We’re pretty sure that you’ve already heard of the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro already, coming from its global release and the multitude of posts from people who are in awe of its camera setup. We’re one of those who were skeptical about the look of the new phones, which somehow resembled the lenses of a digital camera, UNTIL we had the chance to test it out! Indeed, mobile phones are now going beyond what is expected of them.
At the official launch of the Huawei Mate 30 series here in the Philippines last October 28 at The Fifth at Rockwell, Huawei representatives and ambassadors highlighted how new technologies made it possible for them to “Rethink Possibilities”. Huawei Chief Experience Officer Jericho Rosales was also present to showcase some of his recent shots taken with his Huawei Mate 30 Pro.
Before we share more about the launch and our first impressions, here’s a quick look at the main difference of the two phones:
| Model | Mate 30 Pro | Mate 30 |
| Size | 158.1 x 73.1 x 8.88 mm | 160.8 x 76.1 x 8.4mm |
| Weight | 198g | 196g |
| Display | 2400 x 1176px resolution, 409ppi / 6.53-inch Horizon Display, OLED | 2340 x 1080px resolution, 389ppi / 6.62-inch OLED Display |
| Operating System | Android 10 | Android 10 |
| Processor | Kirin 990 | Kirin 990 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB |
| Camera |
Quad-lens: 40MP main + 40MP ultra-wide + 8MP telephoto
lens + ToF rear Front Camera: 32MP + ToF |
Triple rear cameras: 40MP wide + 8MP telephoto + 16MP
ultra-wide Front Camera: 24MP + ToF |
| 5G Capabilities | 5G and 4G | 4G |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Sensors | In-display fingerprint sensor, Face ID | In-display fingerprint sensor, Face ID |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, fast charging, Qi wireless charging | 4200 mAh |
| Colors | Back, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green | Back, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Emerald Green |
Rethink Smartphone
Huawei’s Senior Global Product Manager Peter Gauden gave a detailed overview of the Mate 30 series’ hardware highlights, including the new 40MP Cine Camera and a 40MP SuperSensing Camera, the new powerful Kirin 990 chipset, and halo fashion design among others. Combined, each hardware innovation worked together seamlessly to offer an experience that transcended conventional smartphone capabilities.
Shedding an interesting light to all the tech talk are key brand ambassadors and their experience with the Mate 30 series. Known TV Commercial Director Sid Maderazo was mightily impressed with the Mate 30 Pro’s cameras, especially in the videography department. He even showed sample reels, which is already at par with what we see in actual television commercials. Business Executive GP Reyes, on the other hand, related how OneHop lets him transition smoothly from phone to PC during hectic work schedules. We’re impressed!
“We’ve always strived to push the boundaries of smartphone technology, whether it’s the cameras, the display, or the user experience; the Mate 30 Series embodies the result of our innovative spirit, and we hope you take the technology we’ve made in bold new directions – because it really can,” shares Gauden.
Price
The Mate 30 Pro is available for pre-order until November 8, 2019 for P50,990. Meanwhile, the Mate 30 has a significantly lower price point at only P34,990. Pre-orders come with a Huawei SuperCharge Wireless Charger and a Huawei SuperCharge Wireless Car Charger amounting to P5,580! A great deal, TBH.
First Impressions
Don’t judge a smartphone by its look and color. I kept repeating this to myself as I tinkered with the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro displayed during the launch. What I thought to be “ugly” and “oversized” lenses at the back is actually the main highlight of the series (at least for me). You won’t be able to find mobile cameras in the smartphone market that packs powerful megapixels, co-engineered with Leica, that are enough to take videos that may be fit for cinema viewing.
The mobile phone’s size is quite big but it’s not really that different from the latest smartphone releases that are not meant to fit in your pockets. Despite the screen size, the Mate 30 has an Anti Blue Light screen, which has 65% less harmful blue light to protect our eyes. To make viewing more enjoyable, it also has DCI-P3 HDR for high saturation and contrast when you’re binge-watching your favorite series via mobile.
Unlike other phones that are trying to hide all notches, the Mate 30 proudly placed all 4 on the upper part of the screen. To be honest, I have no issues with notches so I don’t really mind. After all, those serve different purposes – a gesture sensor, ambient & light proximity sensor, 3D depth camera, and selfie camera, all in a row.
For the Mate 30 Pro, it has a superb performance when it comes to low light sensitivity, wide-range focal length, slow motion videos, and low-light time-lapse videos. The 40MP Cine Camera backed by a 8 MP Telephoto and a 3D Depth Sensing Camera makes it a must-have for anyone who needs to take high-res photos all the time. As a content creator – both as a hobby and as a full-time work, I definitely approve of this.
Another notable feature that caught our attention is its invisible virtual key for adjusting media volume. All you need is a side-touch interaction to adjust levels – way more effortless compared to pressing buttons at the sides. It also saves us from the worries of accidentally pressing keys from time to time.
Both the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro can be charged via Wireless SuperCharge, too! People who hate cables (like me) would love this. Would be worth saving for this Christmas!
The only downside to this, as far as I know, is the absence of Google apps and services.
Rethinking Environment
The third major portion of the event was devoted to Project E for E: Saving Environmental Ecology through Technological Ecosystem. In partnership with non-profit organization Save Philippine Seas (SPS), Huawei Philippines’ joint project aims to use its innovative tech solutions to help protect and preserve the country’s natural resources. To achieve E for E’s goals, Huawei and its partners will employ a multi-pronged approach to its environmental campaign that involves raising awareness, providing technological support for specific projects, and teaming up with third-party entities to broaden the campaign’s scope.
Through E for E, Huawei strives to empower communities by offering technological solutions like public cloud, improvements and expanding coverage of Internet connection, AI capabilities, mobile phones and a lot more.
The launch of the Mate 30 series delivers more than just the newest piece of smartphone tech to the market – it’s the catalyst for a new era in Huawei’s vision for the future. A future that employs its innovative spirit into rethinking the way technology can be used: creating smarter device ecosystems while protecting natural ecosystems at the same time, for starters.
What can you say about the new Huawei Mate 30 series? Is it a buy or a buh-bye? Let us know your thoughts by commenting on Manila Millennial’s posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. See you around! 😉