Huawei P20 Smartphone Review and Options

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Flat lay of Huawei electronic devices showcasing sleek design and advanced technology.
Credit: pexels.com, Flat lay of Huawei electronic devices showcasing sleek design and advanced technology.

The Huawei P20 is a powerful and feature-rich smartphone that's definitely worth considering. It features a 5.68-inch OLED display, perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

The P20's camera system is one of its standout features, with a 12-megapixel primary sensor, 20-megapixel secondary sensor, and a 3D modeling camera. This combination allows for impressive low-light performance and advanced features like 3D modeling.

The phone's battery life is also impressive, with a 3400mAh battery that easily lasts a full day. You can even expect to get a full day's use with moderate usage.

One of the key benefits of the P20 is its affordability, with a price point that's significantly lower than some of its competitors.

Consider reading: LG Optimus 3D

Device Specifications

The Huawei P20 has a metal chassis and glass backing, available in various color finishes.

The P20 features a 5.8-inch LCD panel with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio "FullView" display and a notch at the top-centre.

Credit: youtube.com, HUAWEI P20 Lite Device Specification – Check Phone Specification

It has a fingerprint reader on the front that can also be used for gesture navigation.

The P20 has 128 GB of non-expandable internal storage and 4 GB of RAM.

The battery capacity is 3320 mAh, and it does not support wireless charging.

The P20 has a USB-C port and does not include a headphone jack.

The rear-facing Leica camera on the P20 features a 12-megapixel color sensor.

The P20 Pro has a 6.1-inch AMOLED panel, 4000 mAh battery, and 6 GB of RAM.

It also features two rear-facing Leica cameras, including a 40-megapixel wide-angle IMX600 sensor and an 8-megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom.

The 24-megapixel front-facing camera also uses Light Fusion.

Performance and Reception

The Huawei P20 Pro's performance was a mixed bag. CNET noted that its Kirin 970 system-on-chip was comparable to the Snapdragon 835, but slightly behind the Exynos 9810 of the Samsung Galaxy S9 on CPU benchmarks. This put it on par with some of its competitors, but not necessarily ahead.

Credit: youtube.com, Huawei P20 Review: Overshadowed by the Pro?

The phone's cameras were a major highlight, with DxOMark praising its "shockingly impressive low-light performance" and "long-exposure 'Night' mode that somehow manages to produce handheld photos that remain sharp, accurate, and practically noise-free". This was a major innovation in mobile imaging at the time.

In terms of display, The Verge noted that the P20 Pro's display was competitive with those of the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, and included display temperature adjustment based on lighting conditions.

Reception

The Huawei P20 Pro received praise for its design, with CNET noting that its "Twilight" color finish was reminiscent of phones from the early 2000s, but its glass backing was likely to attract fingerprints.

The phone's cameras were deemed to be competitive with other high-end devices, with low-light images being "consistently detailed" and having quality that exceeded those of the Samsung Galaxy S9+. DxOMark even gave it a score of 109, the highest score the site had ever awarded, praising its cameras for being "the biggest innovation we have seen in mobile imaging for quite some time".

Top-down view of two modern smartphones with home screens displayed on a textured surface.
Credit: pexels.com, Top-down view of two modern smartphones with home screens displayed on a textured surface.

The P20 Pro's cameras were also praised for their ability to produce handheld photos that remain sharp, accurate, and practically noise-free in low light, thanks to its long-exposure "Night" mode. However, some reviewers noted that the automatic enhancement mode often resulted in oversaturated and unnatural-looking photos.

The phone's display was considered to be competitive with those of the iPhone X and Galaxy S9, with The Verge noting its inclusion of display temperature adjustment based on lighting conditions, similar to Apple's "True Tone" feature.

Software

The P20 ships with Android 8.1 "Oreo" with Google Mobile Services and Huawei's EMUI interface and software suite.

This operating system provides a solid foundation for the phone's performance. Android 8.1 "Oreo" is a reliable and efficient operating system that offers a smooth user experience.

In December 2018, Huawei began rolling out an upgrade to Android 9.0 "Pie" with EMUI 9.0, adding features such as screen gesture-based navigation, Digital Balance, HiVision, and Password Vault.

These updates bring a range of benefits, including improved performance and new features to enhance the user experience.

Broaden your view: Sony Xperia X Performance

Comparison and Options

Credit: youtube.com, Huawei P20 vs. Huawei P20 Lite: Small Overview (Comparing Size, CPU, Camera, Battery etc.)

The Huawei P20 is a great option for those looking for a high-end smartphone, but it's not the only choice.

It's worth comparing the P20 to other flagship devices on the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Google Pixel 2 XL.

In terms of display, the P20's 5.8-inch OLED screen is a standout feature, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider the P20 Lite, which offers similar specs at a lower price point.

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The Huawei P20's camera is a standout feature, especially when shooting portraits. It switches into Portrait mode and produces great shots with a noticeable bokeh effect.

