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# Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A Legacy of Innovation and Performance
The Huawei Mate 40 Pro, launched in late 2020, stands as a testament to Huawei’s relentless pursuit of technological innovation. Despite facing significant challenges, the Mate 40 Pro delivered a flagship experience that pushed the boundaries of smartphone capabilities, particularly in camera technology, performance, and design. This article delves deep into the various aspects of the Mate 40 Pro, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact on the smartphone market.
Design and Build Quality
The Mate 40 Pro’s design is immediately striking. The “Space Ring” camera module, a circular array housing the powerful lenses, became an iconic feature. The “Horizon Display,” with its extreme curvature, seamlessly blended the screen into the device’s sides, creating an immersive viewing experience. The build quality is undeniably premium, combining a glass back with a sturdy metal frame. The phone feels solid and luxurious in hand.
The Horizon Display
The 6.76-inch OLED display boasts a resolution of 2772 x 1344 pixels, delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations. The extreme curvature of the display, while visually appealing, posed some challenges in terms of accidental touch inputs, although Huawei implemented software solutions to mitigate this issue. The display is also bright enough for comfortable outdoor use.
The Space Ring Camera Module
The circular camera module is not just a design statement; it houses a sophisticated camera system. The module’s design, while polarizing, is undeniably distinctive and contributes to the phone’s unique identity. The module’s protrusion is noticeable, but it provides a stable platform for the camera lenses.
In-Hand Feel and Ergonomics
Despite its large size, the Mate 40 Pro is surprisingly comfortable to hold. The curved edges and well-distributed weight contribute to a secure grip. The glass back, while prone to fingerprints, feels smooth and premium. The physical buttons, including the power button and volume rocker, are well-placed and provide tactile feedback. The phone is also IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, adding to its durability.
Performance and Hardware
At the heart of the Mate 40 Pro lies the Kirin 9000 chipset, Huawei’s most powerful processor at the time. This 5nm chip delivered exceptional performance, rivaling the best processors from Qualcomm and Apple. The phone also features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample space for apps and media.
Kirin 9000 Chipset
The Kirin 9000 is an octa-core processor with a tri-cluster architecture. It consists of one Cortex-A77 core clocked at 3.13GHz, three Cortex-A77 cores clocked at 2.54GHz, and four Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.05GHz. The integrated Mali-G78 GPU provides excellent graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. The chip also features an integrated 5G modem, enabling fast and reliable connectivity.
RAM and Storage
The 8GB of RAM is sufficient for handling multiple apps and tasks simultaneously. The 256GB of storage provides ample space for photos, videos, and apps. The phone also supports NM (Nano Memory) cards for expandable storage, although these cards are proprietary to Huawei. The storage speeds are fast, contributing to the phone’s overall responsiveness.
Battery Life and Charging
The Mate 40 Pro is equipped with a 4400mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. The phone can easily last a full day of heavy use. Huawei’s 66W SuperCharge technology allows for incredibly fast charging, filling the battery from 0 to 100% in under an hour. The phone also supports 50W wireless charging, providing convenient and fast wireless charging.
Connectivity
The Mate 40 Pro supports 5G connectivity, providing fast download and upload speeds. The phone also features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. The inclusion of an IR blaster allows for controlling various home appliances. The phone’s call quality is excellent, and the signal reception is strong.
Camera System
The Mate 40 Pro’s camera system is one of its standout features. The “Ultra Vision Cine Camera” setup consists of a 50MP main sensor, a 20MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. The camera system is capable of capturing stunning photos and videos in various lighting conditions.
50MP Ultra Vision Main Camera
The 50MP main sensor, with its large size and RYYB color filter array, captures incredibly detailed and vibrant photos. The RYYB filter allows the sensor to capture more light, resulting in excellent low-light performance. The main camera also features optical image stabilization (OIS), which helps to reduce blur and improve image sharpness.
20MP Ultra-Wide Cine Camera
The 20MP ultra-wide sensor provides a wide field of view, allowing for capturing expansive landscapes and group photos. The sensor’s high resolution ensures that details are preserved even at the edges of the frame. The ultra-wide camera also excels in low-light conditions.
12MP Telephoto Camera
The 12MP telephoto camera provides 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid zoom, allowing for capturing distant subjects with clarity. The telephoto camera also features OIS, which helps to stabilize the image at high zoom levels. The zoom capabilities are impressive, providing excellent detail even at maximum zoom.
Video Capabilities
The Mate 40 Pro is capable of recording 4K video at 60fps, providing smooth and detailed video footage. The phone also supports various video recording modes, including slow-motion, time-lapse, and dual-view video. The video stabilization is excellent, resulting in smooth and stable videos even when shooting handheld. The front camera also records great video.
Software and User Experience
The Mate 40 Pro launched with EMUI 11, based on Android 10. While the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) was a significant drawback for many users, Huawei’s AppGallery and Petal Search provided alternative app sources and search functionalities. The user interface is clean and intuitive, with various customization options. The phone’s performance is consistently smooth and responsive.
EMUI 11
EMUI 11 introduced various new features, including improved privacy controls, enhanced multi-screen collaboration, and new always-on display styles. The user interface is customizable, allowing users to personalize their experience. The animations and transitions are smooth, contributing to a fluid user experience.
AppGallery and Petal Search
Huawei’s AppGallery and Petal Search provide alternative app sources and search functionalities. While they may not have the same breadth of apps as the Google Play Store, they offer a growing selection of popular apps. Petal Search provides a comprehensive search experience, allowing users to find apps, news, and other information.
Lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS)
The lack of GMS was a significant drawback for many users, as it meant that popular Google apps like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps were not readily available. However, Huawei provided workarounds and alternatives, and the AppGallery and Petal Search continued to grow. Many users found that the phone worked well without GMS, but it certainly was a hurdle for some.
Conclusion
The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a remarkable smartphone that showcases Huawei’s technological prowess. Its exceptional camera system, powerful performance, and premium design make it a compelling device. While the lack of GMS was a significant challenge, the Mate 40 Pro still delivered a flagship experience that rivaled the best smartphones on the market. It stands as a testament to Huawei’s commitment to innovation and its ability to overcome adversity. The Mate 40 Pro remains a significant milestone in smartphone development, and its legacy continues to influence the industry.
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