HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Review

After using the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro as our main device for almost a month, it’s time to share our review. The Pura 70 series includes three models, catering to both upper mid-range and flagship users. Positioned in the middle, the Pura 70 Pro aims to balance high-end features with a reasonable price.

So, does it hit the mark, or does it fall short? Here’s our full review!

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Design

The Pura 70 Pro’s design is undeniably unique, making it instantly recognizable. Its “Forward Symbol Design” features a triangular arrangement of camera lenses inspired by the Penrose Triangle.

Initially, the design might seem unusual, but it grows on you, and its distinctiveness becomes a talking point.

Meanwhile, our review unit came in the matte black variant, which is resistant to fingerprints and has a subtle, glittery/noise-like texture on the back. The phone is slim and lightweight, with rounded edges that make it comfortable to hold. However, the semi-curved display can be a bit tricky to use one-handed due to its sensitivity.

The Pura 70 Pro is also built to last, featuring IP68 dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind against the elements.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Display

The display of the Pura 70 Pro is one of its strongest features. It boasts a 6.8-inch OLED screen with minimal bezels, offering an immersive viewing experience. The screen is protected by Kunlun Glass 2, known for its excellent shatter and scratch resistance. In fact, during our time with the phone, it withstood the rigors of daily use, including being carried in pockets with keys and coins, without a scratch.

The display quality is superb, with vibrant colors and deep blacks, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. The curved edges add to the immersive experience, although they might take some getting used to for those unfamiliar with such designs.

We have to mention that while the display’s brightness levels are usually sufficient for most conditions, we did encounter some difficulty seeing the screen clearly under direct sunlight. Enhancing its performance in bright outdoor environments would make a notable improvement.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Camera

The camera system on the Pura 70 Pro is seriously something to get excited about! It boasts a triple-camera setup on the rear: a 50MP ultra-lighting main camera with a variable aperture (f/1.4-f/4.0) and optical image stabilization (OIS), a 48MP ultra-lighting macro telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS, and a 12.5MP ultra-wide-angle camera. This setup is so versatile, it feels like you have a whole A-grade camera kit in your pocket, as it makes mobile photography totally effortless.

In different scenarios, the camera’s performance left us thoroughly impressed. The main camera captures sharp, detailed photos with vibrant, true-to-life colors. And its low-light capabilities? Absolutely amazing, thanks to the large image sensor and advanced noise reduction techniques. In addition, its ultra-speed snapshot mode is a game-changer for action shots, nailing crisp, blur-free images even when things are moving fast. It actually outperformed some flagship phones, including our personal iPhone 15 Pro Max, in this area.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max:

For selfies, the 13MP front snapper is great, too. It delivers natural-looking portraits while subtly enhancing our facial features. Every photo came out Instagram-ready, meaning we could post snaps straight away without needing to tweak or edit them.

More Sample Photos:

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Software

The Pura 70 Pro runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS 14.2, built on Android 14. Sure, the lack of Google Mobile Services might be a dealbreaker for some, but Huawei has been stepping up its game with its own ecosystem of apps and services, including the AppGallery, which keeps getting better. HarmonyOS 14.2 offers a clean, intuitive interface with lots of customization options and productivity features.

For those worried about Google issues, the Pura 70 Pro offers solid alternatives and enough flexibility to keep you connected and productive. We used GBox to get into the Play Store and download apps not natively available on the AppGallery. Nevertheless, you can trust that AppGallery itself has grown a lot, and you can find various top apps there now, making it easier to transition.

However, naturally, there are still popular apps missing from the platform that we want to have. In our case, we turned to APKPure to download games that are not available on AppGallery, and everything we downloaded from there worked seamlessly.

Meanwhile, another cool feature is the interactive lock screen that responds to eye movements, adding a unique and engaging touch to your daily use.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Performance

The Pura 70 Pro, with its Kirin 9010 chipset and 12GB of RAM, delivers smooth and efficient performance. This phone handles gaming and multitasking with ease, thanks to its advanced cooling solutions like a vapor chamber that maintains peak performance even during extended use.

During our review, the Pura 70 Pro managed demanding tasks without any issues. It performed well in both gaming and multitasking, providing a seamless experience with no noticeable lag.

However, we did notice that the phone heats up when the battery is low and we’re still actively using it. The heat is generally manageable and not at an alarming level, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Benchmark Scores:

Overall, the Pura 70 Pro maintains its performance well, even under pressure.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Battery Life

The Pura 70 Pro has a really great battery that lasts a long time, which is one of its coolest features. It has a big 5,050mAh battery inside, so it can keep going all day even if you’re using it a lot. And when you need to charge it up, you can do it super fast with the 100W wired charger or the 80W wireless charger. Plus, it can even charge other stuff like your headphones or smartwatch.

In our case, the battery worked really well. When we used it for things like basic communications, checking social media, and playing games, it lasted for up to 13 hours, which is pretty impressive. It also comes with a 100W SuperCharge adapter that can give it a big boost in just a few minutes. Like, for us, it was able to go from 5% to 20% charged in just 5-10 minutes, and fully charged in less than an hour. So, even if you’re in a hurry, you can get your phone powered up fast.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro Verdict

Tapped as our main driver for almost a month, it’s clear that the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro packs a punch in several key areas. The device impresses with its blend of top-tier features and solid performance, making it a worthy contender in the competitive smartphone market.

Despite the absence of Google Mobile Services, HarmonyOS 14.2 offers a user-friendly interface with enough flexibility to keep users connected and productive, with the growing app selection on the AppGallery and options like APKPure for additional downloads.

It is also packed with AI capabilities, making mobile photography more effortless and fun.