HUAWEI P50 Pro, P50 Pocket launched globally: Is slick hardware enough?

Huawei launched its first clamshell foldable, the P50 Pocket, in December 2021, and it looks like a great alternative to the Galaxy Z Flip range in terms of hardware. The foldable initially launched in China, but HUAWEI has now launched it in global markets alongside the P50 Pro.

In case you missed it, the P50 Pocket packs a Snapdragon 888 4G SoC, 8 to 12GB of RAM, and 256 to 512GB of storage. HUAWEI’s phone also delivers a 6.9-inch foldable 120Hz OLED screen and a circular 1.04-inch external screen.

Other notable HUAWEI P50 Pocket specs include a 4,000mAh battery with 40W wired charging, a side fingerprint scanner, and support for HUAWEI’s proprietary NM card.

The P50 Pocket also delivers a pretty interesting camera experience, namely a 40MP f/1.8 main camera, a 13MP ultrawide shooter (120-degree field-of-view), and a 32MP “super-spectrum” sensor. The latter sensor is capable of fluorescent shots and can also be used to check if you’ve got sunblock on your face. Meanwhile, a 10.7MP camera in a punch-hole cutout on the main screen handles selfies when unfolded.

HUAWEI P50 Pro goes global

It only took six months, but HUAWEI finally launched the P50 Pro outside China too. This is largely identical to the Chinese variant but sees Harmony OS swapped out for EMUI 12.

Otherwise, you’re getting the Snapdragon 888 4G SoC here (no Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, then), 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 6.6-inch 120Hz OLED screen (2,700 x 1,228). This is all wrapped up in an IP68 design complete with two circular camera housings on the back.

Speaking of the cameras, the rear shooters consist of a 50MP main shooter (f/1.8 with OIS), a 40MP monochrome camera, a 13MP ultrawide snapper, and a 64MP 3.5X periscope camera with OIS. A 13MP camera handles selfies and video calls.

HUAWEI also offers a 4,360mAh battery to keep the lights on, while 66W wired charging and 50W wireless topups will have you fully charged in no time flat.

P50 Pro and P50 Pocket pricing and availability

Expect to pay €1,299 (~$1,468) for the P50 Pocket when it’s eventually launched, while the P50 Pocket Premium Edition will set you back €1,599 (~$1,808). The Premium Edition foldable also ships with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Want something more conventional? Then you’ll be paying €1,199 (~$1,355) for the P50 Pro.

The P50 Pro will be available in Cocoa Gold and Golden Black colorways while the P50 Pocket is available in white and Premium Gold (the latter being for the Premium Edition).

HUAWEI says “phase one” of the P50 Pro and P50 Pocket launches will see releases in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East.

It’s worth stressing again that HUAWEI’s phones since late 2019 lack Google integration. So apps like the Play Store, Gmail, Uber, and more won’t work (or won’t work properly).