Huawei P50 Pro vs Huawei P50: A Clash of Flagship Titans

Huawei's P series has consistently delivered stunning camera capabilities and premium designs. The P50 Pro and P50 are both excellent phones, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which one is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The P50 Pro offers a significant upgrade with its superior camera system, brighter display, and longer battery life. However, the P50 provides a compelling experience at a more accessible price point. For photography enthusiasts and power users, the Pro is the clear winner, while budget-conscious buyers will find the P50 a great value.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P50 Pro Huawei P50
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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - InternationalCDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2021, July 292021, July 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 12Available. Released 2021, October 04
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions158.8 x 72.8 x 8.5 mm (6.25 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)156.5 x 73.8 x 7.9 mm (6.16 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)181 g (6.38 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1228 x 2700 pixels (~450 ppi density)1224 x 2700 pixels (~458 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 101.6 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120HzOLED, 1B colors, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Adreno 660Adreno 660
OSHarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesHarmonyOS 2.0
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 40 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (B/W), AF-
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF13 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), AF13 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless charging66W wired
TypeLi-Po 4360 mAhLi-Po 4100 mAh
Misc
ColorsGolden Black, Cocoa Gold, Pearl White, Charm PinkBlack, Gold, White
ModelsJAD-AL50, JAD-LX9, JAD-AL00ABR-AL00, ABR-LX9
Price$ 196.62 / £ 329.00 / € 473.13About 700 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 76h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 793876 (v8), 786215 (v9) GeekBench: 3145 (v5.1) GFXBench: 44fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei P50 Pro

  • Superior Camera System
  • Brighter Display
  • Exceptional Battery Life
  • Premium Design
  • Potentially better performance (Kirin 9000 variant)

  • Higher Price
  • Limited Availability (due to sanctions)

Huawei P50

  • More Affordable
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 4G Chipset
  • Sleek Design
  • Good Camera Performance

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Less Advanced Camera System
  • Lower Display Brightness

Display Comparison

The Huawei P50 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 754 nits peak brightness, compared to the P50. Both feature OLED panels with excellent contrast (the P50 Pro's is nominally infinite), but the Pro's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both offer vibrant colors and sharp resolution.

Camera Comparison

This is where the P50 Pro truly shines. It features a more advanced camera system with additional lenses and sensors, allowing for greater versatility and image quality. While the P50's camera is still excellent, the Pro's capabilities in low light, zoom, and overall detail are noticeably superior. Both offer impressive video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both phones utilize the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G chipset, but the P50 Pro initially shipped with the Kirin 9000, offering potentially slightly better performance in some scenarios. However, the Snapdragon 888 4G is a powerful processor capable of handling demanding tasks and games smoothly on both devices. Real-world performance differences are likely to be minimal for most users.

Battery Life

The P50 Pro holds a considerable advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 76 hours, significantly exceeding the P50. This translates to multiple days of use on a single charge for the Pro, while the P50 will likely require daily charging for moderate to heavy users.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Huawei P50 Pro? Photography enthusiasts, power users who demand top-tier performance and a vibrant display, and those prioritizing long battery life. Who should buy the Huawei P50? Users seeking a premium Huawei experience without breaking the bank, those who value a powerful processor and a sleek design, and those who don't need the absolute best camera features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei P50 Pro worth the extra money?
If you're a serious photographer or prioritize long battery life and a brighter display, the P50 Pro is a worthwhile investment. However, if you're on a budget, the P50 offers excellent value.
❓ What about software updates on Huawei phones?
Huawei phones no longer receive Google Mobile Services. They run on EMUI, which is based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP). App availability may be limited, and updates are primarily handled by Huawei.