Read the comprehensive review of the Huawei Mate 50. Explore its premium design, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance, camera capabilities, and long-lasting battery life.

Huawei Mate 50 Review: A Flagship Packed with Power and Style

Huawei’s Mate 50, released on September 28, 2022, is a high-end flagship device built to impress with its performance and features. Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset, it boasts a stunning 6.7-inch OLED display, a 50MP triple-camera setup, and fast 66W charging. The phone also comes with Huawei’s latest software, EMUI 13 for international users and HarmonyOS 3.0 in China.

With its sleek design and impressive specs, the Huawei Mate 50 competes in the upper tier of smartphones. But is it worth the price? Let’s explore its features and performance in this detailed review.

Introduction

The Huawei Mate 50 is designed to deliver premium performance while offering flagship features at a competitive price point. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage, ensures top-notch performance across a variety of tasks. The 50MP primary camera, along with the 12MP periscope telephoto and 13MP ultrawide cameras, provides a versatile photography experience.

Despite its lack of 5G and Google Play Services, the Mate 50 is packed with powerful hardware and an elegant design. Let’s dive into the phone’s design, display, camera, performance, and battery life to see if it can live up to its flagship status.

Design & Build Quality: Sleek and Durable

The Huawei Mate 50 stands out with its premium design, measuring 161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm and weighing 202g/206g, depending on the model. The device is thin and feels comfortable in hand, making it easy to hold for extended periods. The phone is available in Black, Silver, Purple, and Orange colors, offering a stylish look that complements its high-end feel.

The Mate 50 is built with Huawei Kunlun Glass, providing excellent protection for the 6.7-inch OLED display, while the IP68 water and dust resistance ensures that the phone can survive in up to 2 meters of water for 30 minutes. The under-display fingerprint sensor is fast and responsive, ensuring secure and quick access to your device.

Overall, the Mate 50’s design is sleek and durable, delivering a flagship experience that feels as premium as it looks.

Display: Vivid OLED with 90Hz Refresh Rate

The 6.7-inch OLED display on the Huawei Mate 50 offers stunning visuals with a resolution of 1224 x 2700 pixels and a pixel density of 442 ppi. This ensures sharp, vibrant images and deep blacks, making the display perfect for watching videos, gaming, or browsing.

The 90Hz refresh rate delivers smooth scrolling and a responsive user experience, though it may fall short of the 120Hz refresh rates found in some competing flagship devices. The 88.6% screen-to-body ratio gives the phone a modern look with slim bezels, ensuring a more immersive viewing experience.

With the added protection of Kunlun Glass, the display is more resistant to drops and scratches, making it ideal for everyday use.

Performance: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G Delivers Flagship Power

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset is one of the most powerful processors on the market, and it powers the Mate 50 with ease. The octa-core CPU features 1x Cortex-X2 at 3.19 GHz, 3x Cortex-A710 at 2.75 GHz, and 4x Cortex-A510 at 2.0 GHz, providing excellent performance for multitasking, gaming, and power-hungry apps.

Paired with 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB (with UFS 3.1 storage), the Mate 50 can handle multiple apps running in the background without lag. For those needing more storage, the device supports Nano Memory (NM) cards of up to 256GB, though it shares the SIM slot.

Running on EMUI 13 internationally and HarmonyOS 3.0 in China, the software experience is smooth and user-friendly. While the absence of Google Play Services may be a limitation for some, Huawei’s AppGallery offers plenty of app alternatives and has grown significantly in recent years.

Camera: Versatile Triple-Camera System with 50MP Main Shooter

The Huawei Mate 50 features a versatile triple-camera system that excels in photography. The 50MP primary camera with an f/1.4-f/4.0 variable aperture ensures sharp and detailed images in various lighting conditions. The adjustable aperture provides more control over depth of field, making it perfect for both portrait shots and landscape photography.

In addition to the main camera, the Mate 50 includes a:

12 MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), perfect for capturing distant subjects with clarity.
13 MP ultrawide camera with a 120˚ field of view, ideal for landscape shots and group photos.

The camera setup also supports 4K video recording at 30/60fps and gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) for smooth video footage. Additional features like HDR, panorama, and laser autofocus enhance the overall camera experience.

The 13MP front-facing camera is wide enough for group selfies and offers 4K video recording, making it a great option for vloggers and video calls.

Battery Life: All-Day Power with Fast Charging

The Huawei Mate 50 is equipped with a 4460mAh battery, which is large enough to provide a full day of usage under moderate to heavy use. Whether you’re streaming videos, playing games, or browsing the web, the Mate 50 offers solid battery life.

The phone also supports 66W wired fast charging, which allows it to charge up to 50% in just 20 minutes, making it convenient for users who are always on the go. Additionally, the phone offers 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, which lets you charge other devices like wireless earbuds.

The Mate 50’s efficient battery life, combined with fast charging options, ensures you’ll rarely be left without power.

Connectivity & Additional Features

The Huawei Mate 50 supports various connectivity options, including:

Wi-Fi 6: Dual-band Wi-Fi ensures fast and stable connections.
Bluetooth 5.2: Smooth and reliable wireless connectivity for headphones and accessories.
NFC: Supports contactless payments and quick file transfers.
USB Type-C 3.1: Provides fast charging and data transfers with OTG support.
GPS: With support for multiple positioning systems including GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS, the Mate 50 offers accurate navigation.

The phone also includes a range of sensors such as a fingerprint sensor (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and barometer, ensuring a full range of functionality.

Conclusion: A Solid Flagship with Top-Tier Performance

The Huawei Mate 50 is a flagship smartphone that excels in design, performance, and camera capabilities. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset, 50MP camera, and 66W fast charging make it an excellent choice for users who demand top-tier performance. Despite the lack of 5G and Google Play Services, the Mate 50 offers a smooth user experience with EMUI 13 or HarmonyOS 3.0.

With a sleek design, premium display, and impressive battery life, the Huawei Mate 50 is a strong competitor in the flagship market and a great option for those looking for a powerful and stylish device.

Huawei Mate 50 Full Specifications

Feature	Specification
Launch Date	September 28, 2022
Dimensions	161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)
Weight	202 g / 206 g (7.13 oz)
Display	6.7 inches, OLED, 90Hz, 1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi)
Operating System	EMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G
Memory	128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM, 512GB/8GB RAM, NM card support (up to 256GB)
Main Camera	50 MP (wide), 12 MP (periscope telephoto), 13 MP (ultrawide)
Selfie Camera	13 MP (ultrawide)
Battery	Li-Po 4460 mAh, 66W wired, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wired
Colors Available	Black, Silver, Purple, Orange
Price	About 720 EUR