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Posts Tagged ‘Mate’

Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro offers quad-camera array, 4K60 video, cinematic bokeh and more

20 Sep

Today, Huawei unveiled the Mate 30 Pro at a launch event in Munich, Germany. The device is Huawei’s latest flagship and much like Apple’s presentation last week, there was a strong emphasis on the imaging capabilities of the device.

Mate 30 Pro

At the heart of the Mate 30 Pro smartphones is the Kirin 990 processor, a chipset that will come in 4G and 5G versions for various markets. This marks the first time we’ve seen the Kirin 990 in a device and carries on the trend of Huawei putting its latest, most advanced chipset in its Mate series smartphones.

The screen on the Mate 30 Pro is a 6.53-inch curved OLED ‘Horizon’ display with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,176 pixels. The ‘Horizon’ nickname refers to the wrap-around screen, which covers the edges of the device and serves as a means of changing settings via virtual buttons on the sides of the device.

On the imaging front, the Mate 30 Pro feature a Leica-branded camera unit on the rear of the devices that features four cameras: a 40-megapixel super-wide-angle camera with an F1.8 aperture and a 1/1.7-inch sensor (17mm 35mm equivalent), a wide-angle image-stabilized 40-megapixel wide-angle camera with an F1.6 aperture and 1/1.7-inch sensor (27mm 35mm equivalent), an image-stabilized 8-megapixel 3x telephoto camera with an F2.4 aperture (80mm 35mm equivalent) as well as a time-of-flight (ToF) camera for improved depth-sensing.

Considering the image processing capabilities of the Kirin 990 chipset, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the Mate 30 Pro will feature impressive photo and video capabilities. In addition to 4K video at 60 frames per second, the phones can also capture slo-mo 1080p video at up to 960 fps and 720p video at up to 7,680 fps. Huawei also showed off a 4K HDR+ time-lapse function with up to 12-hours of recording as well as a real-time ‘cinematic bokeh’ mode for video.

The front-facing selfie camera is a whopping 32-megapixels and will work with a number of AR photo and video features within the operating system (OS) and third-party applications, including new gesture-control functionality.

Speaking of the operating system, the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro both run on EMUI 10, a Huawei-created OS that takes a great deal of inspiration from Google’s latest mobile operating system Android 10. After being blacklisted by the United States government over security concerns, Huawei announced it was investing $ 1 billion into its operating system and app ecosystem. The Mate 30 Pro (and the Mate 30, which we’ve addressed below) are the first devices to use this new system.

Tucked inside the device is a 4500mAh battery that supports Huawei SuperCharge up to 40W and wireless charging up to 27W.

The Mate 30 Pro will come in six colors: silver, green, purple, black and two vegan leather options— green and orange. The device is IP68 water- and dust-resistant.

Mate 30

Alongside the flagship Mate 30 Pro, Huawei also announced the more budget-friendly Mate 30. The Mate 30 features a slightly larger display but a decreased resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels. It also swaps out the 40-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera for a 16-megapixel sensor and a slower F2.2 aperture, removes the ToF sensor the Mate 30 Pro offers and shrinks the battery to 4,200mAh.

Video from the camera modules is also limited in the Mate 30; 4K video can still be shot at 60 fps, but slo-mo is limited to 960 fps in 720p. Interestingly enough, Huawei has included a 3.5mm headphone jack in the Mate 30 while ditching it for the Mate 30 Pro, so if you want wired audio, you’re better off with the Mate 30.

Pricing and availability

The Huawei Mate 30 will be available with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage starting at €799. The Mate 30 Pro will feature 8GB of storage as well, but boost internal storage to 256GB starting at €1099 for the 4G model and €1199 for the 5G model. Regional availability was not disclosed as of publishing this article.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro triple cam offers focal lengths from 16 to 80mm

16 Oct
Huawei Mate 20 Pro

Huawei launched its latest flagship smartphone Mate 20 Pro at an event in London today. Like the P20 Pro, the new device comes with a triple-camera setup on the rear but replaces the P20 Pro’s monochrome camera with a super-wide-angle unit, offering the widest range of focal lengths of all current smartphones. Using a combination of optical and digital zoom the new Huawei offers a zoom range from 16 to 270mm equiv.

The 40MP main camera is the same as on the P20 Pro and comes with large 1/1.7″ sensor, F1.8 aperture and 27mm equivalent focal length. The 8MP tele-camera features a F2.4 aperture and 80mm equivalent focal length.

