EVEN without the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus, the past year had already been a tumultuous time for Huawei since being placed on the US trade blacklist.
So it was not surprising that world’s third-biggest smartphone company proceeded with the launch of its always anticipated P Series on the exact same date as last year, March 26.
Yes, its a tough time to launch a snazzy new device, and getting a new phone might be the last thing on everyone’s mind. But for us tech writers, it gave us something to be excited about after being isolated for the past couple of weeks. We’ve also gotten used to these launch events being streamed anyways, and from the looks of things, it may be the norm for all the upcoming devices in the next few months.
If you do plan on getting a P40 or P40 Pro, Huawei has this nice preorder package with some interesting freebies, and you don’t even have to go out of your house to get it, but more on than later.
As they say, good things come in threes, and just like Samsung and Apple, Huawei is also releasing a trio of variants this year, all built on the glowing reputation of the P Series’ excellent cameras.
‘AGE OF VISIONARY PHOTOGRAPHY’
I ADMIT, when I first read that tagline, it reminded me of a cartoon series I used to watch way back when I was a kid, called Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light. Turns out, it’s quite apt tagline, as the P40 introduces a radical new camera system that captures excellent photos in the dark—it’s almost like magic!
Technically speaking however, it’s because of Huawei’s advanced Ultra Vision Leica camera system—a triple-camera for the P40, quad-camera for the P40 Pro and a new penta-camera for the P40 Pro+. The standard P40 delivers outstanding photographic results with ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The P40 Pro features an evolution of the Leica Quad Camera with a more powerful Ultra Wide Cine Camera and ToF Camera alongside 50x SuperSensing Zoom. The P40 Pro+ lets consumers see the unprecedented with the SuperZoom Array, which supports 10x true optical zoom and 100x maximum digital zoom. The Ultra Vision Sensor is Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor to date measuring 1/1.28 inches diagonally. It supports pixel binning to achieve a pixel size of 2.44µm and Full Pixel Octa PD AutoFocus for high-speed focus at any time of day. The Huawei XD Fusion Engine integrates and processes data from multiple cameras to generate a comprehensive improvement in picture quality.
The P30 Pro made headlines last year for its zooming capabilities and the P40 takes that further, and you even closer—and clearer—to your subject with 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and 50x maximum digital zoom. For the first time ever, the 5x Optical Telephoto Camera in the P40 Pro includes a RYYB color filter array to boost light intake and improve quality of zoomed shots. The P40 Pro+ has a 100x SuperZoom Array with a new periscope design that reflects light five times, extending the light path by 178 percent to support 10x true optical zoom. The optically stabilized Ultra Vision Wide Camera and SuperZoom Array work in tandem with AI to realize Triple OIS+AIS for vastly improved photo and video stabilization.
Skin tone and texture are faithfully reproduced by a new Multi-Spectrum Color Temperature Sensor and AI AWB algorithm that boost color accuracy by 45 percent. Deep learning algorithms provide real-time portrait optimizations that enhance lighting and detail. Both the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ have a 32MP AF Camera and IR Depth Camera that support autofocus and Bokeh reproduction to deliver the same outstanding portrait effects that are signature to Huawei devices, as well as IR Face Unlock for device unlock even in low light conditions.
As for the camera features, the most interesting addition is “Golden Snap,” which includes AI Best Moment, which chooses the best frames from a Moving Picture; AI Remove Reflection that removes glare; and like Thanos’ “snap,” AI Remove Passerby, which can remove unwanted subjects (photo bombers, for example) from your perfect shot.
Huawei also improved the video capabilities of the P40 series. The 40MP Ultra Wide Cine Camera in the Pro and Pro+ has a focal length that is equivalent to 18mm and a 1/1.54-inch sensor supporting the 3:2 aspect ratio. SedecimPixel Fusion Technology is built into this camera to support 16-in-1 pixel binning, producing super pixels that measure 4.48µm to boost light sensitivity up to ISO51200 and enable 7680fps Ultra Slow-Motion video capture. It can even support real-time bokeh effects for your videos to help highlight the main subject of the footage. The telephoto camera can capture high-quality zoom footage, as well as 4K time-lapse videos.
With these camera creds, its no wonder that the Huawei P40 Pro has again reclaimed the title of best smartphone camera from the DxOMark with a top score of 128 points. Huawei’s flagship got a photo score of 140 and a video score of 105, both setting new records. DxOMark pointed out that in tests the P40 Pro delivered very wide dynamic range, good levels of detail at medium and long range, as well as bokeh shots, and praised its autofocus performance and exposure at night.
OVERFLOW DISPLAY, FAMILIAR DESIGN
BOTH the Huawei P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ are equipped with what the company calls a Quad-Curve Overflow Display. Inspired by the art of motion, the display takes on a curved edge on all four sides, creating a shape that is reminiscent of water on the cusp of overflowing from the rim of a filled cup. The super narrow bezels and streamlined round corners ensure an ergonomic hold and a near borderless look, while an enhanced in-screen fingerprint reader offers 30 percent faster biometric authentication.
When the Samsung Note 10 was released late last year, some pointed out that it looked a lot like the P30 Pro. This time, it’s the P40 Series that looks similar to the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, particularly the back because of the shape and size of the camera modules. Some call it a convergent evolution as designers don’t really have a lot of options to position three, four, or five cameras without making camera modules even larger or oddly-shaped.
As for the colors, your choices for the P40 and P40 Pro include the glossy Deep Sea Blue, or a unique refractive matte glass finish in Blush Gold and Silver Frost. The Huawei P40 Pro+ is different as it features an exquisite nano-tech ceramic back panel.
The Huawei P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G that can deliver integrated 5G connectivity with the most comprehensive 5G band support, robust AI performance and power efficiency. Display responsiveness and gaming experience are taken to the next level by the upgraded graphics rendering engine making the most of the 90Hz panel on the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+.
The P40 series runs on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1. Two upcoming features to look forward to via HOTA updates are MeeTime, which supports 1080p Full HD video calls on Huawei smartphones and tablets, and the Huawei Vision TV and Celia, a voice-enabled assistant.
Huawei likewise continues to improve its own App Gallery, working in close collaboration with global developers to offer a wide range of global and local apps. There’s also a rich library of quality entertainment media on Huawei Video, Huawei Music and Huawei Reader, with new additions from top content providers being added on a continuous basis.
Finally, since the community quarantine still in effect, Huawei has partnered with Lazada, Shopee and MemoXpress so you don’t have to leave the house to order and just wait for it to be delivered. Preorders will be until April 24 and will come with freebies worth as much as P12,285. This includes Huawei Freebuds (P8,990), Band 4 (P1,890), 50GB cloud storage for one year and GCash voucher, PayMaya credits, GMovies discount and a Booky Prime membership for three months. The new P40 and P40 Pro retails at P36,990 and P50,990, respectively. n