The HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra is one of those phones that immediately grabs your attention with its bold design and camera prowess. As a flagship device, it pushes the boundaries of smartphone photography, boasting an impressive set of cameras, including a massive one-inch main sensor and a unique dual telephoto lens system. However, despite all its strengths, there’s one major caveat that might make you think twice before buying it: the lack of Google Play services. Let’s dive into what makes the Pura 80 Ultra stand out and why it might not be the daily driver for most users.
📸 The Camera King?
Huawei has once again delivered a phone that could easily be crowned one of the best camera phones of the year. The Pura 80 Ultra features a primary 50-megapixel, one-inch sensor with a variable aperture that ranges from f/1.6 to f/4. This allows the phone to perform exceptionally well in a variety of lighting conditions, from bright sunny days to challenging low-light environments.
During testing in Dubai’s bright sunshine, the phone captured stunning detail and offered one of the best dynamic ranges I’ve seen in a long time. When compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Pura 80 Ultra consistently produced photos with better detail, more accurate colors, and a more balanced overall image.
At night, the Pura 80 Ultra really shines. Its large sensor captures significantly more light, resulting in clearer, truer-to-life photos with less noise compared to the S25 Ultra. Huawei’s claim that this sensor excels in low-light photography is spot on, and the results speak for themselves.
🎥 Best Video on Android?
The video capabilities of the Pura 80 Ultra are equally impressive. It supports 4K recording at 60fps, which is enough for most users, even though it lacks 4K at 120fps or 8K options. The footage captured in both daylight and low light is sharp, with excellent dynamic range and gimbal-like stabilization. This makes it ideal for everything from casual vlogging to capturing smooth, cinematic shots.
Even in low light, the large sensor helps the camera grab impressive video quality, whether filming fish in an aquarium or taking a scenic boat ride through Dubai’s waterways. The difference in video quality compared to the S25 Ultra is noticeable and favors the Huawei device.
🌄 Ultrawide Camera: Good but Not Great
The Pura 80 Ultra’s ultrawide camera is a mixed bag. It features a 40-megapixel f/2.2 lens that performs well during the day, delivering nice wide shots perfect for vlogging or capturing expansive scenes. However, it struggles in low-light conditions, producing noisier images with less detail than you might expect.
When compared to the S25 Ultra’s 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, there are trade-offs. The S25 Ultra tends to capture more detail in the foreground, while the Pura 80 Ultra holds up better with distant subjects. Ultimately, which you prefer depends on your photography style.
🔭 A World First: The Interchangeable Dual Telephoto Lens
One of the most exciting features of the Pura 80 Ultra is its dual telephoto lens system, which is a world first on a smartphone. It has two optical zoom lenses: a 3.7x zoom with a 50-megapixel sensor and a 9.4x zoom with a 12.5-megapixel sensor. Huawei says the telephoto sensor is as large as the main camera on the S25 Ultra, which is remarkable.
What makes this setup stand out is the automatic lens switching depending on the zoom level. The lens mechanism even produces a satisfying sound when it switches, emphasizing the engineering marvel behind it.
The telephoto zoom delivers excellent detail, especially for static subjects. However, it can be a bit slow to focus on moving objects, so it’s best suited for still photography. When compared side-by-side with the S25 Ultra, the Pura 80 Ultra holds its own during the day, but it’s at night where it truly excels—capturing more detail, more accurate colors, and less noise, even if some smoothing is applied.
🔋 Specs and Performance Highlights ⚡
Beyond the cameras, the Pura 80 Ultra is a solid flagship device. It sports a 6.8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth and vibrant visuals. The screen is impressively bright, peaking at 3,000 nits, which ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight.
The battery life is robust, with a 5,170mAh cell that supports 100W Huawei SuperCharge and 80W wireless charging, making it one of the fastest-charging phones around. Interestingly, Huawei opted for a side-mounted fingerprint reader instead of the more popular ultrasonic in-display type, which might not be everyone’s favorite.
The chipset remains a mystery since Huawei doesn’t officially disclose it, but it’s most likely running the Kirin 9020, a powerful processor that keeps the phone running smoothly.
🚫 The Software Letdown: No Google Play Services
Despite the impressive hardware, the biggest drawback of the Pura 80 Ultra is its software. It runs Huawei’s own UI, which is intuitive, fast, and familiar in many ways. However, it still lacks Google Play services, meaning popular apps and features that rely on Google’s ecosystem won’t work out of the box.
Attempts to install Google services using workarounds like MicroG or GBox were unsuccessful or unstable during testing. This can be a major inconvenience for most users, especially since NFC payments are also unavailable, limiting the phone’s usability in everyday scenarios.
While some enthusiasts might be willing to invest the time to set up alternative solutions, the average user likely won’t have the patience. This software limitation overshadows the phone’s otherwise stellar hardware and camera performance.
🤔 Final Thoughts: A Camera Powerhouse That’s Hard to Recommend
I genuinely like the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra. Its camera system is outstanding, especially in low light, and it showcases what’s possible with smartphone photography today. The design is eye-catching, the display bright and smooth, and the battery life solid.
However, the lack of Google Play services and NFC payments means most people will struggle to use this as their daily phone. As much as I wish I could use the Pura 80 Ultra daily, the compromises required to enjoy its camera prowess are just too great for the average user.
In the end, it’s a phone that impresses on paper and in photos but falls short in practical usability. If you can overlook the software limitations, the Pura 80 Ultra is a remarkable device. For everyone else, it’s probably better to wait for a phone that balances both camera excellence and everyday functionality.
❓ FAQ
Does the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra support Google Play services?
No, the Pura 80 Ultra does not support Google Play services, and attempts to install them using workarounds like MicroG or GBox were unstable during testing.
How good is the Pura 80 Ultra’s camera compared to other flagship phones?
The Pura 80 Ultra’s camera excels, especially in low-light conditions. Its large one-inch sensor and dual telephoto lenses deliver sharper, more detailed, and more color-accurate photos than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
What are the standout features of the Pura 80 Ultra?
The standout features include its 50MP one-inch main sensor with variable aperture, a dual telephoto lens system with automatic switching, a bright 6.8-inch 120Hz display, and fast wired and wireless charging.
Is the Pura 80 Ultra a good daily driver?
While the hardware is impressive, the lack of Google Play services and NFC payments makes it challenging for most users to adopt as a daily driver.
What chipset powers the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra?
Huawei has not officially disclosed the chipset, but it is most likely running the Kirin 9020 processor.