The new super-wide-angle offers a 16mm equivalent focal length and uses a 20MP sensor with F2.2 aperture lens. A minimum focus distance of 2.5cm allows for better macro performance.

Very high ISO values up to 51200 allow for photography in very dark conditions and a new Super HDR mode that fuses 10 frames at Raw level offers improved dynamic range. New AI features include a Portrait Color video mode that isolates human subjects by desaturating the colors around them in real-time. Spotlight Reel identifies clips with a shared theme and auto-generates a highlight montage.

The 24MP front camera support 3D Face Unlock and can also be used for the authorization of mobile payments.

In terms of non-camera specs and features the Huawei Mate 20 Pro offers everything you would expect from a high-end smartphone in 2018. Google’s Android Pie OS is powered by a Kirin 980 chipset and 6GB of RAM. 128GB of built-in memory can be expanded via a new memory card format: Huawei’s new Nano-SD is 45% smaller than a MicroSD card.

The body offers IP86 water and dust protection and houses a 6.39-inch curved OLED display with 3120 x 1440 resolution and very thin bezels. DCI-P3 HDR is supported as well.

Huawei also launched the Mate 20 which comes with a 6.53-inch LCD display and a 12MP main camera but otherwise very similar specs to its top-end cousin. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro will be available from October 16 for approximately $ 1200 (EUR 1049). The Mate 20 is slightly more affordable at approximately $ 1040 (EUR 899).

Huawei Mate 20

A Higher Intelligence: Huawei Unveils HUAWEI Mate 20 Series

LONDON, United Kingdom—October 16, 2018—Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today unveiled the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series, one of the most highly anticipated smartphone series of the year. Representing a momentous milestone in the history of the HUAWEI Mate Series, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series embodies the pinnacle of innovation.

Designed with the industry’s most powerful and sophisticated process technology, the latest Huawei flagship devices set a new bar by which all 2018 smartphones will be measured.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is powered by Huawei’s densest and highest performing system on chip (SoC) to date—the Kirin 980. Manufactured with the advanced 7nm process incorporating the powerful Cortex-A76-based CPU and Mali-G76 GPU, the SoC offers improved performance and an unprecedented smooth user experience. The new 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, 15W HUAWEI Wireless Quick Charge and large batteries work in tandem to provide users with the best battery life. The Matrix Camera System includes Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens that lets users not only see wider, but also closer with its new macro distance capability. The Hyper Optical Pattern on the glass back plays with light and shadows, producing an iridescent optical effect that is immediately captivating. The Matrix Camera System adopts the iconic Four-Point Design that exudes personality, giving the device a unique visual identity that is recognizable even at a distance. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is shipped with the highly customized Android P-based EMUI 9 operating system, on which consumers can enjoy all productivity and entertainment features easily and conveniently with a few simple taps and swipes.

Available in 6.53-inch, 6.39-inch and 7.2-inch sizes, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series encompasses four devices: HUAWEI Mate 20, HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro, HUAWEI Mate 20 X and PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS. “Smartphones are an important entrance to the digital world.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is designed to be the best ‘mate’ of consumers, accompanying and empowering them to enjoy a richer, more fulfilled life with their higher intelligence, unparalleled battery lives and powerful camera performance,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG

Ultimate Performance and Battery Life

The SoC at the core of smartphones has a determining factor in a device’s performance and efficiency. Manufactured with the cutting-edge 7nm technology process, the SoC fits 6.9 billion transistors within a die the size of a fingernail. Compared to Kirin 970, the latest chipset is equipped with CPU that is 75 percent more powerful, GPU that is 46 percent more powerful and NPU that is 226 percent more powerful. Furthermore, the efficiency of the components has also been elevated: the CPU is 58 percent more efficient, GPU is 178 percent more efficient, and the NPU is 182 percent more efficient. The Kirin 980 is the world’s first commercial SoC to use the Cortex-A76-based cores. Huawei has

innovatively designed a three-tier architecture that consists of two ultra-large cores, two large cores and four small cores. This grants the CPU the flexibility to allocate the optimal amount of resources to heavy, medium and light tasks for unprecedented levels of efficiency, simultaneously improving the performance of the SoC while enhancing the battery life.

