The Huawei Pura 70 series made its global debut last year, and even now, the top model the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra continues to impress as one of the most camera-ready smartphones around. With the newer Pura 80 Ultra already on the market, it’s striking how well the Pura 70 Ultra still stands up. After spending more time with it in 2025, it’s clear Huawei’s bold design and imaging engineering remain highly competitive.
Unboxing
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Charger | 100W Huawei SuperCharger |
| Cable | USB-C to USB-C |
| Case | Textured protective case (corner protection) |
| Extras | SIM ejector tool, documentation |
Inside the box, Huawei includes a few useful accessories. There’s a USB-C to USB-C cable, a Huawei SuperCharger that supports up to 100W, and a simple yet stylish protective case. The case has an interesting textured pattern on the back, though it leaves the sides open while covering the corners. It’s good to see Huawei still including these essentials. You’ll also find the SIM ejector tool and documentation.
Build & Design
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.6 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 226 grams |
| Frame | Aluminum with glass back |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Optical in-display |
| Buttons | Power + Volume (right side) |
| Ports | USB 3.1 Type-C, Dual SIM slot |
| Extras | IR blaster, stereo speakers, antenna lines |
| Colors | Black, Green, Brown (region dependent) |
The moment you pick up the Pura 70 Ultra, you can tell it’s built like a premium device. It feels solid and dense in hand, weighing 226 grams and measuring 8.4mm thick. The power and volume buttons are well-positioned on the right side, making them easy to reach.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is optical and unlocks the phone quickly and reliably, though I wish it were placed slightly higher.
At the back, you’ll immediately notice the camera module and it’s quite something. The design isn’t symmetrical, which may bother some people. The main retractable camera sits alongside a 3.5x periscope telephoto and an ultra-wide camera, both 50MP and 40MP respectively. The pop-out main sensor is a 1-inch Sony IMX989 with mechanical aperture and optical image stabilization.
On the top, you get an IR blaster, microphone, and antenna lines. The bottom houses the SIM tray, USB 3.1 Type-C port, and stereo speakers. The phone supports video output, which is always appreciated. Overall, the build quality is excellent. This is a flagship through and through.
Display
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | OLED, LTPO |
| Size | 6.8 inches |
| Resolution | 2844 × 1260 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 120Hz (Dynamic/High) |
| Peak Brightness | 2,500 nits |
| Protection | Kunlun Glass 2 |
| Curvature | Slightly curved edges |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 300Hz |
| Color Accuracy | HDR10+, P3 wide color gamut |
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra features a 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. It’s a beautiful panel bright, smooth, and incredibly fluid in day-to-day use.
The screen curves slightly along the edges, but it’s mostly flat where it matters. The bezels are thin and uniform, and the punch-hole selfie camera doesn’t distract much. Colors are vibrant and accurate, with great visibility under direct sunlight.
There are multiple settings for refresh rate and resolution you can choose between Dynamic or High mode for refresh rate, and up to 1260p resolution. In daily use, I found the Dynamic mode strikes a good balance between smoothness and battery life.
EMUI 14 and Google Apps
The phone runs EMUI 14, Huawei’s custom interface, based on its Kirin 9010 chipset. The UI feels fast and smooth, well-optimized to take full advantage of the 120Hz display.
While Huawei doesn’t have Google Mobile Services natively, you can still install Google Play Store easily through Huawei’s AppGallery by using the GBox app. Most apps like YouTube, Gmail, Chrome, and Maps run fine, although a few features like Map history and Android Auto don’t work. The workaround through GBox can slow some apps slightly, but overall performance is surprisingly good.
You can also find native versions of popular apps directly through AppGallery or download the APKs easily. The setup process only takes a few minutes.
Performance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Kirin 9010 (7nm) |
| GPU | Maleoon 910 GPU |
| RAM | Up to 16GB |
| Storage | Up to 1TB (UFS 3.1) |
| OS | EMUI 14 |
| Benchmarks | ~950,000 (Antutu) |
| Gaming | Playable on medium-high settings |
| Cooling | Vapor chamber cooling system |
The Pura 70 Ultra uses the Kirin 9010, Huawei’s own 7nm processor. While it’s not as powerful as the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Dimensity 9300 chips, it performs admirably for everyday tasks. The UI is fluid, multitasking is smooth, and app switching is quick.
In Antutu benchmarks, it scores just under a million points, about half of what top-tier 2024 flagships reach but the phone feels fast in real use. Gaming, however, is where the performance gap becomes clear. In demanding games like Genshin Impact, frame rates are stable but not as high as on competing phones. It’s perfectly playable, though, unless you’re a hardcore gamer.
