Pure Artistry | Easy, elegant snapshots with the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro

As one of the year’s more fabulous surprises, the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro recently joined the brand’s camera-centric flagship lineup in a series set to revolutionize mobile photography. In a day and age where handheld smart devices are slowly creeping in to replace conventional point-and-shoot methods, Huawei and their XMAGE-powered shooters are poised to take the top spot for consumers who look to dip their toes into the hobby.

Whether it be taking quick snapshots around the neighborhood, or appreciating the city at night, the Pura 70 Pro never fails to capture some noteworthy memories.

Shooting from the hip

Sporting some of the most sophisticated AI-powered cameras to date, the Pura 70 Series offers much to the novice photographer. There’s no better way to get the creative juices flowing than the joy of tinkering with the Pura 70 Pro’s camera settings and experimenting with its XMAGE features.

Both the 50 MP main shooter and 48 MP telephoto lens come equipped with Phase Detection Autofocus and Optical Image Stabilization—two features that alleviate the stress of having the shakiest of hands even at the calmest moments—even at 100X zoom. Coupled with the camera’s Master AI, you can rest assured that for as long as you’re pointing in the right direction, you’ll get the snaps you desire.

: Ultrawide

: 1X

: 2X

: 3.5X

: 10X

: Ultrawide

: 1X

: 2X

: 3.5X

: 10X

Going ultrawide is usually reserved for more casual moments, as one would worry about a drop in quality or a difference in color—two things frowned upon in more professional artistic pursuits. The Pura 70 Pro’s 12.5 MP lens would beg to differ in this situation—delivering quality just as clear and vivid as the main cameras, albeit with more viewing real estate.

Portrait Perfect

Every detail matters, especially in when our first impulse is to pinch and zoom the photos we see online, just to see how far we can go before it becomes a blurry mess. The Pura 70 Pro’s macro telephoto capabilities guarantee that you’ll be capturing all the necessary details minus the weird distortion that comes from lesser, supposedly AI-powered devices.

The Pura 70 Pro’s super macro is no gimmick, and the results speak for themselves. What’s more is you can shift between simply pointing and shooting, and applying a more meticulous approach with the camera’s digital and physical aperture. While it’s not as decked out as the Pura 70 Ultra, it’s still a portrait powerhouse in its own right—offering the blurry, beautiful bokeh your subjects deserve.

: F1.4

: F2

: F2.8

: F4

Ultra-speed snapshot photos are a feature one would find in the Pura 70 Ultra, and this is by default. One would assume that the other phones in the series would be slouches in taking shots involving a bit more action.

While we can’t speak for the base Pura 70, this couldn’t be farther from the truth with the Pura 70 Pro. While you might struggle a tad in capturing a wrestling match between Ricochet and Will Ospreay, you’ll still be able to snap some great shots of moving vehicles, or any subjects that aren’t actively trying to avoid you. It’s definitely something to take note of.

Setting the Mood

Huawei’s XMAGE combines top-shelf hardware with intricate software in delivering the most crisp, detailed photos even in less than optimum lighting. It also features some nice, cinematic filters that can now capture the mood of any situation.

We say, “now” because up until recently, we had no “MONO” black and white filter to play around with. It’s worth mentioning that these filters are separate from the camera’s stock filters, and could be considered a more premium version, based on just how nice the photos come out. You can easily capture dramatic shots of otherwise mundane subjects.

: Original

: Vivid

: Bright

: Mono

Random light on a bench? Now, it’s a dimly-lit beacon to stare upon while questioning our existence. Random people eating ramen? Now, it’s social commentary on consumerism and the human condition. We exaggerate, but you get what we mean.

Now, we can’t forget selfies now, can we? Normal shots aside, you never want to point and shoot on portrait mode. The Pura 70 Pro’s selfie portrait is geared to be used in conjunction with its portrait effects—effects which produce some rather dazzling results.

We highly recommend “circles” as it’s the nearest from default, and produces some interesting lighting effects, especially at night.

Simple and Pure

Reading the Pura 70 Pro’s camera spec sheet alone could be a daunting experience for the unfamiliar. There are numbers, letters, and decimal points ahoy, but one shouldn’t worry as that can all wait.

What’s important here is just how easy it is to wield the Pura 70 Pro, and produce some surprisingly decent shots—even with minimal to no photography experience. This is one of the phone’s most compelling reasons for purchase. Why cop a couple-hundred thousand peso professional camera when you’re starting out, when you can get a multi-faceted device that can not only be a worthy training partner, but also a spectacular daily driver.

If highly regarded professionals in the industry swear by it, why shouldn’t we?

The HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro is priced at PHP 59,999 and now available for pre-order along with a bundle of freebies including a DJI OSMO Mobile 6 worth PHP 7,999, a pair of HUAWEI Freebuds Pro 2 worth PHP 9999 until May 30. For more details, check out HUAWEI’s official website, Facebook page, and Instagram account.

Check out our full review here.