The Kirin 980 is also the industry’s first SoC to be equipped with Dual-NPU, granting it higher On-Device AI processing capability to support any and all AI applications. HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is the world’s first smartphone to support the 4.5G LTE Cat. 21 standard, allowing consumers to experience download speeds of up to 1.4Gbps. It also supports the world’s fastest WiFi connection speeds–2GB footage requires only 10 seconds to download. The top-end flagship also supports dual-band (L1+L5) GPS positioning technology.

The AI GPS Satellite Selection technology enhances the positioning accuracy across a wide range of scenarios. Besides superb performance, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series also features groundbreaking improvement on battery life. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro houses a large, high-density 4200mAh battery, and supports 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge, which gives the device 70 percent charge in 30 minutes. The safety of the technology is certified by TÜV Rheinland.

Moreover, HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro supports 15W HUAWEI Wireless Quick Charge, the industry’s fastest wireless charging solution, and Wireless Reverse Charge, which enables the device to work as a power bank for selected electronic devices supporting wireless charging. The HUAWEI Mate 20 X supports an ultra-large 5000mAh battery, and is equipped with a revolutionary HUAWEI super cool system that uses a combination of graphene film and vapor chamber to deliver outstanding cooling performance. With the cooling system in place, the CPU and GPU embedded in HUAWEI Mate 20 X can remain at full throttle for an extended period of time and deliver the smoothest and most satisfying gaming experience to consumers. The HUAWEI super cool system also marks the first time graphene is utilized to cool smartphones.

Matrix Camera System

Building on the foundation of HUAWEI P20 Series’ camera system, Huawei augmented the HUAWEI Mate 20 with a powerful addition—16mm Leica Ultra Wide Angle Lens. This wider perspective creates a sense of spaciousness and a three dimensional effect to the images. The new camera system also supports macro distance, which produces crisp images of objects that are placed as close as 2.5cm from the lens.

The added ultra-wide angle lens and macro support completes the feature set of the camera system, elevating it to a truly all-round camera that is ready to capture any and all action. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is equipped with a 40MP main camera, a 20MP ultra wideangle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera.

Together, the trio of lenses supports a wide range of focal lengths (equivalent to the performance of a 16-270mm zoom lens), enabling it to mimic the results from professional cameras. The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series also features an AI Portrait Color video mode. Using AI, the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series can isolate human subjects and desaturate the colors around them to dramatically highlight the person.

AI Spotlight Reel identifies clips with a shared theme and auto-generates a montage, made entirely of highlights. HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro and PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS both support 3D Face Unlock. The solution quickly and securely authenticates users within 0.6s at a false acceptance rate of below 1/1,000,000. Using the 3D Depth Sensing Camera System located at the front, the two devices can accurately read the facial features of a subject and recognize even small details. Besides user authentication, this suite of sensors also enables the portrait beautification effects to be realized in a more natural and effective way.

EMUI 9 Enables a Quality Life

The HUAWEI Mate 20 Series comes with EMUI 9.0, a smart operating system based on Android P. Through AI self-learning algorithms, an integrated and granular resource allocation system, and a highly optimized Android environment, EMUI 9 delivers an “evergreen” experience—it remains smooth even through extended use. EMUI 9.0 incorporates a unified, ergonomic design and a streamlined settings menu.

The new gesture navigation support allows users to effortlessly interact with their devices using just taps and swipes. It also introduces new AI features that enable the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series to perform or enhance a range of tasks from object identification to food calorie counting12 . Using 3D Live Object Modeling, consumers can even create a fun digital avatar to dance or interact with.

As a key pillar supporting Huawei’s all-connected, all-scenario ecosystem, HUAWEI Share 3.0 delivers a revolutionary improvement in device interconnection, allowing users to transfer files between smartphones and PC. This is an innovative, Huawei-proprietary solution that enables device interconnectivity. It revolutionizes the way people transfer images and videos: all it takes is one tap to establish a connection between a smartphone and PC for easy and fast file sharing3 .

Futuristic Design

As an expression of the HUAWEI Mate Series DNA, all devices carry a FullView display with a high screen-to-body ratio. Compactly engineered, every device from the 6.39-inch HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro to the 7.2-inch HUAWEI Mate 20 X can be comfortably used with a single hand. The grace of natural elements is captured on the design of the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series. In particular the HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro’s chassis is curved on all eight sides—a marvel to behold, and a pleasure to hold in the hand. For the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS, Huawei and Porsche Design ingeniously combined race track elements with premium materials to create a device that exudes elegance and offers a firm, ergonomic grip.

