Huawei Pura 80 Pro is a photographer's dream (VIDEO)
If you love taking photos and selfies as many Gen Zs do, then Huawei's new Pura 80 Pro will certainly blow you away.
The newly launched device is a photographer's dream with its 1-inch sensor, which allows for up to 40% more light intake than traditional sensors.
Cameras
Huawei is one of the few smartphone manufacturers that really know how to customise the cameras in their products, while other brands like Apple and Samsung have put a lot of focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
Not to say cameras on other smartphones are not good, but Huawei is just better, with the DXO Mark ranking of the camera on the Ultra version of the Huawei Pura 80 series at a top 175 points.
With camera technology advancing at a furious pace, digital single reflex cameras [DSLR] have their work cut out in keeping with shooters on mobile phones.
Convenience
The Huawei Pura 80 has so many things I need as a journalist and as someone who loves photography. Unlike a DSLR, I can slip it right into my pocket
The High Dynamic Range is perfect for capturing backlit scenes, especially when I'm at an event or media briefing.
The dual telephoto camera with an ultra large sensor gave me more ways to capture every photo I took no matter what the scene.
As a journalist, my profession has no specific times, so no matter what hour of the day or night, bright or dark, I can capture the shots I need for my stories or file pictures as stock for others to use.
Shooters
The Pura 80 Pro's imaging system is headlined by a 50MP Ultra Lighting Camera with a 1-inch RYYB sensor and 10-stop variable aperture (F1.6–F4.0), delivering unparalleled control over depth, lighting and mood.
The camera array also includes a 48MP Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera with a large F2.1 aperture and optical image stabilisation, along with a 40MP ultra-wide lens, ensuring versatility across distances and perspectives.
While the Huawei Pura 80 Pro is stunning in the glazed red colour, some might not like large camera bump on the back.
Display
The 6.8-inch True Display offers a 1–120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, and 1440Hz PWM dimming for fluid, eye-friendly visuals.
With peak brightness reaching 3 000 nits, the screen remains clear and vibrant, even in direct sunlight – especially when you need to post a photo just captured.
The Huawei Pura 80 Pro is a fingerprint and slipper sucker with its smooth back. Despite the Kunlun glass, get it into a case for the added protection or you will be left with an expensive brick.
Battery
Battery life is equally impressive, thanks to a 5170 mAh battery that supports 100W SuperCharge (wired) and 80W Wireless SuperCharge.
The handset also boasts IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering both water resistance and protection against high-pressure sprays.
Google services
Some will also raise the exhausting discussion of the lack of Google services. There is workaround to this with GBox which allows you to load your favourite apps in a matter of minutes and it works seamlessly.
With the launch of the new Huawei Pura 80 series, Huawei is seeking to cement its comeback in China and global premium smartphone market following years of US sanctions.
The Pura 80 series launch demonstrates Huawei's continued efforts to reclaim the top spot ahead of Samsung, Apple and Honor, who have gained significant market share due to the lack of Google services as a result of US sanctions.
Verdict
The Huawei Pura 80 is an amazing and powerful smartphone that takes great photos, has very fast charging and good battery life. However, the camera bump may be overwhelming and the lack of official Google services is still a deterrent for some despite the work around and AI features feel basic.
Availability and pricing
Each new smartphone launch from Huawei is closely watched as a barometer of the company's technological capabilities and market resilience following years of restrictions that severely impacted its smartphone business. The Huawei Pura 80 Pro retails for R24 999 and is available in Glazed Red and Black with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- The Citizen
Huawei Pura 80 Pro is a photographer's dream (VIDEO)
The Huawei Pura 80 is a powerful smartphone that takes great photos. If you love taking photos and selfies as many Gen Zs do, then Huawei's new Pura 80 Pro will certainly blow you away. The newly launched device is a photographer's dream with its 1-inch sensor, which allows for up to 40% more light intake than traditional sensors. Cameras Huawei is one of the few smartphone manufacturers that really know how to customise the cameras in their products, while other brands like Apple and Samsung have put a lot of focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Not to say cameras on other smartphones are not good, but Huawei is just better, with the DXO Mark ranking of the camera on the Ultra version of the Huawei Pura 80 series at a top 175 points. With camera technology advancing at a furious pace, digital single reflex cameras [DSLR] have their work cut out in keeping with shooters on mobile phones. Convenience The Huawei Pura 80 has so many things I need as a journalist and as someone who loves photography. Unlike a DSLR, I can slip it right into my pocket The High Dynamic Range is perfect for capturing backlit scenes, especially when I'm at an event or media briefing. The dual telephoto camera with an ultra large sensor gave me more ways to capture every photo I took no matter what the scene. As a journalist, my profession has no specific times, so no matter what hour of the day or night, bright or dark, I can capture the shots I need for my stories or file pictures as stock for others to use. Shooters The Pura 80 Pro's imaging system is headlined by a 50MP Ultra Lighting Camera with a 1-inch RYYB sensor and 10-stop variable aperture (F1.6–F4.0), delivering unparalleled control over depth, lighting and mood. The camera array also includes a 48MP Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera with a large F2.1 aperture and optical image stabilisation, along with a 40MP ultra-wide lens, ensuring versatility across distances and perspectives. While the Huawei Pura 80 Pro is stunning in the glazed red colour, some might not like large camera bump on the back. Display The 6.8-inch True Display offers a 1–120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, and 1440Hz PWM dimming for fluid, eye-friendly visuals. With peak brightness reaching 3 000 nits, the screen remains clear and vibrant, even in direct sunlight – especially when you need to post a photo just captured. The Huawei Pura 80 Pro is a fingerprint and slipper sucker with its smooth back. Despite the Kunlun glass, get it into a case for the added protection or you will be left with an expensive brick. Battery Battery life is equally impressive, thanks