Huawei just did what Samsung couldn't

by Daniel Petrov / Mar 27, 2018, 11:45 AM

The new Mate RS phone by Huawei, of its Porsche Design series, has plenty of unique features and "firsts" to brag with, besides the price (it is the first to crack the 2000 EUR barrier on the upside). It's got a crazy triple 40MP RGB + 20MP mono + 8MP telephoto camera, and is the first phone with 512GB of memory to store all the high-res photos that are fit to print on a roadside billboard.

It's also the first phone with PCM microcapsules for cooling that absorb heat and become in a liquid state, or the first one with two finger scanners, one embedded into the display. Wait, what? Yes, the Mate RS offers a way to unlock the phone with your fingerprint both at the front, and on the back, and both scanners are situated right under your thumb or index finger, respectively, without having to do yoga and stretching exercises down to the bottom of a big-screen phone. What's more, it "allows consumers to wake up the device by floating their finger above the display, while touching the sensor to unlock the device is lightning fast. The back fingerprint sensor can also be used to unlock the device or to access a second, secure space." Cool beanies.

That anywhere-on-display scanner used to be considered the Holy Grail of fingerprint scanning, and we just previewed a crude version of it at the MWC expo in the beginning of the month on a concept phone. Well, it is now appearing in a retail device, with a high-res OLED display - something that reports said Samsung struggled for the last year or two to implement. We expected one in the Galaxy S9, and it didn't materialize.

The Note 9 in-screen fingerprint scanner rumors are on and off, as the technology is apparently "challenging," "expensive," "doesn't work with screen protectors," and so on. Well, while it certainly isn't in an affordable phone, Huawei just pulled it off, and with a ergonomics twist at that, so we can only hope that Samsung will master it, too, by the time the Note 9 ships. After all, it will also be a niche device, and, judging from its predecessor, is unlikely to come cheap.

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Display 6.0" 1440 x 2880 pixels

Camera 40 MP / 24 MP front

Processor HiSilicon Kirin, Octa-core, 2360 MHz

Storage 256 GB

Battery 4000 mAh

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58 Comments

1. luis.aag90

Posts: 272; Member since: Aug 12, 2014

Well, if you consider this Huawei costs more than twice of what the S9+ retails for, you would expect there is more budget to spend on every bells and whistles available. The fact there is no notch, double fp sensor, 512 GB of storage and triple camera is still commendable, but this will remain a niche device. People will keep comparing the P20 Pro (which doesn't have an on-screen fp scanner) to the S9.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 11:53 AM 21

2. Pabliell

Posts: 179; Member since: Mar 22, 2016

The new Mate RS is so expensive not because it packs a lot of hardware. It is because it bears the Porsche Design logo on it. Mate 10 Pro is almost half the price of PD Mate 10 Pro, so if there was a non-Porsche Mate RS it would cost just a bit more than P20 Pro, so very comparable to S9+. Still, I'm eager to see the reviews of the new triple camera system.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:00 PM 16

3. ncallan

Posts: 43; Member since: Mar 15, 2013

Dxomark review is up and the p20 pro scored 114 points. Over 10 points higher than iPhone X or pixel 2

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:15 PM 12

20. Furkan

Posts: 552; Member since: Feb 25, 2017

if you give money to them , even your garbage phone can get high points

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:18 PM 4

30. Techist

Posts: 311; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

Nah! I've looked at the photos on DXOMARK and, IMHO, the P20 Pro pictures are clearly superior to the Pixel 2 and iPhone X. Check them out for yourself.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:38 PM 2

35. Techist

Posts: 311; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

DXOMARK conclusion: "Conclusion: Game changer We are used to every new smartphone camera generation being slightly better than the previous one, but looking at the images and test results from the P20 Pro, it seems Huawei has skipped one or two generations. The results are simply that good. The P20 Pro’s triple camera setup is the biggest innovation we have seen in mobile imaging for quite some time and is a real game changer. Being able to pick the best camera for a specific shooting situation and computationally merge the image data from all three sensors means that the new Huawei beats the competition in virtually every category, taking the number one spots in both our Photo and Video rankings. The P20 Pro is particularly good in low light, when zooming, and for bokeh simulation, blowing its direct rivals out of the water. If you are looking for the current best camera in a smartphone, look no further."

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:43 PM 1

21. Techist

Posts: 311; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

Correction: 109 for the P20 Pro, 102 for the P20. This as compared to 99 for the Galaxy S9 Plus, 98 for the Pixel 2, and 97 for the iPhone X, Mate 10 Pro, and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, and 94 for the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8. I don't remember the last time a phone jumped 10 points ahead of the competition in DXOMARK! Very impressive work by Huawei!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:20 PM 4

23. Techist

Posts: 311; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

The above are the combined (i.e. still image and video) scores. The Huawei P20 Pro scored 114 for still images! Very impressive!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:26 PM 0

34. S4NDY

Posts: 225; Member since: Mar 14, 2016

that this RS model is the first to introduce the Mate 20 models teaser.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:41 PM 0

36. youssef44

Posts: 547; Member since: Apr 29, 2014

At least they make a phone with everything you need it not like the others! Cost 1400 dollars with nothing special or useful! (iPhone X 256gb)

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:46 PM 2

50. DerryAhmad

Posts: 296; Member since: May 05, 2012

And why PhoneArena only 'targeting' Samsung? Isn't Apple 'supposed' to be the innovative one?

