When the Huawei P20 Series was launched in Paris in April, both the P20 Pro and P20 came out on the top two spots of the DxOMark—a well-known website that provides standards for standalone cameras, lenses, and mobile devices with cameras. This outstanding record made by the P20 series is founded on two important factors: hardware breakthrough and advanced algorithms.
In terms of its hardware breakthrough, Huawei’s P20 Series relies on its revolutionary camera system. The brand’s collaboration with Leica over the years has never ceased to spur groundbreaking technology in smartphone photography. And for the P20 Series, this partnership generated the use of three VARIO-SUMMILUX lenses.
The P20 Pro has a massive 1/1.7-inch 40-megapixel RGB sensor module, coupled with a 27mm f/1.8 lens for faithful recreation of fine details; a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor module that is paired with a 27mm f/1.6 lens for shots that are intended to have a classic look; and the industry’s first 80-megapixel sensor with long zoom lens that enable the device to support 3x optical zoom and 5x hybrid zoom (10x digital zoom is also available).
As of present time, Huawei P20 Pro has the industry’s largest CMOS image sensor (1/1.7-inch) to date. Because of this, it can capture larger individual pixels, taking in more light which then result to high ISO. This leads to a high signal-to-noise ratio. A single pixel on the image sensor of P20 Pro is 1.55μm. You get brighter, more detailed images, even in low light conditions, and are able to achieve a more natural-looking virtual bokeh effect for portraits. The large sensor also allows you to zoom in with minimal loss in image quality.
Powered by a pixel fusion technology, the P20 Pro’s 40-megapixel image signals are super-sampled into an output with a 10-megapixel resolution. This technology lets the RGB color sensor absorb more light and more information, giving you images with better light sensitivity and wider dynamic range. It also gives the artificial intelligence-enhanced image stabilization more information to work with. The P20 Pro also supports an ISO rating of up to 102400 even in extremely low-light situations. It’s an ISO rating that hasn’t been beaten yet by other smartphone manufacturers, pushing these phones into point-and-shoot camera territory.
Aside from a highly photosensitive large image sensor, the P20 Series also has a multi-frame RAW noise reduction, a key for HDR photos to have a never-before-seen level of clarity. The HDR mode of the Huawei P20 dodges and burns images before writing the files into memory. Because of this, the new portrait mode delivers beautiful results whether or not there is a backlit photo or low light environment.
On top of the hardware enhancements, Huawei is pushing for an easier experience with the P20 series’ software. Huawei developed a “Suggest Engine” for its Master AI, smart AI assistant, which reads camera data in real time. It can detect scenes much easier and uses user input to self-calibrate and set the camera up to suit what the scene and user preference demands.
With the advanced technology that Huawei’s P20 Series has to offer with its functional features, it now sets standards, aside from just living up to them. It is an embodiment of how more smartphone brands are starting to rise up in the competition and carving their marks in the industry—and they excel in it.
The Huawei P20 Pro retails for P44,990, whereas the Huawei P20 goes for P34,990. The P20 Series is now available at authorized Huawei stores nationwide.
Photos by Nicole C. Batac