to a 5170 mAh battery that supports 100W SuperCharge (wired) and 80W Wireless SuperCharge. The handset also boasts IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering both water resistance and protection against high-pressure sprays. Google services Some will also raise the exhausting discussion of the lack of Google services. There is workaround to this with GBox which allows you to load your favourite apps in a matter of minutes and it works seamlessly. With the launch of the new Huawei Pura 80 series, Huawei is seeking to cement its comeback in China and global premium smartphone market following years of US sanctions. The Pura 80 series launch demonstrates Huawei's continued efforts to reclaim the top spot ahead of Samsung, Apple and Honor, who have gained significant market share due to the lack of Google services as a result of US sanctions. Verdict The Huawei Pura 80 is an amazing and powerful smartphone that takes great photos, has very fast charging and good battery life. However, the camera bump may be overwhelming and the lack of official Google services is still a deterrent for some despite the work around and AI features feel basic. Availability and pricing Each new smartphone launch from Huawei is closely watched as a barometer of the company's technological capabilities and market resilience following years of restrictions that severely impacted its smartphone business. The Huawei Pura 80 Pro retails for R24 999 and is available in Glazed Red and Black with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
eNCA
11 hours ago
- eNCA
UK drops demand for access to Apple user data
Britain has dropped its request for access to Apple users' encrypted data, which had created friction between London and Washington, US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard said Tuesday. The UK government wanted the tech giant to create a "back door" to let authorities snoop on data uploaded by Apple users if required, for example by law enforcement agencies. Gabbard said the request "would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties". Many tech platforms pride themselves on being able to guarantee privacy through encryption of messages and other content, and providing access to law enforcement has long been seen as off-limits. The UK "agreed to drop its mandate" after months of work with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Gabbard posted on X. The UK interior ministry declined to comment, telling AFP that "We do not comment on operational matters." Apple stopped offering its most advanced encryption feature -- known as Advanced Data Protection -- for British users in February. ADP ensures that only account holders can view content such as photos and documents stored in the cloud through end-to-end encryption. Police officials worldwide say encryption can shield criminals, terrorists and pornographers from prosecution even when authorities have a legal warrant for an investigation. But civil rights and privacy advocates, along with many cybersecurity professionals, praise data encryption as a way to protect against wrongful snooping by authorities as well as hackers. Apple said earlier this year that it had never built a "back door" or "master key" for any of its products or services, and never would.
The South African
12 hours ago
- The South African
Google rolls out 'Preferred Sources' for news: Here's how it works
Google is making it easier for users to take control of their news consumption with the rollout of a new 'Preferred Sources' feature in its Search Top Stories section. Launched this month in the United States and India, the feature will soon expand globally – including to South Africa – as part of Google's broader push to give users more customised, trustworthy content in real time. Preferred Sources allows users to choose news outlets they trust and want to see more prominently when they search for current topics. If selected sources have relevant and timely coverage, their content will appear in a special 'From your sources' section at the top of the search results. 'The goal is to help you stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to,' said Duncan Osborn, Google's Product Manager. Google said the main Top Stories panel will continue to reflect a diversity of sources to ensure balanced perspectives. Using Preferred Sources is simple: Search for a current news topic on Google Tap the three-dot icon next to the Top Stories header Search for and select your favourite news outlets Refresh the page to see personalised results Users can update or remove selections anytime, and preferences set during early testing phases will automatically carry over. For readers, Preferred Sources means less time digging and more time reading trusted reporting. Early testing showed that over half of users selected four or more sources, suggesting strong demand for tailored, but not siloed, news consumption. For publishers, this marks a significant opportunity to boost visibility among loyal readers. Outlets can now encourage followers to add them as a preferred source, increasing the chance of appearing in Search Top Stories results. Google has also released publisher tools and documentation to help news organisations guide their audiences through setup and promote the feature. The introduction of Preferred Sources comes amid broader changes to how Google serves news and search results, amid rising concerns about misinformation, echo chambers, and content overload. It's part of an effort to balance personalisation with editorial diversity, giving users greater agency over what they see, while still upholding journalistic breadth and integrity. As newsrooms adapt to digital consumption trends, tools like this could reshape how audiences engage with stories – and how publishers grow their base. First established in 2003, The South African has evolved to become one of the most-read websites in South Africa. We bring you the latest breaking news updates, from South Africa and the African continent. The South African is an independent, no agenda and no bias online news disruptor that goes beyond the news and behind the headlines. We believe what sets us apart is that we deliver news differently. While we hold ourselves to the utmost journalistic integrity of being truthful, we encourage a writing style that is acerbic and conversational, when appropriate. The South African has evolved rapidly and is ranked among the largest online news publications in South Africa by the IAB. Having started as a print edition targeting expats in the United Kingdom, The South African is now run entirely online with our largest readership footprint based in South Africa. We are independently owned by a private company with no affiliation to any other media group (or political party or religious organisation) and funded mainly through advertising revenue. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
