Mate 50 and Mate 50 Pro: Huawei proves that it still knows how to make attractive high-end smartphones

Let it be said, Apple is not the first to hold a back-to-school conference. Huawei pulled the rug out from under it, beating the Apple firm by a small day. During its event which lasted more than two hours, the Chinese company rolled out a list of new products covering all possible categories such as home, connected health, automotive and, of course, smartphones. It is this last point that interests us here, the conference having given rise to the announcement of the Mate 50, Mate 50 Pro and Mate 50 RS. New flagships that take the place of the Mate 40 presented almost two years ago, and of which only the Pro version has been marketed in France.

Xmage, Huawei’s in-house photo processing

In addition to the mechanical part of the photo, the firm has developed its own software processing. The partnership with Leica ended, the German company having abandoned Huawei for Xiaomi, the Chinese company had no choice but to manage everything internally. This is how Xmage was born, Huawei’s photo brand promising, thanks to the software treatments it includes, to enhance the brilliance of photos to offer the best possible result. In addition, the Chinese giant is inspired by the practices of duos forged between manufacturers of smartphones and cameras; like them, it allows the user to use colorimetric profiles when shooting. Three are present (Original, Vivid and Bright) to offer various renderings, whether you want more contrast or a little more colorful images. It will be interesting to compare the renderings of the shots captured with a Mate 50 Pro with those of a P50 Pro (released in July 2021). Because if the different photo modules making up its back block are the same on paper, it may very well be that this new image processing changes the situation.

Mate 50 Pro and RS

Huawei’s spearhead is therefore the Mate 50 Pro. And if the strength of the Mate range lies in innovation, this model is no exception to the rule. Its main asset lies – unsurprisingly – in its photo component. The Chinese company equips it with a main module of 50 megapixels (the Sony IMX766) with variable aperture between f/1.4 and f/4.0. Next to it is a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module that also allows you to capture macro shots. To fine-tune the photographic experience, a 64-megapixel telephoto lens has been added, offering up to 3.5x optical magnification. In digital, the firm goes further than its competitors and promises a 200x zoom, double what Samsung offers on the S22 Ultra. If the Mate 50 Pro offers a photo block almost identical to that of the P50 Pro, the Mate 50 Pro RS is slightly different: its telephoto module does not display 64, but 48 Mpx.

In terms of design, Huawei does not revolutionize anything. On the back, the photo island is round, in the wake of the Mates since generation 30 (2019). A reminiscence of the past that we also find on the front with the presence of a notch which houses the sensor for facial recognition as well as a 13 megapixel photo module. The panel also measures 6.74 inches, is based on Oled technology and has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The definition is 2616 x 1212 pixels and Huawei indicates a dimming at 1440 Hz.

Inside, there is a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, but in 4G unfortunately. However, this is a nice evolution compared to the Snapdragon 888 which was still present in some high-end of the firm with red petals. 8 GB of RAM is coupled to the processor as well as 256 or 512 GB of storage depending on the variant chosen. It should be noted that the RS version opts for 12 GB of RAM. The battery is 4700 mAh and wired charging at 66 W is planned. Wireless, it takes 50 W. The IP68 standard is on the program, an excellent point for any self-respecting high-end smartphone.

Matte 50

The non-Pro version of the Mate 50 series acts more as a gateway into the range. Its technical sheet is therefore a little thinner, without being at a discount. We find a 6.7-inch Oled screen, but the refresh rate drops to 90 Hz. The definition is also revised, since we go to 2700 x 1224 pixels. The rear design is similar to the Mate 50 Pro, but the front only has a center punch. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G equips it, with 8 GB of RAM and only 256 GB of storage. The accumulator is a little more modest, with 4460 mAh, but the wired and wireless charges remain identical. The IP68 standard also remains in the game.

On the photo, it also benefits from a main module of 50 megapixels with variable focal length. The 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module is also present. The telephoto lens changes and goes to 12 megapixels, with necessarily a smaller magnification and a digital zoom x100.

A fourth model has been announced in Asia, the Mate 50e, but it’s not featured on Huawei’s global site, which usually covers European releases. Thus, although no announcement has been made concerning possible releases in France, it is not unlikely to see a classic model and a Pro model land in our regions before the end of the year.