In a time where smartphone camera innovations have typically plateaued, HUAWEI is still changing the game with its P Series smartphones, now rebranded as the HUAWEI Pura Series. The HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra, in particular, has won approval everywhere with its groundbreaking camera tech. It was also recently technically tried and tested by DXOMark, and is currently ranked first on its list of top smartphone cameras of 2024.
Since its release, the phone has been hailed as a stellar performer in many aspects; whether in camera, design, or battery power. Here are the smartphone’s new features that have been creating a buzz among reviewers in recent weeks.
Ultra Speed Snapshot: Shutter that Captures at Breakneck Speeds
The smartphone’s game-changing Ultra Speed Snapshot has been “jaw-dropping”, according to Forbes reviewer Ben Sin, with a camera shutter that operates at incredibly rapid speeds, allowing perfect still shots of moving subjects going up to 300km/h – that’s faster than the speed of a maglev train!
This was made possible with a combination of the camera’s hardware and software technology. Luke Baker of Trusted Reviews noted that “using [Ultra Speed] snapshot mode, the phone will simultaneously capture a long and a quick exposure, then combine them together using some AI magic. What you end up with is a crystal-clear shot with frozen motion and perfect exposure.”
Baker also calls the smartphone’s Ultra Lighting Pop-Out Camera the “most exciting camera”, which incorporates a “1-inch sensor size, a mechanical aperture that can switch from f/1.6-f/4.0 and, of course, that fancy retractable lens.” It’s no surprise that this feature has become a main highlight of the camera, especially since the camera boasts the industry’s largest aperture.
Ultra Lighting Macro Camera: Goes Daringly Close
The smartphone introduces one of the highest-performing tele macro zoom cameras in the industry, winning acclaim from critics who noted the camera’s ability to unlock microscopic wonders. As CNET’s resident tech journalist Sareena Dayaram highlighted, “I was truly impressed by what I could capture. I could envision how it opens up creative possibilities. Some of the details captured by the camera were difficult or even impossible to see with my naked eye.”
Thanks to the camera’s long travel slide zoom, the smartphone has been able to produce extra clear images up-close and over far distances. Images can be captured with a minimum focus distance of 5cm during telephoto photography and supports up to 35X macro zoom. It is also equipped with the industry’s largest periscope telephoto aperture of F2.1 – enabling a record-breaking aperture size that betters image quality. The result is clear-cut yet artistic shots that allow us to explore the tiny wonders around us that mostly go unnoticed.
Intelligently Designed with Boundary Pushing Aesthetics
The HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra is also remarkable for its thoughtful design – with unique colourways and a vegan leather back panel, the smartphone doesn’t just look good but feels good in hand. The smartphone also features a unique camera module design, known as the “Forward Symbol Design”, adding a touch of uniqueness that CNET praises the smartphone’s fashion-forward design that’s “easily recognisable from a distance.”
Critics have also commended the HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra for maintaining its sleek look and compact size even while fitting a large camera sensor. Through the design of the camera module and the Ultra Lighting Pop Out Camera, the smartphone defies spatial limitations and delivers top quality camera performance. Forbes emphasised that “sensor sizes this large necessitates a thickness, which is why other Chinese phones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra are so thick, at 9.2mm or more,” and yet, “HUAWEI’s Pura 70 Ultra is thinner, at 8.4mm. This achievement owes it to the phone’s pop-out camera system, which protrudes when activated and retracts when not in use.”
Built to Perform, Inside and Out
The smartphone isn’t all about its exterior beauty but also its high-performing features inside and out. With hardware and software features that add to the overall user experience, critics have applauded the all-rounded robustness of the smartphone.
On top of its stunning curved screen design that sports a 6.8-inch OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate – the device is also protected with a new and improved Crystal Armour Kunlun Glass, which has been tried and proven effective against scratches and knocks. As Trusted Reviews’ Baker noticed, “my display still looks pristine, despite over a week of heavy use with no screen protector.” This not only gives users added assurance it is guarded against wear and tear but also saves users multiple trips to the repair stores.
The smartphone’s operating software has also been upgraded with the latest EMUI 14.2, which has exceeded expectations with its seamless and ultra-fast interface. Trusted Reviews notes that “HUAWEI’s software is so well optimised that navigating the OS feels lightning-quick, apps open quickly, and scrolling is super smooth.”