Huawei Launches the HUAWEI P40 Series, 10x Optical Zoom

Amid the COVID-19 chaos, Huawei has launched the HUAWEI P40 Series as planned. This year, they introduce 3 models – the HUAWEI P40, P40 Pro and a new P40 Pro+, and also companion products like the Sound X, WATCH GT 2e and latest S/S ’20 GENTLE MONSTER x HUAWEI Eyewear.

Check out this intro video.

Every year (or half a year), Huawei never fails to come up with an interesting design for its phone. For the latest P40 Series, it is introducing the Quad-Curve Overflow Display.

For the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 Pro+, they have the same screen size and specs. It is almost bezel-less.

Without fail, Richard Yu would like to compare their latest flagship phones with competitors.

Screen to Body Ratio

Battery Size

Huawei also introduces eSIM to the P40 Series. And it still maintains 2 Nano SIM slots (which Nano SIM 2 can be used as an NM Card slot).

This year, HUAWEI P40 Series comes with Triple Camera (P40), Quad Camera (P40 Pro), and Penta Camera (P40 Pro+) configuration.

And these three smartphones come with very big camera sensors.

Here is a comparison of the sensor size to competitors. As you may already know, the bigger the sensor, the more light it can pass through (which translates to good low light capability).

Here is a general overview of the camera systems for the 3 models.

All the phones are powered by the Kirin 990 5G chipset.

And they have Wi-Fi 6 Plus powered by a dedicated Kirin Chip. Check out the comparison table.

For the HUAWEI P40 Pro and P40 Pro+, the front camera is a 32 MP autofocus camera together with an IR Depth/Gesture camera. Note that the P40 front-facing camera is a fixed focus camera (not shown here).

And only the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+ have Directional Audio Zoom. This is a great feature. When you zoom in to the subject, the microphone will also “zoom in” to record the sound. BTW, Huawei is not the first to implement this.

The Cine Camera is a very important camera for video capture. Here is an overview of the SuperSensing Cine Camera for P40 Pro and P40 Pro+.

HUAWEI P40 Pro+

HUAWEI P40 Pro+ features a nano-tech ceramic back panel that is kilned and polished to ensure durability. This unique design comes in two colors: White Ceramic and Black Ceramic.

The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has the best cameras. It has a SuperZoom Array that supports 10x true optical zoom and 100x digital zoom.

To achieve the 10x Optical Zoom, it uses a more sophisticated Periscope system than the P30 Pro.

Here is a comparison of the zoom to competitors.

Finally, the P40 Pro+ comes with the amazing 40W wireless charging. I believe this is the first for a smartphone.

And here is the comparison table against the competitors.

HUAWEI P40 Pro

As I have already mentioned most of the commonality of the P40 Pro and P40 Pro+, I will just share some specs on the rear camera.

Rear Camera

Quad Leica lens camera:

  • 50MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9, OIS)
  • 40MP Cine Camera (Ultra-Wide Angle, f/1.8)
  • 12MP SuperSensing Telephoto Camera (f/3.4, OIS)
  • 3D Depth Sensing Camera

Front camera

  • 32MP Selfie Camera (f/2.2, Auto Focus) + Depth Camera

HUAWEI P40

Here are the specs for the P40 rear camera.

Rear camera

Triple Leica lens camera:

  • 50MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9)
  • 16MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera (f/2.2)
  • 8MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4, OIS)

Front camera

  • 32MP Selfie Camera (f/2.0)

Android 10 and EMUI 10

Today, Richard Yu again emphasized that because of the Google ban, they have to go ahead with the HMS (Huawei Mobile Service). Currently, the AppGallery is already available in 170+ countries/regions. And Huawei has also been working with many companies to create more apps for the AppGallery.

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Google has Google Assistant and Apple has Siri. Huawei also introduces its personal English-speaking assistant, Celia, to the latest P40 Series.

Not sure if it will be made available during launch or not. The HUAWEI P40 Series also introduces HUAWEI Golden Snap, a new Gallery feature that uses AI to pick best frames out from a Moving Picture. AI Remove Passerby and AI Remove Reflection can remove unwanted subjects and glare from the frame, allowing users to easily improve their images after the fact.

