Huawei Pura 80 Ultra Review: Is It the Next Camera King?

When Huawei announced its new Pura 80 series in June 2025, the Ultra variant quickly became the most talked-about model. With a revolutionary switchable dual-telephoto camera system, the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra sets out to redefine what smartphone photography can do. For camera lovers and tech enthusiasts, this phone feels like a serious upgrade.

Design and Display

The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra has a solid, premium feel in hand. It features a flat-edged design with a matte glass back and aluminum frame, giving it a refined look. The black and gold finishes add to the luxury feel, while the weight of about 234 grams makes it feel substantial and professional.

The front is dominated by a beautiful 6.8-inch OLED screen that can reach up to 3,000 nits of brightness. It has a crisp 1276 by 2848 resolution and supports an adaptive refresh rate from 1 to 120 hertz. Whether you’re watching videos outdoors or scrolling through apps, the display is bright, colorful, and extremely fluid. Its high contrast and color accuracy make everything look fantastic.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the phone runs on Huawei’s own Kirin 9020 processor. It’s paired with 16 GB of RAM and options for either 512 GB or 1 TB of internal storage. While Huawei hasn’t shared many details about the chip, real-world performance is fast and smooth, even during multitasking and gaming.

The Pura 80 Ultra runs on HarmonyOS 5.1, Huawei’s newest operating system. It’s Android-free and designed for its own ecosystem of apps. The interface is clean and intuitive, although users outside China may find some app compatibility limitations. Still, it works well and feels stable in daily use.

Camera Performance

This is where the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra truly shines. The main camera uses a 50 MP sensor with a 1-inch sensor size and a variable aperture ranging from f/1.6 to f/4.0. It can handle a wide range of lighting conditions and supports a claimed 16-stop dynamic range, making images look vivid and detailed.

The ultra-wide camera is a 40 MP sensor that captures wide landscapes with good clarity. The real innovation, though, lies in the dual-lens telephoto camera. This single 50 MP sensor has two optical zoom levels: one at 3.7x (83 mm) and another at 9.4x (212 mm). The lens physically switches between focal lengths using a moving prism inside the phone. This allows for clear, lossless zoom at both ranges, a first in smartphone photography.

The telephoto results are stunning. Zoomed-in shots maintain great detail and color without much noise. The camera software also supports powerful computational photography tools that improve dynamic range, contrast, and night photography.

Read also: Vivo Y50 5G Set to Launch Under ₹15,000 with Large Display and Dual Camera Setup

Battery Life and Charging

The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra packs a large 5,700 mAh battery, which is more than enough for a full day of heavy use. With such a large battery, you might expect slow charging, but Huawei includes 100-watt wired and 80-watt wireless charging support. The phone charges from zero to full in about 30 minutes, which is excellent for users on the go.

The battery life is impressive even with heavy camera use and high screen brightness. You can easily get a day and a half on a single charge with normal use.

Features and Extras

The Pura 80 Ultra also includes stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.2. It’s protected by Kunlun Glass 2, which improves drop resistance, and it’s rated IP68/IP69 for water and dust resistance.

There are also interactive themes and a customizable control button that let users personalize the experience. These small touches add to the feeling of using a high-end device.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Incredible camera setup with a unique dual telephoto system
  • Bright, colorful OLED display with smooth performance
  • Fast wired and wireless charging with long battery life
  • Premium build quality and strong water resistance

Cons

  • Heavier than average smartphones
  • Very expensive, especially in international markets
  • Some software limitations for users outside Huawei’s ecosystem

Who Should Buy It

The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra is ideal for photography lovers, content creators, and anyone who wants one of the best camera systems available in a smartphone. It’s also perfect for users who value screen quality and charging speed. However, if you need seamless access to Google apps or a lightweight phone, you might want to explore other options.

Final Verdict

Huawei has outdone itself with the Pura 80 Ultra. The switchable dual-lens telephoto camera is an innovation that truly stands out. Combined with a massive 1-inch main sensor, bright display, long battery life, and ultra-fast charging, it delivers an all-around flagship experience. Though it comes at a high price, the value for serious photographers and power users is undeniable.

Score: 9 out of 10.

Specifications Summary

FeatureSpecification
Display6.8-inch OLED, 1276 x 2848 resolution, 1–120 Hz refresh
ProcessorKirin 9020
RAM16 GB
Storage512 GB or 1 TB
Main Camera50 MP, 1-inch sensor, variable aperture
Ultra-Wide Camera40 MP
Telephoto Camera50 MP with 3.7x and 9.4x optical zoom
Battery5,700 mAh
Charging100 W wired, 80 W wireless
Operating SystemHarmonyOS 5.1
Weight234 grams
Water/Dust RatingIP68 / IP69
Price in IndiaApprox. ₹1.15 to ₹1.35 lakh

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