The Matrix Camera array on the back of the HUAWEI Mate 20 Series features a four-point design with the three cameras and sensor encircled in a polished metal frame, producing an avant-garde look that is both bold and distinct. The flagship series comes in a new Emerald Green colorway, which is as brilliant as its namesake gemstone. The Hyper Optical Pattern on the glass back uses a complex hairline pattern to produce an iridescent effect that is not only highly durable, but also makes the device easy to grip and fingerprint resistant. The devices retain a clean look even when they have been used extensively.

The new HUAWEI Mate 20 Series, as well as HUAWEI WATCH GT, HUAWEI Band 3 Pro will go on sale in countries including the U.K., France, Italy and United Arab Emirates soon. The HUAWEI Mate 20 (4GB + 128GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR799 and the HUAWEI Mate 20 (6GB + 128GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR849 from 16th October, 2018.

The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro (6GB + 128GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR1049 from 16th October, 2018. The HUAWEI Mate 20 X (6GB + 128GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR899 from 26th October, 2018. The PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS (8GB + 256GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR1695, and the PORSCHE DESIGN HUAWEI Mate 20 RS (8GB + 512GB configuration) will have a MSRP of EUR2095 from 16th November, 2018.

Embodying exquisite design, powerful performance, extraordinary capturing capabilities and nextgeneration intelligence, the new HUAWEI Mate 20 Series is the partner of choice for professionals pursuing quality of life. For more information, please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com/en

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro is finally available for pre-order in the US

07 Feb

AT&T and Verizon may have pulled out of selling the Huawei Mate 10 Pro in the US—under a little bit of political pressure—but luckily, you can still get your hands on Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone and it’s well-reviewed “co-engineered with Leica” dual camera.

The Chinese manufacturer announced that pre-orders for the unlocked version of the Mate 10 Pro are starting in the US today, in-store and online at electronic retailers including Amazon, BestBuy, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. The phone will initially be available in Midnight Blue and Titanium Grey. A Mocha Brown variant will make it to the stores in the near future. In addition, the souped-up Porsche Design version of the Mate 10 Pro will be available online starting February 18th.

We spoke to a Huawei spokesperson to confirm, and even though you won’t be able to purchase a Mate 10 Pro through a carrier, the unlocked device will operate on GSM networks in the U.S., including: AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, Simple Mobile and Tracfone. As an added bonus, customers that pre-order between now and February 17th will receive a $ 150 gift card from the retailer from which it was purchased.

If you are contemplating replacing your current device, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is definitely worth a closer look. Its Leica-co-engineered camera performed very well during our testing, and it’s a great device is general use as well. The regular Mate 10 Pro in its various colors goes for $ 800 unlocked, while the special Porsche Design version will retail for $ 1,225 when it starts shipping in 12 days’ time.

The ‘Best Smartphone at CES’ Now Available in the U.S.

Award-winning HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro now available for pre-order in-stores and online at BestBuy, Amazon, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H with a $ 150 gift card promotion until Feb. 17

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Pre-orders for the highly acclaimed HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro will begin on Feb. 5in-stores and online at major electronic retailers including Amazon, BestBuy, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. Customers who pre-order the device from now until Feb. 17 will receive a $ 150 gift card from the retailer in which it was purchased. The HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro will begin shipping Feb. 18.

Available in Midnight Blue and Titanium Grey now, and Mocha Brown soon; the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s stunning design is matched only by its performance. Featuring the world’s first AI-enhanced processor with a dedicated Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU) in a smartphone, the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro achieves new breakthroughs in computing capacity to deliver up to 25 times better performance and up to 50 times greater energy efficiency for AI-related tasks.

Partnering with renowned camera maker Leica, Huawei co-engineered the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s dual camera with AI capabilities that enables users to take professional quality photos without having to adjust the camera settings. The camera’s computer vision technology supports real-time scene and object recognition to automatically choose and adjust camera settings to capture the best photos possible.

“Huawei prides itself in delivering premium, high-performing devices that are elegant, secure and user-friendly, and the award-winning HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro embodies all those characteristics and more,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. “The HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro has the ideal combination of camera, battery life and performance; and was designed for how individuals use a smartphone today.”