Pricing and Availability

I do not have the pricing of the P40 Series for Singapore market yet. Check out the pricing in Euros and the availability date.

HUAWEI P40

HUAWEI P40 Pro

HUAWEI P40 Pro+

Companion Products

Apart from the P40 Series, Huawei also introduces its latest companion products.

HUAWEI Sound X

There is no pricing and availability yet. However, with the collaboration from DEVIALET, we know that it is not going to be cheap.

Features of the Sound X.

WATCH GT 2e

WATCH GT 2e is a slightly improved version of the WATCH GT 2.

Some features of the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2e

There is no pricing and availability of the WATCH GT 2e in Singapore. However, here are the pricing in Euros.

GENTLE MONSTER x HUAWEI Eyewear

No pricing or availability on the eyewear.

And here is the Press Release for more details.

Press Release

HUAWEI P40 Series Marks the Age of Visionary Photography

Housing Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor yet, the HUAWEI P40 Series delivers all-day Super Definition photography with powerful cameras, high performance 5G and cutting-edge design

Singapore, 26 March 2020 – Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today announced the HUAWEI P40 Pro+, HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40, the new HUAWEI P40 Series flagship smartphones featuring cutting-edge designs with ground-breaking camera innovations that radically expand mobile photography and video capture possibilities.

The HUAWEI P40 Series continues the series’ heritage of imaging excellence. The large 1/1.28-inch sensor has a binned pixel size of 2.44μm to massively boost light intake for enhanced low-light performance, while an improved periscope design realises 10x true optical zoom. The full line-up is powered by Kirin 990 5G and supports high-speed 5G and Wi-Fi 6 Plus. The advanced hardware is embedded in a beautiful and compact enclosure featuring the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display that delivers outstanding fluidity and responsiveness.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, “The HUAWEI P Series has always been about innovative aesthetics and democratising premium imaging hardware, representing the very best of industrial design and technology. With an outstanding sensor, optics from Leica, powerful chipset and HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine, the HUAWEI P40 Series exemplifies our focus and offers an all-day Super Definition experience to help consumers realise their creative vision.”

Unprecedented design

The HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ are equipped with the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display. Inspired by the art of motion in nature, the display takes on a demi bullnose edge on all four sides, creating a shape that is reminiscent of water on the cusp of overflowing from the rim of a cup. The super narrow bezels and streamlined round corners ensure a near borderless look that provides an immersive viewing experience and ergonomic hold, while an improved in-screen fingerprint scanner offers 30 per cent faster biometric authentication.

Available in three glossy glass finishes – Ice White, Deep Sea Blue and Black – and two matte glass colourways – Blush Gold and Silver Frost, the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 exude classical elegance from every angle. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ features an exquisite nano-tech ceramic back panel that is kilned and polished to ensure it stands the test of time with incredible durability and timeless style. This unique design comes in two iconic colours: White Ceramic and Black Ceramic.

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All-day Super Definition photography

Embedded in the HUAWEI P40 Series is the advanced Ultra Vision Leica camera system, available in triple-camera, quad-camera and penta-camera configurations. The HUAWEI P40 delivers outstanding photographic results with ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The HUAWEI P40 Pro features an evolution of the Leica Quad Camera with a more powerful Ultra Wide Cine Camera and ToF Camera alongside 50x SuperSensing Zoom. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ lets consumers see the unprecedented with the SuperZoom Array, which supports 10x true optical zoom and 100x maximum digital zoom.

The HUAWEI Ultra Vision Sensor included in the full HUAWEI P40 Series is Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor to date. Measuring 1/1.28 inches diagonally, it supports pixel binning to achieve a pixel size of 2.44μm and Full Pixel Octa PD AutoFocus for high-speed focus at any time of day, while the HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine integrates and processes data from multiple cameras to generate a comprehensive improvement in picture quality.

HUAWEI P40 Pro brings faraway subjects up close with 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and 50x maximum digital zoom. For the first time ever, the 5x Optical Telephoto Camera in the HUAWEI P40 Pro includes a RYYB colour filter array to boost light intake and improve quality of zoomed shots. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a 100x SuperZoom Array with a new periscope design that reflects light five times, extending the light path by 178 percent to support 10x true optical zoom. The optically stabilised Ultra Vision Wide Camera and SuperZoom Array work in tandem with AI to realise Triple OIS+AIS for vastly improved photo and video stabilisation.

