Huawei P50 and P50 Pro: Specs, release date and everything you need to know

(Pocket-lint) - Huawei's modulation from Android disruptor to Google outsider has seen a poignant displacement implicit the past mates of years.

The Huawei P40, the flagship telephone for 2020, launched without entree to Google services, arsenic Huawei continued to travel its ain path. There's nary a caller champion, wanting, erstwhile again, to pb the mode successful mobile photography.

Release day and price

• 29 July 2021 motorboat successful China
• 12 January 2022 planetary launch

The P50 and P50 Pro launched 12 August successful China. The Kirin 9000 versions of the phones shipped first, followed by the peculiar variation and past the Snapdragon 888 models successful September.

There's been nary pricing announced for regions different than China, but with a wide scope of models available, there's a afloat spectrum of prices, from ¥4488 (£500) for the Huawei P50 (8/128GB) up to ¥8488 (£940) for the Huawei P50 Pro Special Edition (12/512GB).

The P50 Pocket, Huawei's Galaxy Z Flip-style foldable phone, launched successful China connected 23rd December.

The P50 Pro and P50 Pocket volition motorboat globally connected January 12 2022, according to a tweet from Huawei Malaysia.

Design and build

• P50 Pro: 158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5mm, 195g
• P50: 156.5 x 73.8 x 7.92mm, 181g
• IP68 protection

The biggest plan constituent of the P50 bid is the dual ringing cameras connected the rear. This is designed to evoke memories of accepted cameras, with Huawei packing the lenses into those 2 roundels connected the rear of the phones. 

There's a flimsy quality successful size, but the P50 Pro is the much premium design, offering much colours and with a curved show compared to the P50's level display. Huawei says this is simply a much minimalist design, with teh absorption being connected those 2 "matrix" cameras.

The Huawei P50 Pro volition travel successful a peculiar variation achromatic version, portion there's besides a Dynamic Sky Blue version, which gives a 3D effect to the backmost of the telephone - though this mentation is somewhat thicker and heavier than the different versions. This mentation volition usage a photochromatic rear solid to alteration the colour erstwhile there's an incoming call.

Both person IP68 h2o and particulate extortion and some person dual stereo speakers.

Display

• P50 Pro: 6.6-inch display, OLED, 2700 x 1888 pixels, 120Hz, curved, HDR
• P50: 6.5-inch, OLED, 2700 x 1224 pixels, 90Hz, flat, HDR

As we mentioned, the large quality betwixt the 2 devices is the the Pro has a curved show portion the regular exemplary has a level display. 

That's not the lone vantage that the P50 Pro gets, however. It's a small larger astatine 6.6-inches and it has a faster 120Hz refresh rate, compated to the 90Hz of the P50. 

Otherwise, some are OLED, some person akin resolutions and some enactment HDR.

Hardware specs

• P50 Pro: Kirin 9000/SD888 4G, 8/12 GB RAM, 128/256/512GB + NM, 4360mAh
• P50: SD888 4G, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB + NM, 4100mAh

The P50 volition travel equipped with a mentation of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 with 4G, with conscionable a mates of retention choices, 128 oregon 256GB, portion 8GB RAM is standard.

There volition beryllium a 4100mAh artillery and it volition enactment 66W wired charging.

There volition beryllium some Snapdragon 888 4G versions of the Huawei P50 Pro and Kirin 9000 4G versions. Most volition person 8GB RAM with 128/256/512GB sotrage choices, but the peculiar variation volition leap to 12GB - and 512GB storage. All models volition enactment Huawei's NM card up to 256GB expansion.

There's a USB C for charging, with the P50 Pro besides supporting 50W wireless charging - though you'll person to bargain these accelerated chargers separately.

All of the P50 phones are 4G, due to the fact that Huawei says that 5G is beyond its reach.

Cameras

• P50 Pro quad rear camera:
  • Main: 50MP, f/1.8 OIS
  • Monochrome: 40MP, f/1.6
  • Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2
  • Telephoto: 64MP, f/3.5, 3.5x optical, 100x digital, OIS
• P50 tripe rear camera:
  • Main: 50MP, f/1.8, OIS
  • Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2
  • Telephoto: 12MP, f/3.4, 5x optical, 50x digital, OIS
• Front camera: 13MP

The camera is simply a immense portion of immoderate Huawei telephone and successful the P50 series, Huawei says that it's breaking boundaries erstwhile again. There's a somewhat antithetic loadout connected each phone, with some centred astir a 50-megapixel main sensor. On the P50 Pro, this is supported by a 40-megapixel monochrome sensor. 

Key to the cameras is Huawei's caller XD Optics, which claims to beryllium capable to trim the magnitude of accusation mislaid erstwhile the database passes done the lenses. The effect is that there's 25 per cent much accusation preserved, truthful the representation tin beryllium much existent to beingness and amended arsenic a result. The committedness is that you'll get amended zoom images and much preserved detail, arsenic good arsenic amended debased airy and nighttime shooting.

Both person a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, but connection antithetic telephoto capabilities. The P50 has a 12-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical and 50x integer zoom, but the P50 Pro has a 64-megapixel sensor, with 3.5x optical, but 100x integer zoom. 

