For anyone familiar with Huawei's Mate series, you must know that this device has always stood out in the flagship segment with an improved camera system. Now, Huawei has not only improved the camera capabilities, but also improved the durability aspect. After several years of absence in the global market including Malaysia, this appearance feels more meaningful.
What's in the Box?
The Huawei Mate 80 Pro comes in a neatly organized box, complete with important accessories such as SIM pins, manual, plastic frame, USB-C to USB-C cable and 100W charger head. Interestingly, this charger still uses a two-in-one hybrid port (USB-C + USB-A) just like I found on their previous Pura models. The overall arrangement of the box is neat and the experience of opening this box gives an initial impression of a premium device with great attention to detail.
Design and Screen Display
The last model I had the chance to use was the Mate50 Pro which at the time received various reactions because of its round camera module, to the point that some called it like a washing machine. This time, Huawei still maintains the round shape, but looks neater with a combination of elements from the Mate 60 and Mate 40.
HUAWEI Mate 50 Pro
Huawei calls this design the Brand-New Dual Space Ring Design, which is an evolution of the iconic design of the Mate series. This Dual Ring is not just a style but brings symbolism to the philosophy of 'Innovative Exploration' that is the core of the Mate series. This is the message Huawei tried to convey during a briefing session with the media yesterday.
The body of the Mate 80 Pro comes with a boxy design on the front and back while the curved sides provide a more comfortable grip. The flat edge display with thin bezels also adds a modern touch to the entire design.
The Mate 80 Pro's camera module does stand out a little and feels unbalanced because the top is heavier than the bottom. From my experience, it reminds me of the iPhone 12 Pro design that I have used before, and even when compared to the Oppo Find X9 Pro that I tested not long ago, it actually feels lighter and more ergonomically balanced.
This shows how each brand takes a different approach in trying to balance the camera module with the overall design of the device. Although the Mate 80 Pro emphasizes a more powerful camera system, the compromise on the weight of the upper part slightly affects the balance when held.
In addition, the Mate 80 Pro also comes with IP68/69 certification to make it waterproof at high temperatures and pressures. This feature adds interesting value for a device in the premium segment because it not only emphasizes the design aspect, but also durability in daily use.
However, there are changes to the security system such as the fingerprint scanner is now moved to the power button. I mention this change with reference to my experience using the Mate50 previously since I did not have the opportunity to review the Mate60 and Mate70. However, I understand that this change has actually been introduced since the Mate70.
The Mate70 series comes with a fingerprint scanner on the side, different from the previous model which used an in-screen fingerprint scanner. This new option feels more practical because it not only improves ease of use, but also improves security aspects. This method is also more consistent than traditional in-display scanners.
Although it may seem like a slight downgrade, Huawei still retains the 3D TOF Face Unlock feature that is rarely offered on other Android devices. The presence of this feature ensures that users have more comprehensive security options, thus maintaining the premium experience that is the identity of the Mate series.
The button arrangement on the Mate 80 Pro is standard, with the power button on the right followed by the audio adjustment button. The left side is empty, while at the top there is only a microphone hole. At the bottom, there is a SIM slot, USB-C charging port and speaker.
The screen display is also a major concern for anyone who sees it. There are three small holes in the upper center of the screen, where one is used for the 3D TOF Face Unlock system, while the other houses the selfie camera. The function of the third hole is still unknown.
This 6.75-inch screen uses an LTPO OLED panel with support for 1.07 billion colors. It also comes with a 1-120 Hz refresh rate, a 1440 Hz high-frequency PWM dimming system, and a touch sampling rate of up to 300 Hz. The screen resolution reaches 2832 × 1280 pixels with a density of 460 ppi to ensure a sharper and clearer display.
Hardware and Internal Software
The Mate 80 Pro is powered by the Kirin 9030 Pro chip with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. For the Malaysian market, only this one variant will be offered. There is no virtual RAM as is often offered on some devices from China and an SD card slot is also not provided here.
In terms of performance, the improvement may not be too big compared to the chip I tested on the Pura80 before. However, based on this initial experience, it still feels smooth for daily tasks such as opening applications, scrolling through social media or doing work. The device also uses the EMUI 15 operating system for markets outside China. EMUI 15 comes with various AI-based features designed to help the daily usage experience be easier and more practical.