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 8:41 PM 3

4. AmashAziz

Posts: 2893; Member since: Jun 30, 2014

Are you serious, 2 fingerprint scanners???? Since a few months I have been thinking about such an exclusivity in a phone, and thought its only in my dreams. And no manufacturer would be insane enough to do this. But Huawei again managed to surprise me. Truly, this seems to be the first time I am happy that a brand went insane. Huawei means business since the 2nd half of 2017...!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:21 PM 7

39. yalokiy

Posts: 923; Member since: Aug 01, 2016

Your comments are too rational, wise and intelligent for a person with apple logo on avatar pic. Huawei impressed me starting with P9 release in april 2016 though.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 2:06 PM 1

52. AmashAziz

Posts: 2893; Member since: Jun 30, 2014

Don't get deceived by my avatar. It's merely a way to pay my respects to the old-and-gold Apple of Steve Jobs Era. By the way Thanks for your compliment. I too am liking Huawei's progress. It's just that I hate they copied the iPhone's notch.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 10:44 PM 2

57. yalokiy

Posts: 923; Member since: Aug 01, 2016

I disagree that they copied it. The "notch" tech was available for everyone starting 2017. Essential and Sharp were the first to implement it. Huawei decided to do it later. It certainly looks less like the essential's notch and more like iphone's, but there is still huge differences in dimensions and form. Does it look like a copy? Not for me. I think it looks much better actually. A more perfect version of all the previous notched devices. Iphone's notch packs more tech, so there is an excuse for its bigger dimensions. But I much rather they didn't use the slow face id and make it smaller. In change just place a touch ID on the back. If you insist, Apple is not saint either. Steve Jobs admitted to stealing from others (Xerox) in 1994:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU

posted on Mar 28, 2018, 11:39 AM 1

5. tiz_meh

Posts: 74; Member since: Aug 11, 2017

Can you change the title to "Huawei just did what Apple couldn't" ?

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:26 PM 20

8. cmdacos

Posts: 3970; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

That's fair although apple made up a story about not even tryingwhich was purely to save face. Regardless both apple and Samsung need to worry about scale which Hauwei doesn't need to with this particular model.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:30 PM 2

9. redmd

Posts: 1917; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

Sorry. That's PhoneArena for you.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:30 PM 11

12. Pabliell

Posts: 179; Member since: Mar 22, 2016

Well, Apple believes their FaceID is much better than any fingerprint scanner, that's why the X "doesn't need one", so they didn't even try to put one in. Samsung on the other hand said that it's too expensive and difficult, which is obviously an excuse.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:51 PM 0

27. drunkenjay

Posts: 1651; Member since: Feb 11, 2013

expensive and difficult is not an excuse when they are selling it for a wide consumer market. they would rather wait until the technology is perfected so there is a higher success rate in manufacturing the technology. it will also be more expensive since it is new tech. huawei rs costs twice as much as the s9 and it is also for the niche market. im pretty sure samsung can do it better than huawei if it costs that much money.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:34 PM 0

44. cmdacos

Posts: 3970; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Secure, lol. Ok

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 4:39 PM 0

38. youssef44

Posts: 547; Member since: Apr 29, 2014

Apple and Samsung and many! I think all they can because the fingerprint reader is a part they can buy it from other companies and put in their phones like any other parts (Camera, display, Speaker) but they don't want to make more money!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 2:00 PM 0

55. worldpeace

Posts: 3106; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

What did you mean? Apple already include on-screen FPscanner on iPhone X.. Just ask Bankz or Apple-rulz about that.. Oh, and iPhoneX also got the first 512GB storage, and 30ft wireless charging.. /s

posted on Mar 28, 2018, 3:27 AM 0

6. Sparkxster

Posts: 1200; Member since: Mar 31, 2017

This is one amazing phone congrats Huawei!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:28 PM 4

7. BLUEBLASTER

Posts: 919; Member since: Feb 23, 2014

But will it work with a screen protector?

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:30 PM 2

14. Pabliell

Posts: 179; Member since: Mar 22, 2016

It will, the ud-fps on Vivo phones works well with screen protectors.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:52 PM 1

28. drunkenjay

Posts: 1651; Member since: Feb 11, 2013

it will work on plastic screen protectors but wont work as well on tempered glass ones.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 1:35 PM 0

41. youssef44

Posts: 547; Member since: Apr 29, 2014

When a person will pay 1700 dollars for a phone I don't think he will use screen protectors! For me I've never used them!

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 3:27 PM 0

10. LiveFaith

Posts: 388; Member since: Jul 04, 2015

Like what these guys keep doing.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:33 PM 0

11. Good-Is-Better

Posts: 105; Member since: Nov 12, 2015

Politics. If the inscreen finger print was that effective, why put another one on the back. It's because that is still unripe tech. Samsung said they are not more interested to be first, but to give customers quality products. I was about buying the mate 10 pro, but, the issue of lack of updates hindered me. Why make such a phone for so much price that won't receive updates? See the naming, Mate 10, Mate Pro, Mate 10 Porsche and now, P20, P20 Pro, P20 lite, P20 Porsche or is it the mate 10 Porsche RS or Just mate Mate RS. when you see a bunch of these series, it is evident that none will get updates. 2019 is not far that a new bunch of these will still pope up. And with that notch, I am gone.

posted on Mar 27, 2018, 12:36 PM 4

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