In a bold move to redefine mobile photography, Huawei has unveiled its latest flagship, the Pura 80 Ultra, featuring an innovative "one sensor, two lenses" setup designed to capture sharper shots in any light.
At its core lies a telephoto camera that houses two zoom lenses (3.7x and 9.4x) on a single 1/1.28-inch sensor, a space-saving design that boosts light intake and detail. "This is the biggest hardware innovation on the Pura 80 Ultra," says Li Xiaolong, chief technology officer of Huawei's terminal business. "The only catch is that the cost is very, very high."
Alongside this, the Pura 80 series debuts Huawei's "Red Maple" camera system, promising more accurate colors and natural tones right out of the frame.
Behind the scenes, supply chain sources reveal that the lenses come from OFILM Group, an Apple ex-supplier once blacklisted by the U.S. Reports also indicate that camera sensors are sourced from SmartSens, a Shanghai-based firm, signaling that the Chinese mainland has established a more solid supply chain for advanced phone components.
Early teardown videos confirm the Pura 80 Ultra runs on the Kirin 9020 chip – first introduced in the Mate 70 series in late 2024. While made on a slightly older process compared to competitors, Huawei leans on software tweaks in HarmonyOS Next 5.1 to squeeze out extra performance, including a new live AI conversation feature.
Looking ahead, Huawei promises a bigger update with HarmonyOS Next 6.0 later this year, focusing on seamless integration between smartphones and vehicles.
With a price tag of 9,999 yuan (around $1,400), the Pura 80 Ultra matches its predecessor's premium positioning. Some online chatter has raised eyebrows over the cost, calling for the return of more budget-friendly icons like the Honor V30 Pro.
Whether the Pura 80 Ultra's camera breakthrough justifies its price remains to be seen – one thing's clear: Huawei is pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging once again.
Reference(s):
Huawei unveils Pura 80 Ultra with new 'one sensor, two lenses' camera
cgtn.com