Highlighting the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s mobile AI capabilities, intelligent and intuitive new Leica camera, long-lasting battery life, and elegant design; the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro has earned 42 awards to date from global technology media, including “Best Smartphone of CES” from TechRadar, “Best of CES 2018” from Android Police, “2018 CES Top Pick” from Android Central and “Best Smartphone of 2017” from Android Authority. Editors from Android Central even proclaimed the device as Huawei’s “best phone ever.”

In addition to the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro, the new Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 will be available online at major retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. Retailing for $ 1,225 starting Feb. 18, the Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 combines luxury aesthetics with cutting-edge mobile engineering and technology. Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 showcases a race track inspired design in a Diamond Black body, and features 6GB of RAM, 256GB of ROM and a customized UI to perfectly complement its premium experience.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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AT&T decision to drop Huawei Mate 10 Pro reportedly made under pressure from US Congress

17 Jan

According to a report by Reuters AT&T’s decision to not sell the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, currently one of the best camera smartphones, in the US might have been made under pressure from the US Congress.

According to the report, lawmakers did pressure the communications company to drop its plans to offer Huawei’s devices to customers. AT&T is also being urged by Senators and House members to put an end to its collaboration with the Chinese manufacturer on standards for its 5G network.

The report claims that companies are being told that doing business with Huawei, China Mobile and other Chinese companies could reduce the chances of procuring government contracts. “The next wave of wireless communication has enormous economic and national security implications,” said Michael Wessel of a US-Chain security review commission. “China’s participation in setting the standards and selling the equipment raises many national security issues that demand strict and prompt attention.”

According to US intelligence information, Huawei has shared sensitive information with the Chinese government

In addition, Congress has proposed a bill that would prevent any government agencies from working with the Chinese company. The proposal says that, according to US intelligence information, Huawei has shared sensitive information with the Chinese government, and that Chinese security agencies can make use of Huawei equipment to spy on US businesses.

As one would expect, Huawei insists that its technology does not come with any built-in tools for access to US communications infrastructure. The company also told Reuters that its equipment is used by 45 of the world’s top 50 carriers, for all of whom security is a priority.

The good news is that If you are based in the US and did like the Mate 10 Pro’s camera performance in our full review, you’ll still be able to purchase the device, just not through a carrier. Instead you can buy the unlocked version on Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei Mate 10 Pro camera review

13 Jan

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The Mate 10 Pro is Huawei’s new flagship smartphone and the latest in its line of Leica-camera equipped devices. The dual-cam setup combines a 12MP RGB sensor with a 20MP monochrome chip. Like on previous high-end Huaweis, the latter allows for a native black-and-white mode, and Huawei claims that the combination of captured image data from both sensors leads to improved dynamic range and lower noise levels.

Both of the dual-cam lenses feature a fast F1.6 aperture, and optical image stabilization is on board as well. The high-resolution setup allows for what Huawei calls a 2x lossless zoom, and PDAF combined with laser and depth sensors enables fast and precise autofocus. The Mate 10 Pro is capable of recording 4K video at 30 fps and the front camera captures images at an 8MP resolution.

Huawei isn’t relying on hardware alone though—AI and neural networking are applied to improve the quality of the fake bokeh mode, and object recognition for automatic scene selection also relies on some AI magic. Finally, motion detection is being used to reduce motion blur in low light conditions.

Find out how Huawei hardware and software play together and the Mate 10 Pro shapes up in our testing on the following pages.

Key Photographic / Video Specifications

  • Leica-branded dual-camera
  • Dual 12MP RGB / 20MP Monochrome
  • F1.6 aperture
  • OIS
  • 2x lossless zoom
  • 4-in-1 AF with depth, contrast, PDAF and laser
  • dual-LED flash
  • 4K video
  • 8MP front camera

Other Specifications

  • 6″ 2160 x 1080 OLED HDR display, 18:9 aspect ratio
  • Corning Gorilla Glass
  • EMUI 8.0 / Android 8.0 (Oreo)
  • Hisilicon Kirin 970 CPU Octa-core
  • 128GB storage, 6 GB RAM or 64GB storage, 4GB RAM
  • microSD, up to 256 GB
  • Hi-Res 32bit audio
  • 4000 mAh battery with fast charging

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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AT&T won’t sell the Huawei Mate 10 in the US over political concerns

12 Jan

Chinese device manufacturer Huawei was widely expected to announce its first distribution partnership for a flagship smartphone in the US with carrier AT&T at CES this week. However, the carrier pulled out of the agreement at the last minute for reasons that are not entirely clear, though there is some interesting speculation.