Skin tone and texture are faithfully reproduced by a new Multi-spectrum Colour Temperature Sensor and AI AWB algorithm that boost colour accuracy by 45 percent. Deep learning algorithms provide real-time portrait optimisations that enhance lighting and detail. HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ have a 32MP AF Camera and IR Depth Camera that support autofocus and Bokeh reproduction to deliver the same outstanding portrait effects that are signature to Huawei devices, as well as IR Face Unlock for device unlock even in low light conditions. HUAWEI P40 Series also introduces HUAWEI Golden Snap, which includes AI Best Moment, a new smart photography feature that chooses the best frames from a Moving Picture. AI Remove Passerby and AI Remove Reflection can do away with unwanted subjects and glare from the frame, allowing users to easily enhance their images after the fact.

A powerful pocket-sized video camera

The 40MP Ultra Wide Cine Camera in HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a focal length that is equivalent to 18mm and a 1/1.54-inch sensor supporting the 3:2 aspect ratio. SedecimPixel Fusion Technology is built into this camera to support 16-in-1 pixel binning, producing super pixels that measure 4.48μm to boost light sensitivity up to ISO51200 and enable 7680fps Ultra Slow-Motion video capture.

HUAWEI P40 Series supports real-time Bokeh effects for videos. Similar to the results of a wide aperture lens, this feature adds progressive Bokeh to help highlight the main subject of the footage. The telephoto camera can capture high quality zoom footage as well as 4K time-lapse videos. Directional Audio Zoom, available on HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+, allows users to zoom in on an audio source and amplify its sound at the same time.

An all-connected 5G powerhouse

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The HUAWEI P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G to deliver integrated 5G connectivity with the most comprehensive 5G band support, robust AI performance and power efficiency. Display responsiveness and gaming experience are taken to the next level by the upgraded graphics rendering engine making the most of the 90Hz panel on the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+. The 160MHz Wi-Fi 6 Plus technology featured in the full line-up offers high-speed connectivity with support for 2,400Mbps peak theoretical transmission speed. The industry-leading 40W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge is available on the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ for fast and convenient charging. The chipset is given the thermal headroom to deliver exceptional performance by the advanced cooling systems, including the bespoke 4-in-1 SuperCool system in the HUAWEI P40 Pro+.

The EMUI 10.1 operating system introduces a host of new features that enable a richer, more seamless AI life. HUAWEI MeeTime[1] supports 1080p Full HD video call on Huawei smartphones, tablets and the HUAWEI Vision TV and delivers clear picture quality even in low light or weak signal conditions. Users can also share their phone screen with the other party during the video call and mark-up notes to quickly share thoughts.

Huawei Share facilitates high-speed file transfer between the smartphone and other devices such as tablets and PCs. With Huawei Share on the HUAWEI P40 Series, consumers can stream music to a smart speaker, initiate screen projection and connect to Wi-Fi by tapping the device[2] they want to connect to with their phone. New functionality added to the Multi-screen Collaboration allows users to easily answer video or voice calls hands-free directly through the PC, and open files and hyperlinks on the smartphone with native PC applications for enhanced productivity.

Working in close collaboration with global developers, Huawei offers a wide range of global and local apps on AppGallery, Huawei’s official app marketplace. Users can also enjoy a rich library of quality entertainment media on HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music and HUAWEI Reader, with new additions from top content providers being added on a continuous basis.

Pricing and availability

Local availability and pricing will be advised separately.

Alongside the HUAWEI P40 Series, Huawei also launched the HUAWEI WATCH GT2e, HUAWEI Sound X and the latest Spring/Summer 2020 HUAWEI X GENTLE MONSTER Eyewear, further enriching its product portfolio of all-scenario products that are designed to help consumers live a better digital life.

About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei’s products and services are available in more than 170 countries and are used by a third of the world’s population. Fourteen R&D centres have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei’s three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei’s global network is built on over 32 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.

For more information please visit: https://consumer.huawei.com/sg/ or find us @huaweimobilesg on social media.


[1] Feature will be available via HOTA update. HUAWEI MeeTime is supported in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia.

[2] Specific models of device are required for this feature.