Huawei Pura 80 is no longer China-exclusive, photographers should go crazy about its camera setup

The Huawei Pura 80 series debuted less than a month ago in China and besides the Ultra model, there's also the vanilla Huawei Pura 80, the Pura 80 Pro and the Pura 80 Pro Plus.

The Ultra is, of course, the most powerful of them all and is the one that fans were hoping to step outside its homeland:

• Two zoom lenses on a single large sensor
• Variable aperture for the main camera
• Large 5,170 mAh battery

The phone utilizes a 50 MP large, 1-inch sensor with a variable (f/1.6-4.0) aperture that's great for capturing detailed, vivid shots even in less-than-optimal settings (e.g., when it's dark). There's a 40 MP ultra-wide snapper and a multi-spectral Ultra Chroma Camera sensor that's responsible for accurate colors and precise, real to life hues.

The star of the camera setup is the telephoto sensor, in front of which sit two distinct zoom lenses – that's the Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera:

• 3.7x zoom for portraits and telephoto street photography
• 10x zoom for impressive close-ups

Huawei says that's the industry's largest telephoto sensor – and users can switch between the 3.7x and 10x zoom in the camera app. The camera hardware instantly moves the selected lens in front of the sensor and, boom, you're already taking photos of birds or capturing the lead singer's facial expressions at a concert from a great distance.

That's a great idea. Such a system may turn out to be prone to issues, but I don't care – it's innovation, and innovation is what is sorely needed in the smartphone industry right now.

The only thing I find a bit odd is the 10x magnification: that's often "too much". While 2x and 3x are perfect for portraits or capturing things that are a bit far away, there aren't that many day-to-day subjects that demand a 10x zoom. Don't get me wrong – I love what Huawei is doing, but maybe a 6x zoom would be more practical?

What else is there?

The Pura 80 Ultra features the new AI Smart Controls Button, which provides quick access to frequently used functions such as the camera, flashlight, or AI lens, based on user preferences. The button includes fingerprint recognition for added security and ease of use. The devices also introduce advanced AI Noise Cancellation, which improves call quality by reducing background noise and enhancing voice clarity for both parties.

The phone is powered by a 5,170 mAh battery, supported by 100W wired (and 80W wireless) charging speeds – and that's a convenience I can't give up now that I've tried it. Finally, to improve durability, the Pura 80 Ultra uses second-generation Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass, which offers better scratch and drop resistance compared to standard glass.

For now, the Pura 80 Ultra is available in the UAE at a price of AED5,099. When converted, that's approximately $1,390, which isn't exactly cheap, but hey, you're getting innovation! Just keep in mind that you're getting 4G connectivity, no 5G (the China-exclusive model offers it). Remember – that's more of a camera than a phone.

Expansion to other markets could follow soon.