According to a report by the New York Times, it appears Huawei’s strong ties with the Chinese government and a fear of espionage have played an important role in the decision. This means that Huawei yet again won’t have an opportunity to compete eye-to-eye with its main rivals Apple and Samsung in the US, as its flagship device Mate 10 Pro will only be available to buy online, through retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy.

If you live in the US and are not so concerned about Chinese espionage, the Mate 10 Pro is definitely worth a closer look. With a 6-inch 18:9 OLED screen, Kirin 970 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and its Leica-branded 12MP dual camera setup, it’s firmly placed in the high-end bracket of the market. That’s a lot smartphone for the $ 800 retail price.

Oh, and its camera is also one of the best among the current crop of flagship phones.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photo Mate Raw conversion app for Android goes freemium

28 Nov

Photo Mate, arguably the most comprehensive image viewer and Raw-developer application for Android devices, has been updated to version R3 3.2. But that’s not the exciting part: the best part is that it’s now available as a free ad-supported version.

The new version still offers most of the features available in the full app—such as decoding and basic editing of raw files, cropping, exporting, rating and image stacking. The workflow has just been augmented with ads, which will be visible in the gallery, and users have to watch a video ad before switching to editing mode.

Users who already own the app continue to get the full feature set and ad-free experience, while new users can decide between the ad-supported version or upgrade to the full version via an in-app purchase that removes ads and gets you access to the following extra-features:

  • Luminance and Sharpening
  • Layer editing
  • Custom export presets
  • Organizing and filtering of images in a library
  • Batch renaming and export
  • Custom watermarks
  • Display calibration
  • Side-by-side image comparison
  • Display of geo-tagged images on map

An upgrade to the full version will cost you $ 6.50 on Google Play, and more information is available on the Photo Mate website. You can also still read our comprehensive review of the app below:

Review of Photo Mate R2

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei Mate 9 quick review

14 May

The Huawei Mate 9 comes with specifications that are in many ways very similar to the slightly newer P10 model. However, as the Chinese manufacturer’s current flagship phablet, the Mate 9 offers a Full-HD display that is, at 5.9″, quite a lot larger than the P10’s 5.1″ equivalent and is overall a chunkier and heavier device.

Like on all recent Huawei high-end models, the Mate 9’s dual-camera was co-developed with German camera manufacturer Leica. It comes with a 20MP monochrome sensor that is combined with a 12MP RGB chip to achieve better image results than conventional cameras. Both lenses feature an F2.2 aperture, complemented by a 6-axis optical image stabilization system and a 4-in-1 hybrid AF that combines contrast detection, phase detection, laser time-of-flight measurements and depth information. The Mate 9 can also record 4K video and has a front camera features an 8MP sensor and F1.9 aperture.

In terms of imaging features, the Mate 9 offers everything you would expect from a true high-end smartphone. The camera app’s Pro mode gives you manual controls and DNG Raw capture. There are panorama and HDR modes and some dual-cam based features, such as a portrait mode with a simulated shallow depth-of-field effect. 

The Mate 9 camera app allows you to adjust all essential shooting parameters using virtual sliders.

The rest of the specification is all worthy of a flagship model as well. Android 7.0 and Huawei’s EMUI 5.0 launcher are powered by the in-house Kirin 960 chipset and the large 4000mAh battery comes with Huawei’s own quick-charging system.

Key specifications:

  • Dual-cam with 12MP RGB sensor and 20MP monochrome sensor
  • F2.2 apertures on both lenses
  • Optical image stabilization 
  • Hybrid AF with contrast detection, phase detection and laser measurement
  • 4K video
  • Manual control over shutter speed
  • DNG Raw capture
  • 8MP / F1.9 front camera
  • 5.9″ LCD IPS display with 1080p
  • Android 7.0
  • Kirin 960 chipset
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB storage and microSD-slot
  • 4000mAh battery with quick charging

Image quality in good light

In good light the Mate 9 camera captures images with good exposure and pleasant colors that are vibrant but still natural. The dual-cam setup is also capable of maintaining better highlight detail than many competitors, making the Huawei a good choice for shooting in high-contrast situations. 

