The Huawei Pura 80 Pro and Pro+ bring premium cameras, hyper-charging, and satellite communication that most Western phones can only dream of. The question is: is this a new mobile renaissance or just a Chinese chess move with no global clout?
Although it is Huawei in the West, almost synonymous with bans, embargoes and squabbles between superpowers, in China it still behaves like, well… a tech car. And with the new Turkey 80 serieso – especially the Pro and Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ models. The Chinese giant does not hide its ambitions. 1-inch sensors. 100W charging. Two-way satellite communication. Phones that are already better on paper than the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. (with exceptional processors – read on)
But here comes the famous “Huawei but”…
A camera that has complexes only up to Canon
The Pura 80 Pro and Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ feature a 1-inch 50MP main sensor with a variable aperture of f/1.6–f/4.0, a 48MP periscope lens with 4x optical zoom, and a 40MP ultra-wide. These numbers don’t just sound good – they’ve already convinced many reviewers in China. Using its own XMAGE technology instead of Google’s photo processing, Huawei is now competing with the best. All wrapped up in an experience that’s surprisingly… consistent.
But, because there's no Google, there's no HDR+ magic, no Google Photos backup, no "it just works" simplicity. At least not outside of China's borders.
Satellite SOS with Beidou (and without American help)
Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ enables communication via two satellite systems – Beidou and Tiantong. And this without the user having to point the phone at the sky. Photos? You can send them via satellite. Messages? Also. This is no longer the stuff of science fiction – this is the stuff of a market that doesn’t rely on Apple or Google.
Huawei actually leads here. At least at home.
Technology: domestic chipsets, domestic power
Although Huawei has not explicitly confirmed which chip powers the phones – Huawei Pura 80 Pro+, we know that it is likely the homegrown Kirin 9020 – 7nm. According to some tests, it is 36 % faster than its predecessor, which means that the Pura 80 Pro is no longer a “Chinese compromise”, but a serious competitor.
Screen? LTPO OLED, 6.8-inch, 120Hz with new generation Kunlun glass. Battery? 5,700 mAh with 100W wired and 80W wireless charging. Apple and Samsung could copy something here.
China's ace up its sleeve
Here's the thing. In the West, Huawei still carries the scarlet letter "ban". No Google Play, no Spotify, no Western app ecosystem. But in China? Huawei is everything. And the Pura 80 is an iPhone killer for them. With new hardware that is no longer dependent on Qualcomm or Android, with its own software (HarmonyOS) and its own vision. The only question is whether the world will ever invite them back.
Conclusion: Huawei Pura 80 Pro+
The Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ is a beast. It's no longer a "Chinese phone with a good camera," but a top-notch flagship that would otherwise reign supreme on best-of-the-year lists. It's already dominating in China. In the West? It's still a "what if" story.
But let's be honest: if Apple or Samsung don't respond with something truly exceptional, we'll be looking East this year and thinking - maybe it's time for another brand in our pocket.
Huawei is back. Not quietly. By satellite.
