Huawei Mate 10 Pro Comprehensive Guide on Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro sports a sophisticated design that combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. It features a glass front, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, and a glass back, all encased in an aluminum frame. This not only enhances its visual appeal but adds to its durability. The dimensions of the device are 154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm, which makes it comfortable to hold and use. At 178 grams, it balances weight and size well, avoiding any sense of it being overly bulky or heavy. The device is available in several colors, offering options like Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray, Mocha Brown, and Pink Gold.

Display

The Mate 10 Pro is fitted with a 6.0-inch OLED display, which offers vivid colors and deep contrasts thanks to HDR10. The screen-to-body ratio is a notable 80.9%, providing an immersive viewing experience. The resolution stands at 1080 x 2160 pixels with an 18:9 aspect ratio, and a pixel density of about 402 ppi, which ensures that images and text are crisp and clear. The screen's durability is enhanced by unspecified Corning Gorilla Glass, providing resistance against scratches and minor impacts.

Performance

Powered by the Kirin 970 chipset with an Octa-core CPU, the Mate 10 Pro handles multitasking and demanding applications with ease. The chipset consists of 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 cores and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, delivering a balanced mix of power efficiency and performance. The Mali-G72 MP12 GPU ensures smooth graphics rendering, whether for gaming or video playback. The device is equipped with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, paired with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, though it lacks support for external card slots. This configuration suffices for most users, although storage-expansion enthusiasts may find the lack of card slot limiting.

Operating System and User Interface

Out of the box, the Mate 10 Pro runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo). It supports updates up to Android 10, alongside Huawei's custom EMUI 10.2. The combination provides users with a host of features and improvements, including enhanced battery management, AI-driven optimizations, and an intuitive user interface. EMUI adds layers of customization and functionality to stock Android, but some users may find it overwhelming compared to a more streamlined interface.

Camera Capabilities

Huawei has always emphasized strong camera performance, and the Mate 10 Pro is no exception. It features a dual main camera setup with a 12 MP, f/1.6 aperture wide lens and a 20 MP, f/1.6 aperture monochrome sensor. Both lenses offer a vast array of features including Leica optics, phase detection, laser autofocus, optical image stabilization (OIS), dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, and HDR capabilities. The device can record 4K videos at 30fps and 1080p videos at 60fps, proving its competency in videography. The 8 MP front camera with an aperture of f/2.0 caters to selfies, and it is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps.

Battery Life and Charging

The Mate 10 Pro houses a substantial 4000 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. It supports 22.5W fast charging, facilitating a 58% recharge in just 30 minutes, as advertised by Huawei. The battery life has an endurance rating of 96 hours, as per testing, ensuring it copes well with heavy usage and intensive tasks throughout the day.

Connectivity Options

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is built to support a range of connectivity options. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies. The phone offers dual-SIM capabilities, available on certain models, allowing for flexible use for users who travel or need separate lines. The device supports high-speed connections with LTE (3CA) Cat18 offering download speeds up to 1200/150 Mbps. The handset comes equipped with advanced connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, and USB Type-C 3.1 with OTG support.

Additional Features

The Mate 10 Pro hosts a variety of additional features that are appealing to its users. It includes a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer, and compass. Navigation capabilities are also comprehensive, with the inclusion of GPS, GLONASS, and BDS. Moreover, it features NFC support and an infrared port, expanding the device's functional capabilities.

Sound and Audio

The Mate 10 Pro is equipped with stereo speakers that deliver a rich sound experience, marked by a balanced combination of voice, noise, and ring loudness levels. While it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, users can rely on adapters or Bluetooth for audio connections.

Conclusion

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro, even years after its release, stands as a testament to Huawei's capability to blend premium design with high performance. Ideal for consumers seeking a device that offers robust performance and excellent camera capabilities, the Mate 10 Pro delivers on nearly all fronts. However, the absence of a card slot and headphone jack might be considerations for some prospective buyers. Overall, it remains a competitive option in the mid-range to premium smartphone market, offering exceptional features, style, and technological advancements that cater to the needs of professional and casual users alike.