The Leica lenses provide very good sharpness across the frame and into the corners. When viewing the Huawei’s low-ISO image output at a 100% there are no artifacts such as chromatic aberrations, color bleeding or moire but blue skies show noticeable luminance noise. Fine low-contrast textures, such as distant vegetation, are a little smeared by noise reduction but overall the Huawei captures very good detail. 

 ISO 50, 1/1751 sec

In the scene below the Mate 9 camera maintains very good highlight detail in the bright sunshine.

 ISO 50, 1/1307 sec

The Huawei Mate 9 colors are vibrant but not quite as punchy and unnaturally saturated as on some competitors.

 ISO 50, 1/1715 sec

In the portrait scene below the camera does a very good job at balancing exposure between in the bright sunlit background and the shaded subject.

 ISO 50, 1/428 sec

Image quality in low light conditions

In low light the Mate 9 camera performs very well across the ISO range. Color response and white balance are good, even in mixed light situations, and the camera produces good exposures down to very low light levels. 

Noise and the effects of noise reduction become more intrusive as the ISO value goes up but the Huawei always maintains a good balance between noise reduction and detail retention. Chroma noise is well under control and grain tends to be fine and less intrusive than on some competitors. Even shots captured in very dark scenes still show some finer textures and decent edge detail. Overall the Mate 9 camera performs very well in low light, letting the Huawei compete with the very best in dim conditions. 

At ISO 100 a very minor reduction of detail is just about noticeable but you have to zoom in to a 100% view to see. Color and exposure are very good. 

 ISO 100, 1/100 sec

The ISO 250 shot below was captured in a tungsten-lit interior. The white balance system is doing a good job at producing a fairly neutral color response that preserves some of the scene’s warm atmosphere. At full-size view luminance noise becomes visible but the grain size is very small and much less intrusive than the smeared ‘noise blobs’ on some other cameras.

 ISO 250, 1/33 sec

The camera does a good job in the difficult light conditions of the indoor scene below. The optical image stabilization usually keep things steady but, like on most smartphone cameras, at slow shutter speeds even minor subject motion leads to slight softness.

 ISO 640, 1/17 sec

For the night scene below the camera’s auto mode selected ISO 1250. In these difficult conditions noise is visible even at smaller image sizes and a lot of fine detail has been eradicated by noise reduction. However, in comparison to many competitors the Mate 9 is still doing a very good job. Some low-contrast textures are preserved and noise levels are comparatively low. The auto exposure system is also doing an excellent job at balancing the bright portions of the scene against the darker elements. 

 ISO 1250, 1/4 sec

Flash

The Mate 9’s dual-LED flash performed well in our testing. When using the flash the camera tends to keep ISO pretty low, allowing for good detail and low noise levels. Exposure is good with subjects across the table but can get a little too dark at slightly longer distances. Auto white balance usually ensures natural skin tones, even in mixed light situations. 

 ISO 320, 1/25 sec

Front camera

The Mate 9’s front camera comes with an 8MP resolution and resolves good detail in bright light. It also offers better dynamic range than most front cameras we have seen and deals very well with bright backlit scenes, such as the one below. As you would expect, image quality starts suffering as light levels get lower but a display flash function allows for self-portraits even in very dark situations.

 Front camera, ISO 50, 1/1427 sec

Panorama mode

The Mate 9’s panorama mode works in the same way as on other recent Huawei high-end models. You can capture both vertical and horizontal panoramas and a guide line helps you keep things as straight as possible during recording. 

At usually just over 10,000 pixels wide the Mate 9’s panorama images are quite a bit smaller than on recent iPhones or Samsung Galaxy models and only cover a 180 degree angle of view. However, image detail is pretty good, there are only minor stitching errors and the mode deals well with moving subjects in the scene. 

Vertical panorama, 11274 x 3072 pixels

DNG Raw capture

When shooting in its Pro mode you can set the Mate 9 camera to save DNG Raw files in addition to JPEG images. 

Out-of-camera JPEG, ISO 50, 1/1000 sec

The Raw sample below was converted in Adobe ACR. We applied some negative digital exposure compensation and slightly lifted the shadow areas for an overall more natural tonal distribution and applied some small-diameter sharpening. If you click through to the full-sized version you can see that by doing so you can achieve noticeably better detail and reduce highlight clipping on some of the brighter elements in the scene (though the better highlight roll-off has as much to do with being able to access ACR’s cleverness as anything the phone is contributing). 

