Read the in-depth review of the Huawei Mate 50E. Explore its design, camera capabilities, performance, and battery life to see if this affordable flagship is the right fit for you.

Huawei Mate 50E Review: Flagship Design at a Lower Price

Huawei’s Mate 50E, released on October 23, 2022, brings many of the premium features of the Mate 50 series at a more affordable price point. Powered by the Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, a 50MP camera, and a 6.7-inch OLED display, this device aims to deliver flagship-level performance while being easier on the wallet. It also boasts 66W fast charging and a 4460mAh battery, ensuring long-lasting power.

However, like other Huawei devices, the Mate 50E lacks Google Play Services due to ongoing restrictions. Instead, it runs on HarmonyOS 3.0 and relies on Huawei’s AppGallery. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at how the Mate 50E performs and whether it offers good value for its price.

Introduction

The Huawei Mate 50E is designed for users who want a premium smartphone experience without the premium price tag. While it may not have the most powerful processor in the Mate 50 lineup, the Snapdragon 778G 5G still provides solid performance for everyday tasks. Its 50MP primary camera promises high-quality photos, while the OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate delivers smooth visuals.

Priced at around 580 EUR, the Mate 50E is a strong contender in the mid-range segment, offering flagship design and features. But how does it hold up in real-world usage? Let’s dive into the details.

Design & Build Quality: Slim and Premium

The Huawei Mate 50E has a sleek and premium design, measuring 161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm and weighing 201g. The 8mm thickness gives it a slim profile, making it comfortable to hold and use. The back is available in Black, Silver, and Purple, each offering a glossy finish that looks and feels premium. The aluminum frame adds durability, while the IP68 rating provides water and dust resistance.

The Mate 50E’s design closely mirrors that of the flagship Mate 50 series, with a modern aesthetic and attention to detail. The under-display fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, and the stereo speakers provide good sound quality for media consumption.

Display: Vivid OLED with 90Hz Refresh Rate

The 6.7-inch OLED display is one of the standout features of the Mate 50E. With a resolution of 1224 x 2700 pixels and a pixel density of 442 ppi, the display delivers sharp visuals and vibrant colors, making it ideal for watching videos, browsing the web, or gaming.

The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and a more responsive experience, especially when navigating through apps or playing games. While it’s not as fast as some 120Hz displays, it strikes a good balance between fluidity and battery efficiency. The 88.6% screen-to-body ratio gives the Mate 50E a modern look with minimal bezels.

Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, the Mate 50E’s display performs well, with good brightness levels and contrast. Huawei’s Kunlun Glass protection adds durability, making the display more resistant to scratches and drops.

Performance: Powered by Snapdragon 778G 5G

Under the hood, the Huawei Mate 50E is powered by the Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, which is built on a 6nm process. The octa-core CPU consists of 1×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78, 3×2.2 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, offering a good mix of performance and efficiency. Paired with the Adreno 642L GPU, the Mate 50E is capable of handling everyday tasks, including multitasking, web browsing, and light gaming.

While it may not match the performance of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 found in more expensive Mate 50 models, the Snapdragon 778G is still a capable processor for mid-range devices. It provides smooth performance for most users, though it might struggle with graphically intensive games at higher settings.

With 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, the Mate 50E offers enough memory and storage for most users. If you need more space, the phone supports NM (Nano Memory) cards of up to 256GB, though this takes up the second SIM slot.

Running on HarmonyOS 3.0, the Mate 50E offers a smooth and intuitive user experience. However, as with other Huawei devices, the absence of Google Play Services means you’ll need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery or alternative app stores for downloading apps.

Camera: Impressive 50MP Dual-Camera Setup

The 50MP primary camera on the Mate 50E is a standout feature for a phone in this price range. The f/1.4-f/4.0 variable aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and depth of field control, giving you more flexibility in various shooting conditions. The PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) ensure sharp and clear images, even when shooting handheld or in low-light environments.

In addition to the main camera, the Mate 50E also features a 13MP ultrawide camera with a 120° field of view, making it perfect for landscape shots or group photos. Both cameras deliver impressive image quality, with good color reproduction and dynamic range.

The camera app includes features like HDR, panorama, and Laser Autofocus, which helps in achieving precise focus, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The phone supports 4K video recording at 30/60fps, and gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) ensures smooth video footage.

The 13MP front-facing camera is wide enough for group selfies and supports 4K video recording, making it ideal for vloggers and video calls. The TOF 3D sensor on the front further improves depth detection, ensuring better background separation for portrait shots.

Battery Life: Fast Charging and Long-Lasting Power

The Huawei Mate 50E is equipped with a 4460mAh battery, which provides enough power to get through a full day of moderate use. Whether you’re browsing the web, streaming videos, or playing games, the battery holds up well, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon 778G chipset.

One of the key features of the Mate 50E is its 66W wired fast charging, which can charge the battery to 50% in just 20 minutes. This is a great convenience for users who are constantly on the go and need quick top-ups. Additionally, the phone supports 5W reverse wired charging, allowing you to charge other devices like earbuds directly from the phone.

Connectivity & Additional Features

The Mate 50E offers a variety of connectivity options, including:

Wi-Fi 6: Dual-band Wi-Fi provides fast and stable internet connections.
Bluetooth 5.2: Ensures smooth connectivity with wireless devices like headphones or smartwatches.
NFC: Supports contactless payments and data transfers.
USB Type-C 3.1: Fast charging and data transfer, with OTG support for connecting external peripherals.

For navigation, the phone supports GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, and NavIC, ensuring accurate location tracking.

Security-wise, the under-display fingerprint sensor and facial recognition provide quick and secure ways to unlock the phone. Additional sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and barometer.

Conclusion: A Solid Mid-Range Flagship Alternative

The Huawei Mate 50E is a solid choice for users who want flagship features at a lower price. Its 50MP camera, OLED display, and Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset deliver strong performance for everyday tasks, while the 66W fast charging ensures you won’t be left waiting for a full charge.

While the lack of Google Play Services might be a drawback for some users, Huawei’s AppGallery provides plenty of alternatives, and the overall user experience with HarmonyOS 3.0 is smooth and intuitive.

If you’re looking for a premium-looking phone with powerful cameras and good performance without paying flagship prices, the Huawei Mate 50E is definitely worth considering.

Huawei Mate 50E Full Specifications

Feature	Specification
Launch Date	October 23, 2022
Dimensions	161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)
Weight	201 g (7.09 oz)
Display	6.7 inches, OLED, 90Hz, 1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi)
Operating System	HarmonyOS 3.0
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G
Memory	128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM, NM card support (up to 256GB)
Main Camera	50 MP (wide), 13 MP (ultrawide)
Selfie Camera	13 MP (ultrawide)
Battery	Li-Po 4460 mAh, 66W wired, 5W reverse wired
Colors Available	Black, Silver, Purple
Price	About 580 EUR