Huawei has officially launched its Pura 80 Series in South Africa, smartphones the company believes marks a significant step forward in mobile photography. The company’s latest device, the Pura 80 Pro, features one of the most advanced smartphone camera systems currently on the market, led by a 1-inch sensor. Huawei notes this 1-inch sensor allows for up to 40% more light intake than conventional sensors, significantly improving image clarity in low-light and high-contrast environments.

Driving image quality

The camera system includes Super HDR functionality and a physically adjustable aperture, enabling users to control light and depth of field in a manner typically reserved for DSLR cameras. These features allow for precise image capture in challenging lighting conditions, from bright outdoor scenes to dimly lit interiors.

At the core of the Pura 80 Pro is a 50 MP Ultra Lighting Camera with a 10-stop variable aperture ranging from F1.6 to F4.0, providing granular control over lighting and depth. A 48 MP Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera with a large F2.1 aperture and optical image stabilisation complements the primary lens, alongside a 40 MP ultra-wide camera.

Finally, Huawei states the Ultra Chroma Camera fine-tunes each shot at the pixel level, to enhance colour accuracy and vivid reproduction.

Here are the specs for the camera system:

50 MP 1-inch Ultra Lighting Camera (F1.6~F4.0 aperture, OIS) 
40 MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (F2.2 aperture)
48 MP Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera (F2.1 aperture, OIS)
1.5 M Spectral Channels Ultra Chroma Camera.

Fashion Next Design

Beyond photography, the Pura 80 Pro is crafted with an emphasis on design, drawing inspiration from fine Italian jewellery. The handset features a Silk-Textured Frame and comes in two colour variants: Glazed Red and Glazed Black. We believe it will be the Glazed Red which will draw the most attention, especially with the starburst pattern that adorns the Forward Symbol at the back.

The 6.8” Huawei X-True Display offers an adaptive 1-120 Hz LTPO refresh rate, a 300 Hz touch sampling rate and peak brightness of 3000 nits, ensuring clarity and fluidity even in direct sunlight.

The device runs on EMUI 15 and introduces several AI-driven features, including AI Messaging, which hides message previews from non-owners, and AI Gesture Controls. It also includes a Smart Control Button with fingerprint recognition for enhanced security.

With a 5170 mAh battery, the Pura 80 Pro supports 100 W wired SuperCharge and 80 W wireless charging, providing fast and convenient power replenishment. The handset carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance, including protection against high-pressure sprays.

The previous Huawei Pura 70 Ultra currently sits at number three on DXOMARK’s Top Smartphones by Camera ranking, so it should be interesting to see where the new Huawei models will be placed.

The Huawei Pura 80 Pro is available in South Africa through retail partners from R889 per month over 36 months, bundled with a free Huawei nova Y72s and additional gifts valued at R9 395. For outright purchases, the device is priced at R24 999, including the same gift bundle, via the Huawei Online Store and Huawei Experience Stores.