DNG Raw file, converted in Adobe ACR

Video

The Huawei Mate 9 can capture video in up to 4K resolution and 120 fps slow motion clips at 720p. The 1080p Full-HD sample below shows good color and detail but panning is not quite as smooth as the best in class. The quality of the stereo sound recording is good in most situations. 

Conclusion

The Huawei Mate 9 comes with high-end components that are wrapped up in a solid metal body with a premium look and feel, a comprehensive imaging feature set, a well-structured camera app and very good image quality across all light levels. In bright light the Mate 9 camera lags very slightly behind the best in class in terms of image detail and noise but delivers excellent dynamic range, making it a great camera for shooting in high-contrast situations.

In lower light the camera maintains an excellent balance between noise reduction and detail retention at all light levels and even images taken in very low light still show some fine textures, making the Huawei an excellent choice for mobile photographers who like shooting in dim conditions. Panning in video mode is not quite as smooth as on the iPhone or Google Pixel devices but if video is not too high up your list the Huawei Mate 9 is a very powerful tool for mobile photography.

If you prefer smaller smartphones you should have a closer look at the Huawei P10, which offers very similar all-around specifications in a noticeably smaller package. 

Huawei Mate 9 sample gallery

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DxOMark image quality test report released for Huawei Mate 9

24 Dec

The Mate 9 is Huawei latest flagship smartphone and comes with a Leica-powered dual-camera that combines a 20MP monochrome sensor with a 12MP RGB chip. Image data from both sensors is combined for optimized image quality.

The test engineers at DxOMark have now put the new technology through its paces and with a score of 85 the Mate 9 performs respectably but cannot take one of the top spots. It slots in at a joint 12th position, just behind the LG G5 and iPhone 7. It shares this spot with the LG V20, which was also recently added to DxO’s mobile rankings.

In still image mode the testers liked the good detail preservation, accurate white balance and good exposure of the device but deducted points for inconsistent color in cloudy conditions, color casts with flash use and some ghosting artifacts. Video footage also showed good detail and exposure and was well-stabilized. On the downside, there is a noticeable jello effect when recording while walking and visible noise and reduced detail in low light. You can read the full report on DxOMark.com.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Huawei Mate 9 comes with next generation Leica dual-cam

04 Nov

Huawei has today launched its latest top-end phablet, the Mate 9. The new device features a large 5.9″ LCD IPS display with 1080p resolution and 1500:1 contrast ratio. In the camera department the Mate 9 comes with a new dual-camera that, like its counterpart in the P9, was co-developed with camera manufacturer Leica.

The new version of the Huawei dual-cam boosts resolution of its monochrome sensor to 20MP (up from 12MP in the P9) with a 12MP color chip. Both lenses feature an F2.2 aperture. There is a new 6-axis optical image stabilization system and a 4-in-1 hybrid AF system that combines, contrast detection, phase detection, laser time-of-flight measurements and depth information. 

As before, image data from both sensors is combined to achieve better image results than conventional cameras. Like on the P9, the dual-camera can also simulate the bokeh of a fast lens on a DSLR, but Huawei says the effect has been improved and is now visible in the live-view image. 

In addition the camera features a new hybrid zoom system, which uses image information from the 20MP monochrome sensor for ‘lossless’ digital zooming of the 12MP standard image output. Huawei says that, thanks to improved compression methods, the camera’s 4K video mode creates smaller file sizes without a loss in image quality. The front camera features an 8MP sensor and F1.9 aperture. 

Android 7.0 and Huawei’s EMUI 5.0 launcher are powered by the in-house Kirin 960 CPU, which, according to Huawei, delivers 180% more performance than the predecessor Kirin 950. Huawei also claims the 4000mAh battery is good for 2.5 days of normal use per charge, or 1.7 days of intensive use. An improved version of Huawei’c quick charging system is on board as well. The Huawei Mate 9 with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and microSD support will be available in mocha, black, white, gold, space grey and silver and cost €699 in Europe (approximately $ 775). 

Huawei also introduced a limited Porsche Design edition of the Mate 9. This luxury device comes with 6GB of RAM, 256GB of internal memory and features a 5.5″ curved 2K AMOLED display. Other specifications are identical to the standard Mate 9. The Porsche Edition will be sold exclusively through Porsche Design Stores and set you back a hefty €1395 ($ 1545).

Related: Huawei P9 Review

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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