2025 has truly been a banner year for HUAWEI, coming out with banger after banger of a device. From the first tri-fold foldable in the Philippines, to a tablet PC that does it all, HUAWEI can’t seem to lose. And they have one more ace up their sleeve, a photography monster that puts all other phones to shame, meet the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra.
Unboxing: More Than Just a Phone
Since the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra represents the best the Pura line has to offer, it’s only fitting that it arrives with a luxurious entrance. The large, square box immediately hints at the premium offering within.
To say that this unboxing is an experience is a bit of an understatement. You know when you receive one of those big boxes of premium chocolates? It’s like that but even better, because the satisfaction never ends.
Slide the cream-colored sleeve and you’ll be greeted with a simple yet elegant white box with the name embossed in gold. Lift the box, and the first thing you’ll see is the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra itself. Setting that aside reveals a Type-C to Type-C power cable, a 100W SuperCharge power brick, a premium phone case, a SIM ejector tool, and some documentation to get you started.
Let’s talk about the case for a second. While included phone cases aren’t really a dime a dozen in the phone industry, the ones that usually come in the box don’t really scream premium; they’re often just a jelly case or a hard plastic case, sometimes clear, but most often neutral-colored.
But HUAWEI truly went above and beyond with this case. We’re not 100% sure about the materials used, but it provides the phone with amazing grip, making it resistant to accidental slips and falls. There are also triangles populating the back design of the case, echoing the triangular design of the camera island.
Design: Bold Design and a Camera That Demands Attention
From the moment you lift the top part of the box, the first thing that’ll capture your attention is that big camera bump housing the impressive tri-camera setup (which we’ll get to later). Whether you like it or not, the design is undeniably bold and unapologetic.
When you first pick it up, the main thing you’ll notice is just how solid and high-end it feels. It’s definitely hefty at 233.5g, most of it due to the large sensors at the back. Despite that, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra is only 8.3mm thick, quite impressive considering the power it possesses.
HUAWEI spared no expense making the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra, using only premium materials like the second-gen Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass for the front and back, and an aluminum frame that greatly improves its feel in the hand.
First seen on the Pura 70 series, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra’s triangular camera island evolves into an even more striking design, something that truly commands your attention. While some might find it a bit precarious without a case, the contouring around the bump actually provides a surprisingly comfortable resting spot for your finger, aiding grip.
For the Ultra, there are only two colors available: Golden Black and the one we have here, Prestige Gold. Both options feature a reflective, almost mirror-like finish on the rear, adding to their luxurious aesthetic.
Display: A Feast to Behold
The back part is only one aspect of the luxurious experience you get with the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra; the other lies in front with the stunning 6.8-inch 1276 x 2848 LTPO OLED display. It supports a buttery smooth 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR, and 1440Hz PWM dimming for those sensitive to flicker.
Even in direct sunlight, the Pura 80 Ultra manages to perform exceptionally with its 3000 nits peak brightness. Furthermore, the display even looks bezel-less, thanks to the gentle curves on all four sides. But don’t worry, even with those minimal bezels, it never once registered any accidental touches in our initial testing.
Performance: Smooth but with Familiar Caveats
Under the hood, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra is powered by HUAWEI’s in-house Kirin 9020 chipset, running on EMUI 15. Although the Kirin chip may not be the absolute cutting edge in terms of raw performance, it still performs genuinely smoothly, with no noticeable lag or animation stutter. Apps launch quickly, and navigation feels fluid.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the lack of Google Play Services. When HUAWEI first parted ways with Google in 2019, the experience was a little rough around the edges. But those days are largely gone, thanks to HUAWEI’s extensive and tireless work on improving their AppGallery.
Almost all of the most popular apps are now available directly from the AppGallery. But what if the app you’re looking for isn’t available? In those extreme cases, sideloading an app is still a viable option, but don’t expect it to receive native updates or bug fixes.
Camera: The Star of the Show
Now that we’ve covered the undercard, let’s turn our attention to the main event: the Pura 80 Ultra’s camera system.
HUAWEI has long been a company of many innovations, from being one of the first to develop a 5G phone network to debuting the first-ever commercially available tri-fold foldable phone with the HUAWEI Mate XT. The Pura 80 Ultra is no different, being the first smartphone to feature the world’s first “Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera.”
This unique setup utilizes a single 1/1.28-inch sensor for two optical zoom levels: 3.7x (83mm equivalent) and an incredible 9.4x (212mm equivalent), achieving this by physically switching between two lenses. What this means in practice is that the user has two optical zoom capabilities, whereas most flagship smartphones only have one, with the rest relying on digital zoom which doesn’t provide the same clarity.
Meanwhile, the main camera features a large 1-inch Ultra Lighting HDR Camera with a variable aperture of f/1.6 to f/4.0 and a class-leading 16 stops of dynamic range thanks to TCG-HDR technology. There’s also a 40MP ultrawide camera with autofocus and a 1.5MP spectral sensor for enhanced color accuracy.
And for the selfie takers out there, the Pura 80 Ultra comes with a 13MP ultrawide lens that delivers decent results.
Tech specs are great and all, but how does it fare in real-world usage? We gave the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra to our resident videographers for a brief testing session, and here are some of their thoughts along with some of the sample shots they took.
Sean, one of our videographers, had this to say about the Pura 80 Ultra’s camera performance: “I was honestly looking forward to this upcoming iteration for the PURA variants, and it did not disappoint. It seems that HUAWEI’s camera’s dynamic range has been steadily improving. HUAWEI has also been setting the bar for phone camera technology, which goes to show their passion for satisfying their consumers. The only real thing that bugs me is the size of the camera module, but if it means better image quality and camera technology, I can’t really complain.”.
While Kei, our senior videographer, offered this: “Honestly, the way it handled skin tones and exposure is pretty amazing. It’s clean, bright, without sacrificing the details of the image, and the white balancing is on point. Compared to other camera phones we’ve tested, this would be on top of the ones you can actually compare to proper cameras.”
Battery: Powerhouse Performance
We haven’t really tested the Pura 80 Ultra’s battery in extended usage, but going by the specs, we’re pretty confident that this phone could last you the whole day, maybe even more. The camera powerhouse that is the Pura 80 Ultra is powered by a 5170 mAh battery with support for up to 100W wired and 80W wireless SuperCharge.
And if you ever find yourself having to help someone out with their smartphone, the Pura 80 Ultra supports up to 20W of reverse wireless charging and 18W reverse wired charging.
Verdict: A Photography Powerhouse with a Catch
After a little time spent with the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra, we can confidently say that it is playing on a whole different level. Its design is bold, the display is gorgeous, and the battery life, as well as the charging speeds, are top-tier. But, undoubtedly, the main star of the show is its camera system, which pushes the boundaries of smartphone photography.
No smartphone is ever perfect; each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Its weakness lies in Google Mobile Services’ absence, but HUAWEI has been hard at work filling that absence, offering robust alternatives that meet if not surpass the standard.
Ultimately, if you’re primarily seeking the absolute best in mobile photography and don’t care about the ecosystem, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra makes a strong case for itself as an absolute camera beast.
The HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra showcases incredible camera innovation. When considering a new flagship phone, how important are these factors to you?
Let us know what you think!