also made sure that all the HUAWEI P40 smartphones will have fast charging, although to varying degrees. While the HUAWEI Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro featured identical support for fast charging, the HUAWEI P40 series is a lot more staggered. Here goes:

  • HUAWEI P40: 22.5W HUAWEI SuperCharge
  • HUAWEI P40 Pro: 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, 27W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge
  • HUAWEI P40 Pro+: 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, 40W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge

HUAWEI finally managed to cram in 40W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge in the HUAWEI P40 Pro and I do believe that they went with two wireless charging coils, if the renders in the presentation slides are to be believed. Despite all that, they managed to cram the same 4200 mAh battery found in the HUAWEI P40 Pro into the HUAWEI P40 Pro+, but the HUAWEI P40 gets a smaller 3800 mAh unit.

Pricing and Availability

The HUAWEI P40 and P40 Pro will be available in the EU starting 7th April, while the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ is expected to arrive later in June 2020. Pricing are as follows:

  • HUAWEI P40: €799 (~RM3832)
  • HUAWEI P40 Pro: €999 (~RM4791)
  • HUAWEI P40 Pro+: €1399 (~RM6709)

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Malaysian availability and pricing has yet to be confirmed, although you can safely expect it to be less than the EU’s pricing. What do you think of the HUAWEI P40 Series?

Pokdepinion: I am most intrigued by the RYYB telephoto camera to be honest. Telephoto cameras are often the weakest link, so if HUAWEI managed to solve it in the HUAWEI P40 Pro, that would be great.

About The Author
Vyncent Chan
Technology enthusiast, casual gamer, pharmacy graduate. Strongly opposes proprietary standards and always on the look out for incredible bang-for-buck.

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