Huawei Mate 40 Pro 256 GB / 8 GB (NOH-NX9)

Expensive-rich

The representative of the flagship Mate series, unfortunately, appeared just in the midst of Huawei's difficult times associated with US sanctions and numerous bans imposed by the US government. But this practically did not affect the quality — on the contrary, the manufacturer tried to brighten up some of the nuances with even more advanced features and technologies. Agree, the design in such an expensive device plays an important role, so outwardly the model looks expensive and stylish. The back cover is made of glass, a “capsule” with a dual front camera is embedded in the display, and the screen itself is practically devoid of frames, since its edges are bent on the sides. The latter, by the way, is a rather controversial decision, since the curved edges glare in the sun and increase the number of accidental clicks — but you must admit, such a “waterfall” screen looks great. Fortunately, the manufacturer did some work on the bugs and returned the physical volume button instead of the touch one, which the owners of the Mate 30 Pro complained about. If we continue the comparison with its predecessor, then the case has become less angular, and the rounded edges (both front and back) leave a pleasant feeling of use. But the undeniable highlight of the design was the camera. Huawei says it's inspired by the "event horizon telescope" (whatever that means), but it actually looks more like a professional camera lens. And if competitors have long adopted various squares and rectangles, then no one has dared to repeat the annular chamber. Adhering to the principle of harmony and symmetry, the Chinese company offers only two classic colours of the device — black and silver.

In addition, the case is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard. But the smartphone itself is slippery and quite massive — it won’t fit in any pocket, and it’s more convenient to manage with two hands. Of course, this is not surprising, given the materials and screen size — 6.76".

cameras

No wonder Huawei has earned a reputation as a manufacturer of one of the best camera phones and the title of leader in the DxOMark ratings — Mate 40 Pro was another confirmation of this. Traditionally, the camera was developed in collaboration with Leica. It consists of a 50MP Ultra Vision sensor, a 20MP ultra wide-angle lens, a laser sensor for fast focus, and a 12MP telephoto lens with OIS. To say that the photos are good is an understatement. The camera is not afraid of poor lighting, or even complete darkness — anywhere, anytime you get clear, colorful pictures and videos. The dual front-facing camera combines a 13MP wide-angle lens and a motion sensor, so high-quality selfies and vlogs for social networks are guaranteed.

On the highest level

There are no complaints about the “hardware” either — the smartphone has received everything that a modern flagship needs. The combination of Kirin 9000 processor, Mali-G78 graphics and 8 GB of RAM ensures high performance and stable operation for the next few years. Although the 4400 mAh battery does not shine with a record capacity, it supports fast (66 W), wireless (50 W) and wireless reverse charging (5 W), that is, it quickly charges itself, and if desired, can recharge third-party gadgets. The fingerprint scanner built into the display and the face recognition function are responsible for security. Also worth noting is the NFC chip, infrared port, 5G support, OLED screen with a high resolution (2772x1344) and a refresh rate of 90 Hz, the ability to control with gestures, a barometer for determining atmospheric pressure and a slot for a memory card — hybrid and only for nano memory.

And now the same fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey: due to American sanctions, Google services are not here. But there is an EMUI shell based on the Android operating system and a Huawei AppGallery branded application store. It grows and replenishes quite quickly, but for many, the absence of Google Play and Google Mobile Services can negate all the advantages of a smartphone.