Huawei has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Pura 80 Ultra, showcasing an innovative 'one sensor, two lenses' camera system that promises to revolutionize mobile photography.
The Pura 80 Ultra features a unique camera setup with three cameras arranged in a triangle-shaped base. The standout is the telephoto camera, which combines a 3.7x lens and a 9.4x lens on a single 1/1.28-inch sensor. This design saves space while allowing more light into the camera, enhancing image quality.
"This is the biggest hardware innovation on the Pura 80 Ultra," said Li Xiaolong, Chief Technology Officer of Huawei's terminal business. "The only catch is that the cost is very, very high."
The smartphone also introduces Huawei's "Red Maple" camera system, aiming to significantly improve color accuracy. Supply chain reports indicate that the lenses for the Pura 80 series are supplied by OFILM Group, a former Apple supplier, signaling a strengthening of the Chinese mainland’s domestic supply chain for phone camera components.
Under the hood, the Pura 80 Ultra is powered by the Kirin 9020 chip—the same as in Huawei's Mate 70 series introduced in late 2024. Although the chip uses a less advanced manufacturing process compared to other mainstream brands, potentially affecting performance, Huawei aims to compensate with software optimizations.
On the software side, the Pura 80 series ships with HarmonyOS Next 5.1, featuring live AI conversation capabilities. A significant update, HarmonyOS Next 6.0, is expected later this year, promising better integration between smartphones and vehicles, according to Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei's consumer business.
Priced at 9,999 yuan (approximately $1,400), the Pura 80 Ultra matches the cost of its predecessor, the Pura 70 Art. Some users on social media have expressed concerns over the high price, calling for a return to more cost-effective models like the Honor V30 Pro from late 2019.
