Hands-on With the Huawei Pura 90s Pro: Is Smaller Better?

Meet the Huawei Pura 90s Series: 5G Returns to the Global Stage

Huawei has officially pulled the curtain back on its latest flagship lineup: the Pura 90s Pro and the Pura 90s Pro Max. While both devices share much of the same DNA, they are tailored to slightly different users. If you crave top-tier performance without the extra bulk, the standard Pro is the compact powerhouse you’ve been waiting for. For those who want the absolute best hardware specs, the Pro Max remains the heavy hitter—we’ve already taken a deep dive into its impressive camera system, which you can check out in our hands-on review of the Pura 90s Pro Max.

Display and Design

The most immediate difference is the screen. The Pura 90s Pro clocks in at a comfortable 6.6 inches, but don’t mistake compact for entry-level. It carries over the flagship-grade LTPO tech from its larger sibling, complete with a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The design language is bold, too, featuring vibrant color gradients like Guava Soda, Coconut White, Orange Soda, and Mulberry Black—with frames color-matched to the back for a seamless, unified look.

Performance and Connectivity

Under the hood, the Pura 90s Pro runs on Huawei’s cutting-edge Kirin 9030S chipset. We are eager to put this new silicon through its paces in our full review to see how it handles real-world stress. Perhaps most significantly, these devices mark a major turning point for the company: they are the first Huawei smartphones to ship internationally with 5G connectivity since the trade sanctions began, signaling a significant comeback for the brand on the global market.

Camera Capabilities

Huawei’s camera prowess is on full display here. The distinct camera island houses a powerful 50MP main sensor (1/1.28″) along with a 50MP telephoto lens capable of 4x optical zoom and a 12.5MP ultrawide shooter. If you opt for the Pro Max, you’re looking at a serious upgrade, featuring a 200MP telephoto sensor and a more advanced 40MP ultrawide lens.

Battery, Charging, and Software

Longevity shouldn’t be an issue, as the phone packs a massive 6,000 mAh battery (though European units sit at 5,500 mAh due to specific regional regulations). Regardless of the capacity, both support snappy 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. Software-wise, there is great news for international users: after a long period of stagnation, these global units ship with EMUI based on Android 16, finally moving on from the aging Android 12 foundation.