After a very encouraging year with the P9 series, Huawei has gone from strength to strength with the introduction of the 2017 flagships, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus. The P10 series are designed to offer great performance at lower-than-expected price points, making them very competitive products.
High Storage & RAM
The Huawei P10 and P10 Plus are generously packed with hardware. The P10 has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, while the P10 Plus packs even more: a whopping 6GB of RAM with 128GB of onboard storage – few smartphones today have this combination.
The 6GB of RAM will be especially useful for those who demand the most out of their smartphones. Multitasking and running multiple apps are a breeze on the P10 Plus, and if 128GB is not enough for you, the microSD card slot allows you to expand the storage even more.
Battery
Huawei’s new P10 series feature the new SuperCharge technology, which is Huawei’s new proprietary fast charging tech. Huawei has successfully designed a charging module that has low voltage and high current output, making it not only safer but delivers a faster charging rate. There is also a five-layer security control to ensure the safety of the battery cells.
This is particularly important, because the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus have high capacity batteries for exceptional battery life. The 5.1-inch P10 has a generous 3,200mAh battery, while the 5.5-inch P10 Plus has a huge 3,750mAh cell; in comparison, the new 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S8+ only has a 3,500mAh battery with an older fast-charging standard.
In our review, the P10 managed to charge from zero to 50% in only 30 minutes of charging.
Fast & Accurate Fingerprint Sensor
Huawei’s smartphones have consistently incorporated exceptionally good fingerprint sensors, and the P10 and P10 Plus keep up this high standard. The sensors are lightning fast, requiring just a quick tap to bring you to the home screen. It is also very accurate, usually requiring just one tap where some other phones may require the “correct” orientation to unlock.
What’s more, the new fingerprint sensor location makes it easier than ever to unlock the P10 and P10 Plus securely. It is now at the front underneath the display, providing easy access and convenience. You don’t have to perform finger gymnastics and accidentally smudge the rear camera to unlock these phones.
Camera
The smartphone camera is more important than ever before. With so many good smartphones to choose from, a good camera is definitely one of the defining factors in choosing a smartphone.
Huawei was one of the first companies to ship a flagship smartphone with a dual rear camera setup. Not only that, the company worked closely with legendary camera company, Leica, to develop a brand new dual-camera sensor that brings more than just software gimmicks.
Now in the second generation, the dual camera setup on the P10 series offer even more for consumers. The RGB sensor captures true-to-life images and the monochrome sensor captures intricate details, which are automatically fused together to produce one stunning shot.
Besides that, the new 20MP monochrome sensor packs quite a punch – it took the best black and white shots among the smartphones we’ve tested so far. Plus, the new Portrait mode lets you take captivating portraits with bokeh effects using a mix of software and data taken from both sensors.
Not to forget, the 8MP f/1.9 front camera on the P10 and P10 Plus are Leica-certified too.
And then there’s the new Portrait feature that combines 3D facial detection, dynamic illumination and enhancements to capture clear, crisp photos. A natural bokeh effect is achieved with a depth-of-field algorithm, making your subjects pop.
Finally, there’s the Professional mode that enables you to customize shutter speed, ISO, white balance and much more. A variety of modes – including portrait, Leica lm colors, monochrome, beauty, HDR, panorama, night shot, time-lapse and slow-mo – expand your creative freedom.
This is easily the best smartphone camera Huawei has ever developed – and it will only get better. Just check out these sample images with the captured with the P10:
ISO 50, 1/454s, f/2.2
ISO 64, 1/50s, f/2.2
ISO 200, 1/33s, f/2.2
ISO 50, 1/3448s, f/2.2
ISO 640, 1/20s, f/2.2
Here’s what the Portrait Mode can do on the Huawei P10 Plus:
ISO 160, 1/60s, f/1.8
ISO 160, 1/33s, f/1.8
Value For Money
Finally, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus offer excellent value for money. In recent times Huawei has produced some really good devices at very competitive price points. The Mate S signaled a shift in the company’s direction, before the Mate 8 turned heads with its package. The P9 series, however, was the defining moment for Huawei.
The P10 series are set to continue on that path, with the P10 priced at RM2,499 and the P10 Plus at 3,099. Though they are priced higher than the P9 series, the improved build quality and better materials make the P10 series more durable in the long run.
Not to forget, they are covered by Huawei’s extensive warranty for the P10 and P10 Plus. This includes a one-year warranty with a one-time one-to-one exchange, one-time free LCD replacement within 3 months, door-to-door pickup and delivery service, priority service at Huawei Exclusive Service Centres, and 2x free cleaning service within 12 months.
Few companies offer such extensive coverage for smartphones, let alone at no additional charge.
Strong Flagship Choices
These days, it is easy to find a very good smartphone – but having one that offers great performance and value for money is a little tougher. Huawei has designed the P10 series to be accessible for more consumers; for the budget conscious, there’s even the P10 Lite.
Not only that, with most smartphones looking the same, Huawei went for a unique approach with the P10 and P10 Plus’ colour options. The company worked in partnership with the world’s foremost authority on colour, the Pantone Colour Institute, to design two new colourways for the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus: Dazzling Blue and Greenery. The colours are then optimised by Huawei for a beautiful, glow-effect finish.
Whether it is the P10 or P10 Plus, Huawei has a strong flagship alternative for those looking for something different – and be rewarded by it.
Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Huawei.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.
