Last year, the highlight was all about the Pura 80 Ultra with its switchable telephoto lenses.
However, the Chinese super brand rewrites the script this time. HUAWEI ditches both the Pro+ and Ultra models in favor of the all-new Pura 90 Pro Max. That’s alongside a smaller Pro and vanilla models in tow.
Pro Max supremacy
Just like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, the HUAWEI Pura 90 Pro Max also features a ginormous 6.9-inch screen.
It’s an LTPO OLED panel with an adaptive 1~120Hz refresh rate with support for 1.07 Billion Colors and DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut.
After years of hiding the chipset used, HUAWEI has gotten transparent this time.
The Pura 90 Pro Max uses their in-house Kirin 9030S chipset which promises 25% increase in overall performance compared to previous generation. Memory configuration can either be 12/16GB with storage choices between 256/512GB or 1TB.
Battery capacity also got some boost. From last year’s 5700mAh to a bigger 6000mAh capacity this time. HUAWEI SuperCharge speeds remain the same at 100W wired / 80W wireless.
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
Ultimately, the cameras are definitely on the “Pro Max” level. Still, sticking with the brand’s unique “Forward Symbol” camera design.
There’s a 50MP main (wide) camera with a variable aperture between f/1.4 to f/4.0. While HUAWEI’s switchable telephoto lenses aren’t present, its bottom telephoto camera is still very capable at 200MP with a f/2.6 lens opening.
That zoom module is capable of optically zooming in to 4x and as far as 100x digitally.
Ultra-wide shooting is neither compromised at 50MP f/2.2. HUAWEI has also included the RedMaple camera — or a spectral sensor that measures light surroundings for the most accurate image output possible.
As for selfies, it was the same ol’ 13MP f/2.0 front shooter.
HUAWEI joins in the trend by offering this Professional Photography Set with a grip case, lanyard, camera mount and holder, plus that much-needed telephoto lens converter.
The base and the lesser Pro
As mentioned, there’s the HUAWEI Pura 90 Pro which borrows most features found on its bigger brother. Albeit, the camera differences are noticeable.
Pura 90 Pro Max
Pura 90 Pro
Pura 90
Wide
50MP f/1.4~f/4.0
50MP f/1.4~4.0
50MP f/1.6
Ultra-Wide
40MP f/2.2
12.5MP f/2.2
12.5MP f/2.2
Zoom
200MP f/2.6 Telephoto
4x optical zoom
50MP f/2.1 Macro Telephoto
4x optical zoom
50MP f/2.2 Periscope Telephoto
3.7x optical zoom
Selfie
50MP f/2.0
13MP f/2.0
13MP f/2.0
The base Pura 90 offers the best selfie shooter on paper. Meanwhile, the variable aperture main camera is the only thing the smaller Pro borrowed from its Pro Max brother.
Unlike the Pro Max model, the Pura 90 Pro offers the smallest screen size at 6.6 inches. Whereas the base Pura 90 serves as the middle-ground for having a 6.8-inch display.
GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
Moreover, the vanilla variant relies on Kirin 9010S instead — a slightly configured chipset used by the Pura 70 Ultra and Mate 70 series last year. It promises 15% performance improvements nevertheless.
Also, the regular Pura 90 model rocks the biggest smartphone battery in the series at 6500mAh. It also has a dual-punch hole cutout instead of one. It houses an extra ToF 3D sensor for a more secure face unlocking that its Pro siblings do not have.
However, max storage is limited to 512GB, wireless charging is capped at 50W, and front glass protection uses the first iteration of Kunlun glass (vs 2nd gen in Pro models).
All models though are IP68 and IP69 rated and run the updated HarmonyOS 6.1 along its AI magic out of the box.
Pricing and Availability
The HUAWEI Pura 90 Pro Max are available in five nature-inspired colorways: Sea of Oranges, Purple Glow, Emerald Lake, Golden Dawn, Obsidian Black.
On the other hand, the Pura 90 Pro leans more into the fruity side: Pink Guava, Orange Soda, Coconut Green White, Mulberry Black.
GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
Lastly, the base Pura 90 has the least and most generic shades: Roland Purple, Velvet Black, and Snowy White.
12+256GB = CNY 6499 (US$ 910 / EUR 780 / GBP 670 / SG$ 1165 / MYR 3765 / PhP 51,650 / INR 78,850)
12+512GB = CNY 6999 (US$ 980 / EUR 835 / GBP 730 / SG$ 1260 / MYR 4130 / PhP 56,440 / INR 87,110)
16+512GB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1100 / EUR 900 / GBP 780 / SG$ 1345 / MYR 4355 / PhP 59,590 / INR 90,980)
16+1TB = CNY 8499 (US$ 1185 / EUR 1020 / GBP 870 / SG$ 1520 / MYR 4930 / PhP 67,670 / INR 101,930)
12+256GB = CNY 5499 (US$ 770 / EUR 660 / GBP 570 / SG$ 985 / MYR 3190 / PhP 43,700 / INR 66,720)
12+512GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 845 / EUR 730 / GBP 635 / SG$ 1095 / MYR 3560 / PhP 49,085 / INR 74,715)
16+512GB = CNY 6499 (US$ 910 / EUR 780 / GBP 670 / SG$ 1165 / MYR 3765 / PhP 51,650 / INR 78,850)
16+1TB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1100 / EUR 900 / GBP 780 / SG$ 1345 / MYR 4355 / PhP 59,590 / INR 90,980)
12+256GB = CNY 4699 (US$ 660 / EUR 570 / GBP 495 / SG$ 860 / MYR 2780 / PhP 38,400 / INR 58,300)
12+512GB = CNY 5199 (US$ 730 / EUR 630 / GBP 550 / SG$ 950 / MYR 3075 / PhP 42,485 / INR 64,500)
16+512GB = CNY 5699 (US$ 795 / EUR 700 / GBP 590 / SG$ 1020 / MYR 3300 / PhP 43,970 / INR 67,670)
* These are only rough conversion estimates
Pre-orders and availability are currently limited to China. We have to wait if HUAWEI decides to bring these to global markets.