During long gaming sessions, the phone can get a bit warm, especially around the camera area, but not uncomfortably so.
Battery Life & Charging
The Pura 70 Ultra packs a 5,200 mAh battery, which delivers solid endurance. In real-world use, I got around 8 hours of screen-on time, depending on brightness and refresh rate settings.
Charging is impressively fast 100W wired and 80W wireless. From 3% to full, it took around 47 minutes with the included charger. That’s not the absolute fastest out there, but still excellent for daily use.
Huawei uses UFS 3.1 storage, since the chipset doesn’t support UFS 4.0 speeds. Even so, the read and write speeds are strong, making app launches and file transfers quick.
Audio & Connectivity
There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but that’s expected on a flagship. The dual speakers are loud, crisp, and have a bit of bass good enough for watching videos and casual music listening. Call quality is excellent, and the microphones do a solid job of noise cancellation.
Unfortunately, Widevine certification is limited to L3, so Netflix and other streaming apps only play in standard definition. That’s one of the few disappointing aspects of this phone.
Camera Performance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Main Camera | 50MP, 1-inch Sony IMX989 retractable lens, OIS, variable aperture f/1.4–f/4.0 |
| Telephoto | 50MP periscope, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultra-Wide | 40MP, autofocus |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP with autofocus |
| Video Recording | 4K@60fps (rear), 4K@30fps (front) |
| Stabilization | OIS + EIS |
| Zoom | Up to 10x hybrid (digital beyond) |
| Features | XMAGE processing, AI scene detection, macro mode, portrait mode |
Now, the real highlight is the camera system. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra brings one of the most innovative camera designs we’ve seen recently. The 1-inch retractable main sensor delivers stunning photos, full of detail, depth, and excellent dynamic range.
Daylight shots are sharp but natural, with pleasant color tones. Low-light performance is equally impressive; the large sensor captures plenty of light, producing clear and balanced photos.
The 3.5x periscope zoom camera (also 50MP) performs well even in dim conditions, while the ultra-wide camera (40MP) offers a wide field of view, though it’s slightly less detailed than the other two.
For video, the phone supports 4K at 60fps. Stabilization is strong thanks to both OIS and EIS. The front 13MP selfie camera delivers sharp, well-balanced images and supports autofocus, something not every flagship offers.
Zoom shots, even up to 10x, look clean and usable. Beyond that, image quality starts to drop, as most of it becomes digital zoom. Macro performance is excellent too; the camera locks onto close subjects easily, capturing fine details.
Final Thoughts
After two weeks of testing, I can confidently say the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is one of the best camera smartphones of the year. The retractable 1-inch sensor sets it apart, and photo results are consistently outstanding.
The build quality, screen, and battery life all match flagship standards. Performance is decent, though not at the level of Snapdragon-powered rivals. Lack of full Google support and missing Android Auto are small compromises.
But overall, Huawei has done a phenomenal job under its current restrictions. If you care most about camera quality and solid all-around performance, this phone will not disappoint.
If Huawei ever regains full access to Google services and top-tier chipsets, it could easily reclaim its spot among the world’s best smartphone makers.
FAQs
What makes the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra special?
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra stands out for its retractable 1-inch main camera sensor, a true innovation in smartphone photography. It delivers DSLR-like depth, excellent low-light shots, and impressive detail.
Does the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra support Google Play Store?
Not officially, but you can access Google apps through the GBox app in Huawei’s AppGallery. Most Google apps, including YouTube and Gmail, work well through this method.
How good is the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s performance?
The Kirin 9010 chipset isn’t the fastest on the market but offers smooth day-to-day performance. Gaming is playable, though not as powerful as Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Dimensity 9300 flagships.
How long does the battery last?
With a 5,200 mAh battery, you can expect around 8 hours of screen-on time. It supports 100W wired and 80W wireless charging, reaching full charge in under 50 minutes.
Is the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra good for video recording?
Yes, it supports 4K at 60fps video with excellent stabilization (OIS + EIS). The retractable lens and periscope zoom produce cinematic results with great clarity and dynamic range.
Does it support 5G connectivity?
The global model doesn’t support 5G due to ongoing restrictions but provides excellent 4G LTE speeds and strong Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
Can I use Netflix or Prime Video in HD?
Unfortunately, the phone is limited to Widevine L3, so streaming services play only in SD quality. This is one of the few drawbacks for media lovers.
Discover more from Phoonomo
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
