HUAWEI P40 Pro Hands-on review: Exquisite design, robust 5G performance and the biggest camera sensor ever used by Huawei

Huawei’s P series are reputed for its innovative designs and powerful camera features, making it one of the most exciting launches from the brand. We got our hands on the HUAWEI P40 Pro and here is what we think:

A power packed device in an attractive body with a robust 5G performance and an Ultra Vision Leica camera system with Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor to date, every ground breaking innovation of the HUAWEI P40 Pro is designed to impress and expand the capabilities of modern smartphones. In addition to continuing the photography excellence the series is known for, this time the HUAWEI P40 Pro also benefits from Huawei’s developments in the 5G sector, bring to users a device that they can always rely on.

Immersive ID Design
First things first, the HUAWEI P40 Pro will definitely stand out thanks to its borderless and immersive HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display. Continuing in the footsteps of its trend-setting predecessors, the HUAWEI P40 Pro has its own unique and elegant style complete with the highest levels of aesthetics.

The HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display, which is inspired by the art of motion, brings a curved edge to all four sides of the display which gives it a look that is reminiscent of water overflowing from the rim of a cup. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this also paves the way for narrow bezels and streamlined round corners for a more ergonomic hold and near borderless look adding to the immersive qualities of the display. The display also has a fluid 90Hz refresh rate and TÜV Rheinland screen certification, giving it a more comfortable viewing experience. The hole-punch display upfront houses the front cameras and sensors for gesture support as well, which can also be used for the all-day Face Unlock.

On the back however, the HUAWEI P40 Pro comes in a glossy finish of Black and an innovative refractive matte glass finish of Silver Frost, both of them flush with elegance.

An all-round 5G experience Ultra 5G performance
With the huge strides Huawei has been making in the 5G sector, it’s no surprise that at the heart of the HUAWEI P40 Pro lies the Kirin 990 5G, Huawei’s first dedicated 5G chipset and most sophisticated yet simple SoC to deliver integrated 5G connectivity. Manufactured with a cutting edge 7nm process, the chipset provides highly competitive performance, energy efficiency and transistor density, while also ensuring efficient power management.

This means, you can enjoy long sessions of streaming or browsing at 5G speeds, while also high-performance gaming without draining the phone out!

The unique architecture also allows to support 2G/3G/4G and 5G networks in both 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) modes. Non Standalone (NSA) networks are the first wave of 5G networks, which uses existing 4G infrastructure. However, moving forward there will be a transition to the 5G Standalone (SA) network which provides users with much faster speeds, wider bandwidth and lower latency. Support for both NSA and SA networks is therefore crucial if you plan on getting the most out of your 5G smartphone.

The HUAWEI P40 Pro also supports WiFi 6 Plus for 160MHz bandwidth and advanced 1024-QAM modulation to achieve the industry-leading peak theoretical transmission speed of 2400Mbps.