The phone's video capabilities are also impressive, with a feature called AIS (Artificial Intelligence/Image Stabilisation) for image stabilization.

The front-facing camera is quite generous, offering 24 MP at f/2.0.

The P20's performance is quick and responsive, thanks to its octa-core 2.4GHz HiSilicon Kirin 970 chip and 4 GB of RAM.

The phone's operating system is EMUI 8.1, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, which looks more like the stock version of Android than ever.

Additional reading: Samsung Galaxy A6 / A6+

Alternative Variants

Top view of two Huawei smartphones, one black and one white, on a concrete surface.
Credit: pexels.com, Top view of two Huawei smartphones, one black and one white, on a concrete surface.

In some cases, you might be interested in alternatives to the main variant of a product. One such alternative is the Dual SIM option.

The Dual SIM variant allows you to use two different SIM cards at the same time.

This feature is particularly useful for people who need to switch between different phone plans or networks.

Here are some key differences between the main variant and the Dual SIM alternative:

Overall, the Dual SIM variant offers more flexibility and convenience for certain users.

Verdict and Evaluation

The Huawei P20 has its high points, but it falls short of competing with the best flagships of 2018.

The camera is one of the standout features, but it seems the P20 Pro is doing a better job of competing with the top flagships.

The back of the P20 has a unique design, with the lenses on the right replacing the viewfinder, giving it a traditional landscape-oriented camera look.

You can use the volume keys as shutter buttons, which is a decent alternative to a hardware shutter button.

Pros and Cons

Credit: youtube.com, Huawei P20 Review - My Experience - Pros and Cons

The Huawei P20 has its share of good and not-so-good features. One of its standout features is the great camera, which is definitely a plus.

The phone also comes with a big battery that has lots of stamina, making it last longer than you might expect. And, if you're not a fan of notches, you can opt for a version without one.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. For one, there's no headphone jack, which might be a disappointment for some users. Additionally, the phone lacks wireless charging and water resistance, which are features you might find on other devices.

Pros

The Huawei P20 has some amazing features. The camera is a standout, offering top-notch quality.

One of the things I love about the P20 is its battery life. With a big battery and lots of stamina, you can use your phone all day without needing to recharge.

Here are some of the key pros of the P20:

  • Great camera
  • Big battery with lots of stamina
  • Optional (ish) notch

The P20's design is also a major plus. The glass-backed handset comes in a range of stylish gradient finishes or more subtle colors.

Cons

Stylish Huawei Smartphones on Wooden Surface
Credit: pexels.com, Stylish Huawei Smartphones on Wooden Surface

The Huawei P20 is a great phone, but it has its downsides. One major con is that it hasn't moved far enough from the P10 to be a properly enticing buy for 2018.

The phone's features are somewhat limited compared to its bigger and pricier sibling, the Huawei P20 Pro. The P20 Pro has features that have been left off the spec sheet for the smaller phone.

The Huawei Mate 20 and the Mate 20 are also more expensive, but more capable. If you want the best phone that Huawei has to offer in 2018, you're not likely to be led to the P20.

The P20's future is also uncertain due to Google's suspension of Huawei's future access to Android Play Store and security updates. This could severely curtail its usefulness compared to the competition.

Here are some key areas where the P20 falls short:

  • Limited features compared to the P20 Pro
  • Uncertain future due to Google's suspension of Huawei's access to Android Play Store and security updates
  • Not as capable as the Huawei Mate 20 and the Mate 20

Availability and Pricing

The Huawei P20 is widely available in many countries, including China, Europe, and Asia.

Credit: youtube.com, Huawei P20 Official Release Date, Price, Camera, Specifications, Review I Huawei P20 Concept

You can buy the phone from various retailers such as Huawei's official website, Amazon, and other online stores.

The pricing of the Huawei P20 varies depending on the region and storage capacity, but it generally starts at around $599 for the base model.

In some countries, the phone is also available in a higher-end variant with more storage and a dual-lens camera, priced at around $799.

The phone is also available in different color options, including Midnight Black, Twilight, and Sakura Pink.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the Huawei P20?

The Huawei P20 was unveiled in 2018, making it around 5 years old. It was released as a successor to the Huawei P10 in the company's P series line.

Is the Huawei P20 outdated?

The Huawei P20 is considered outdated as it may no longer receive future software updates. Its potential phase-out could impact its usability and security.

Is the Huawei P20 a good phone?

Yes, the Huawei P20 is a highly recommended phone with excellent cameras, battery life, and premium design. It's one of the best phones of 2018, with few drawbacks.

Wm Kling

Lead Writer

Wm Kling is a seasoned writer with a passion for technology and innovation. With a strong background in software development, Wm brings a unique perspective to his writing, making complex topics accessible to a wide range of readers. Wm's expertise spans the realm of Visual Studio web development, where he has written in-depth articles and guides to help developers navigate the latest tools and technologies.

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