Launch report · Huawei
Huawei Mate 50: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 4G with Ultra Aperture XMAGE camera.
SpecEagle Editorial·Sep 2022·$899·Score 80/100
The Mate 50 introduced two firsts in the smartphone market: a true variable-aperture main camera (f/1.4 to f/4.0) for depth-of-field control, and consumer satellite messaging via China's BeiDou — features that took rivals years to copy.
Key specs at launch
Display
6.7" FHD+ OLED, 90Hz, 1500 nits
Chipset
Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 4G
RAM
8 GB LPDDR5
Storage
128/256/512 GB UFS 3.1
Battery
4460 mAh, 66W wired + 50W wireless
Main camera
50 MP variable aperture + 13 MP ultrawide + 12 MP 5x periscope
Weight
202 g
What stands out
- First phone with variable-aperture main camera
- Satellite SMS via BeiDou
- IP68 sealing
What to watch
- No 5G under continued sanctions
- No Google services
- 202 g is heavier than most rivals
The phone it has to beat
Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro
$649 · score 89/100