Among the interesting features is AI Composition, which helps get the best photo angle without having to try a lot. There is also AI Gesture Control, which allows the phone to be controlled only with hand movements without touching the screen. In terms of privacy, AI Smart Notification ensures that notifications cannot be read by others, while AI Noise Cancellation improves sound quality during calls.
In addition, AI Smart Control gives users the freedom to customize the power button function. For example, I set it to the Gemini application where with just two clicks I can quickly open the application. This function can also be modified for other functions as appropriate.
AI Remove allows unwanted objects to be removed from the image, while AI Best Expression selects the most appropriate facial expression, especially when the image does not look like closed eyes. Finally, there is Intelligent Identification that helps with intelligent recognition in various situations.
The Mate 80 Pro battery comes with a capacity of 5750 mAh, and is supported by 100W wired fast charging and 80W wireless charging. Looking at this figure, it may seem a little small compared to some other flagship devices that have now reached a capacity of 6000mAh. However, the capacity on paper does not necessarily reflect the actual performance.
What is more important to evaluate on the Mate 80 Pro is not just the battery number but how Huawei has optimized the software and hardware to ensure good durability in daily use. Although the 5750mAh capacity seems modest compared to some other flagship devices that have reached 6000mAh, the real experience can only be determined after a more in-depth usage test is conducted in the upcoming review.
Camera Settings And Image Results
Huawei Mate 80 Pro comes with a pretty impressive camera setup. It is equipped with a 50MP Ultra Lighting main camera (F1.4–F4.0 aperture, OIS, RYYB), a 40MP Ultra-Wide Angle (F2.2 aperture, RYYB), and a 48MP Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto (F2.1 aperture, OIS). In addition, there is also a True-to-Colour camera that completes the photography system of this device. The zoom capability reaches up to 4 × optical zoom, while video recording supports resolutions up to 3840 × 2160 pixels.
The photography features offered are also very diverse including AI Composition, AI Moving Picture, Ultra Speed Snapshot, Night Mode, Super Macro, High-res, Time-Lapse, Ultra Wide Angle Lens, Adjustable Physical Aperture, Portrait, Pro Mode, Slow-Mo, Panorama, Light Painting, Filter, Stickers, Master AI, Capture Smiles, Audio Control, Timer and Burst Shooting. For the front camera, it uses a 13MP sensor which is quite adequate for selfies and video calls.
In my initial experience, the Mate 80 Pro camera really shows convincing performance. The image results from the main camera look satisfactory with the help of the telephoto lens which is able to provide clearer details and more accurate colors. The True-to-Colour feature advertised by Huawei can also be seen in the captured results whether during the day, dusk or night with almost everything looking consistent and striking.
From the few pictures I took, it is clear that the Mate 80 Pro camera system is capable of producing good quality in its class. However, this is just an initial view based on a brief test. I will share a full review of the camera capabilities in a more in-depth review in the future, so that the true picture of its potential can be assessed more thoroughly.
Initial Impressions
The Mate 80 Pro marks the return of the Mate series in the premium device segment after several years of silence without new arrivals. Many began to assume that the Mate series was no longer being continued and was replaced by the Pura series for the global market. However, the presence of the Mate 80 Pro clearly refuted that notion, and even raised questions about whether the Pura series would be continued this year because so far there has been no official information about it.
HUAWEI Pura80 Pro
Returning to the Mate 80 Pro, its offering looks quite interesting in several aspects. Although the screen does not show a drastic improvement, the camera system presented feels more convincing, especially with the XMAGE imaging technology that Huawei is focusing on. My initial experience using this camera system feels almost the same as the Pura series that I have tested before, including the Mate X7 which stands out as a foldable device with a strong camera system. As usual, I will only be able to evaluate the full performance in an in-depth review to come.
Huawei also promised that this device will be marketed at a price of around RM3,XXX although the official range has not been announced. This makes the premium segment even more attractive as big brands like Apple and Samsung offer their flagship devices at higher prices. The official price of the Mate 80 Pro will only be known during its official launch on March 12, 2026.
