Huawei P50 Pocket vs. Pocket S: A Detailed Comparison

Huawei's foldable market is heating up with the P50 Pocket and the newer Pocket S. Both offer a compact, stylish design, but cater to different needs and budgets. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which foldable is the right fit for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The P50 Pocket boasts a superior chipset and potentially better camera performance, justifying its higher price. However, the Pocket S offers a more accessible entry point into the foldable world with a still-capable Snapdragon 778G and faster charging. The P50 Pocket is the performance champion, while the Pocket S prioritizes value.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50 Pocket Huawei Pocket S
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ChinaCDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2021, December 232022, November 02
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 23Available. Released 2022, November 11
Body
DimensionsUnfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mm Folded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mmUnfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mmFolded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
Display
Resolution1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
 Cover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppiCover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppi
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 642L
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesHarmonyOS 3.0
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual-40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Triple40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF 32 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm, AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, gyro-EIS4K, 1080p
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K, 1080p
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer
 UV illuminator-
Battery
Charging40W wired 5W reverse wired40W wired, 52% in 20 min 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, SilverBlue, Pink, Gren, Silver, Gold, Black
ModelsBAL-AL00, BAL-L49BAL-AL60
PriceAbout 870 EURAbout 830 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 66h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -30.1 LUFS (Below average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 768513 (v9) GeekBench: 3077 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei P50 Pocket

  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 888)
  • Potentially Better Camera
  • Excellent Battery Life (66h Endurance)
  • Premium Build Quality

  • Higher Price
  • Older Chipset (Snapdragon 888)
  • Slower Charging (compared to Pocket S)

Huawei Pocket S

  • More Affordable
  • Faster Charging (52% in 20 min)
  • Compact and Stylish Design
  • Decent Performance for Everyday Tasks

  • Lower Performance (Snapdragon 778G)
  • Likely Inferior Camera
  • Potentially Shorter Battery Life

Display Comparison

Both devices feature a vertically folding design with vibrant OLED displays. The P50 Pocket's display is reported to reach 803 nits of peak brightness, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Pocket S's brightness isn't explicitly stated, it's expected to be slightly lower. Both offer excellent contrast ratios, with the P50 Pocket's being nominally infinite. The Pocket S may have a slightly more refined hinge mechanism due to being a newer model.

Camera Comparison

While specific camera specs are not fully detailed, the P50 Pocket is expected to have a more advanced camera system, leveraging Huawei's expertise in mobile photography. The Pocket S likely features a competent camera setup, but won't match the P50 Pocket's image quality, especially in low light. Both likely offer versatile lens options (wide, ultrawide, telephoto).

Performance

The P50 Pocket's Snapdragon 888 4G provides a significant performance advantage over the Pocket S's Snapdragon 778G 4G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the P50 Pocket. The 888's Cortex-X1 core offers a substantial boost in single-core performance. The Pocket S is still capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games or heavy workloads.

Battery Life

The P50 Pocket boasts an impressive endurance rating of 66 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The Pocket S's battery life is likely slightly shorter, but still respectable. The Pocket S's 40W wired charging offers a faster charging speed (52% in 20 minutes) compared to the P50 Pocket's 40W charging.

Buying Guide

The Huawei P50 Pocket is ideal for users who demand top-tier performance, a premium camera experience, and don't mind spending more. The Huawei Pocket S is perfect for those seeking a stylish, compact foldable at a more affordable price, prioritizing portability and decent performance over flagship-level specs.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P50 Pocket worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance and camera quality, the P50 Pocket is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget, the Pocket S offers a compelling alternative.
❓ Which foldable is better for gaming?
The Huawei P50 Pocket, with its Snapdragon 888 chipset, is significantly better suited for gaming due to its superior processing power and graphics capabilities.