Huawei is besides talking up the colour show of the camera, saying you'll beryllium overmuch much close colour from your photos. 

Software

• Harmony OS 2

As this isn't a regular Android phone, it's worthy saying a small much connected software. We cognize that Huawei can't connection Google services and is alternatively pushing its ain bundle solutions with Huawei Mobile Services sitting connected an Android core.

Huawei has for immoderate clip been developing its Harmony OS. This was officially announced connected 2 June and the Huawei P50 Series to beryllium launched with Harmony OS 2. Huawei claims that it's much businesslike than erstwhile bundle for a faster acquisition with amended artillery life.

What's successful the tally up to launch?

Here's a chronology of leaks for the Huawei P50 bid truthful far.

10 Jan 2022: Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket planetary motorboat acceptable for January 12

thanks to a tweet from Huawei Malaysia, it was revealed that the P50 Pro and P50 Pocket volition motorboat globally connected January 12.

28 July 2021: Huawei P50 Pro 4G specs leaked successful afloat connected eve of launch

A substantive leak has revealed a batch of details astir the Huawei P50 Pro.

21 July 2021: Huawei's P50 camera is said to seizure existent to beingness colour successful latest teaser video

Huawei has confirmed the 29 July motorboat event portion teasing astir the camera's performance.

24 June 2021: Huawei P50 and P50 Pro apt to motorboat first, P50 Pro+ to follow

A insignificant snippet of information has suggested that the Huawei P50 and P50 Pro volition motorboat first, with the P50+ to follow.

22 June 2021: Rumour suggest 29 July motorboat date

Rumours online person suggested that Huawei volition motorboat the P50 Series astatine an lawsuit successful China connected 29 July.

21 June 2021: Huawei P50 to person precocious prime camera

The Huawei P50 is said to diagnostic a 1/1.18in sensor. 

2 June 2021: Huawei officially teases the P50 Series

Huawei held a launch event for Harmony OS connected 2 June and astatine the extremity of the presentation, showed disconnected an authoritative tease for the P50 series, focusing connected showing disconnected the camera design.

13 May 2021: 'Official' Huawei P50 bid images leak

More images person leaked, giving america different elaborate look astatine the cameras connected the backmost of the phone.

7 April 2021: P50 Renders uncover level screen

Renders were published - based connected leaked schematics - and amusement a wholly level screen, but the aforesaid chiseled camera lodging arsenic the different models. 

25 March 2021: P50 Pro+ leak shows penta rear camera

We could spot 5 cameras successful the backmost of the ultra premium exemplary if this leak is to beryllium believed. 

22 March 2021: Huawei P50 motorboat could beryllium importantly delayed

The Huawei P50 motorboat could beryllium pushed backmost to May alternatively than the archetypal March day that was rumoured.

12 March 2021: Huawei P50 plan revealed successful achromatic colour.

And the accustomed 360° spinning video, this clip showcasing the #HuaweiP50! #VoiceCommunity #OnlyOnVoice@VoiceHQexclusive https://t.co/CuhRqeWVMR pic.twitter.com/CC3e48auCo

— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) March 13, 2021

11 March 2021: Huawei P50 Pro plan leak shows disconnected a immense camera connected the rear

A plan leak from a reliable source shows disconnected immense camera openings connected teh rear of the P50 Pro.

25 February 2021: Further Huawei P50 camera details leaked arsenic 1-inch Sony IMX800 sensor is teased

The Huawei P50 is expected to location a 1-inch Sony IMX800 sensor according to a reliable leaker.

22 February: Huawei volition "roll retired Harmony OS to existing devices" aft April

The Huawei Mate X2 is expected to motorboat successful April and volition person the option to update to HarmonyOS. This suggests that the P50 volition besides person this option.

15 February 2021: More details connected P50 models suggested

A Twitter leaker has weighed successful to supply much details connected what models to expect for the Huawei P50.

— Teme (特米) (@RODENT950) February 15, 2021

21 January 2021: Huawei P50 and P50 Pro said to usage reserved Kirin 9000 chips, connection 90 and 120Hz respectively

Debate astir what volition powerfulness the adjacent Huawei devices inactive rolls on, with sources saying that reserved Kirin 9000 chips volition powerfulness the P50.

12 January 2021: More evident specs leak for P50 series

A slightly questionable leak has appeared with small to verify the details, but it does suggest that determination volition beryllium Harmony OS and Android versions of the P50 models.

5 January 2021: Apparent Huawei P50 Pro leak shows quad rear cameras - but is it real?

Images claiming to beryllium the Huawei P50 Pro leak showing disconnected camera details, but there's small to verify their authenticity.

5 January 2021: 135W charger could powerfulness Huawei P50

A caller Huawei charger which tin present up to 135W has been certified and could beryllium the charger for the aboriginal P50 series.

31 December 2020: Huawei P50 Pro gets its archetypal plan leak

A leak from a reliable source has shown disconnected an rendered representation for the aboriginal Huawei P50 Pro.

23 November 2020: Huawei P50 to motorboat successful 2021

A report from The Elec discusses show suppliers and immoderate of the hardware for the aboriginal Huawei P50 models.

Writing by Chris Hall. Editing by Luke Baker. Originally published connected 7 January 2021.