Huawei Pocket S vs. P50 Pocket: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Huawei's foldable market is heating up, and two contenders stand out: the Pocket S and the P50 Pocket. Both offer compact designs and premium features, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The P50 Pocket takes the crown thanks to its superior Snapdragon 888 chipset, brighter display, and generally more premium feel. While the Pocket S offers a more budget-friendly entry point, the P50 Pocket's performance and camera capabilities justify the higher price for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Pocket S	Huawei P50 Pocket

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
	CDMA2000 1x	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China

Launch
Announced	2022, November 02	2021, December 23
Status	Available. Released 2022, November 11	Available. Released 2021, December 23

Body
Dimensions	Unfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mmFolded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mm	Unfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mm Folded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	190 g (6.70 oz)

Display
Resolution	1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)	1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density)
Size	6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz	Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
	Cover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppi	Cover display: OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppi

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 642L	Adreno 660
OS	HarmonyOS 3.0	HarmonyOS 2.0 (China), EMUI 12 (Europe), no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF	-
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)	10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Triple	-	40 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
Video	4K, 1080p	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)	10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
Video	4K, 1080p	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	UV illuminator

Battery
Charging	40W wired, 52% in 20 min 5W reverse wired	40W wired 5W reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 4000 mAh	Li-Po 4000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Pink, Gren, Silver, Gold, Black	Black, Gold, Silver
Models	BAL-AL60	BAL-AL00, BAL-L49
Price	About 830 EUR	About 870 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)

OUR TESTS
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 66h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	803 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker	-	-30.1 LUFS (Below average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 768513 (v9) GeekBench: 3077 (v5.1) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Pocket S

More affordable
Compact and stylish design
Decent performance for everyday tasks
Reverse wireless charging

Less powerful chipset
Lower display brightness
Potentially less impressive camera

Huawei P50 Pocket

Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 888)
Brighter and higher contrast display
Likely superior camera quality
Premium build quality

Higher price
Potentially larger size (though still compact for a foldable)

Display Comparison

The P50 Pocket boasts a significantly brighter display at 803 nits (measured) compared to the Pocket S, offering better visibility in sunlight. While the Pocket S display is still good, the P50 Pocket's 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and richer colors. Both feature foldable OLED panels with similar resolutions, but the P50 Pocket's overall display experience is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the P50 Pocket likely has an edge due to the Snapdragon 888's superior image processing capabilities. While specific camera specs are not fully detailed, the P50 Pocket's reputation for excellent photography suggests it will deliver better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Both offer versatile camera setups.

Performance

Here's where the P50 Pocket truly shines. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Pocket S's Snapdragon 778G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better performance in demanding games on the P50 Pocket. The Pocket S is still capable, but the P50 Pocket offers a more premium and responsive experience.

Battery Life

Both devices share a 40W wired charging and 5W reverse wired charging. The P50 Pocket's endurance rating of 66 hours suggests slightly better battery life, although real-world usage will vary. The Pocket S's battery performance is respectable, but the P50 Pocket has a slight advantage.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Pocket S is ideal for users seeking a stylish, compact foldable on a tighter budget who prioritize portability over raw power. The Huawei P50 Pocket is for those who demand flagship-level performance, a vibrant display, and a more advanced camera system, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Pocket S worth buying if I'm on a budget?

Yes, the Pocket S offers a good entry point into the foldable world. It's stylish, compact, and performs well for everyday tasks, making it a worthwhile option for budget-conscious buyers.

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The Huawei P50 Pocket is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset. It will handle demanding games with smoother performance and less throttling.