Huawei Pura 90s Pro: 200MP camera and new AI features

When we covered Huawei’s Pura releases last year, we noted that they were a step up for the Shenzhen-based company in terms of photography. That’s the same with this year’s Huawei Pura 90s Pro series – consisting of the Pura 90s Pro and Pura 90s Pro Max – which continues Huawei’s camera improvement efforts.

A new 200MP Sensor

The biggest addition (literally) to the lineup is the 200MP telephoto sensor on the Pura 90s Pro Max, specifically a 1/1.28-inch RYYB sensor.

This is a shift from the approach on the Pura 80 Ultra, the Pro Max’s predecessor, which instead used two lenses for telephoto shots. It’s also an effort by Huawei to keep with the times – competitors like Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo have followed a similar approach in stuffing a 200MP telephoto camera in their phones, too.

The 200MP sensor on the Pura 90 Pro Max is capable of 4x optical zoom (the only mode that will output a full 200MP image) and 100x digital zoom. But apart from that, the Pro Max’s telephoto camera reaches a CIPA 7.0 stabilisation rating, and it’s supported by chip-level 200MP RAW real-time processing – an industry first, as Huawei claims. 

Meanwhile, the Pura 90s Pro sticks with a 50MP sensor for its telephoto. While that may seem a bit lacklustre compared to the 200MP on the Pro Max, the telephoto lens on the regular Pro doubles as a macro lens – Huawei states that it’s capable of a minimum 5cm shooting distance.

As for the rest of the cameras on the Pro and Pro Max, both will feature a 50MP main lens with variable aperture (f/1.4 – f/2.2). The Pro gets a 12.5MP ultrawide, while the Pro Max bumps it up to 40MP.

They’re supported by a slate of tools integrated into the gallery, including AI De-glare, AI Move (akin to Google’s Magic Editor), and AI Composition, a framing assistant for when you’re shooting.

Finally, there’s the True-to-Colour Camera 2.0 system; Huawei notes that this generation update provides a 43% improvement in colour accuracy and 34% colour gamut expansion compared to the Pura 80 phones.

Updated hardware

As for the rest of the hardware, both the Pura 90s Pro and Pro Max are powered by a Kirin 9030S chipset. RAM is kept to 12GB – it’s a reduction from the Pura 80’s 16GB, but perhaps a shrewd decision given the current memory shortage.

The Pura 90s Pro has a slightly smaller display compared to the Pro Max – 6.6-inches and 6.9-inches respectively, but both are 10-bit LTPO OLEDs at 460ppi, and are capable of 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rates.

That display is protected by Kunlun Glass, but only on the Pro Max. The phones are IP68/69 rated, and also run EMUI 16, complete with Huawei’s system-level AI assistant, Celia. Finally, both phones come with 6,000mAh batteries, with the Pro and Pro Max supporting 66W and 100W SuperCharge wired charging respectively.

Availability and Pricing

Huawei’s Pura 90s Pro and Pura 90s Pro Max are set to cost S$1,198 and S$1,498 respectively, and will be available for pre-order on Huawei’s Shopee, Lazada and TikTok stores, as well as Huawei Experience Stores, from 24 to 29 July. Early bird deals include a S$30 discount (via platform vouchers) between 24 July to 12 August.

The phone is set to release on 30 July on the platforms listed above, alongside authorised retailers such as Singtel, Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, iShopChangi and MetaPod.

The Pro Max will be available in Blush Gold, Orange Ocean and Graphite Black. Meanwhile, the Pro will come in Guava Soda, Coconut White and Mulberry Black.