Huawei launches Mate20 line - At least these notches ain't so notchy

[D13H4RD]

So, after being endlessly teased about it on my TV, the Mate20 line is now official, with both the Mate20 and Mate20 Pro taking center stage. Before we dive into the rest, let's get the specs out of the way.

 

Huawei Mate20

Spoiler

SoC: Huawei Kirin 980

CPU: 2x ARM Cortex A76 @ 2.6GHz (Big), 4x ARM Cortex A76 @ 1.92GHz, 4x ARM Cortex A55 @ 1.8GHz

GPU: ARM Mali G72

Display: 6.53" 18.7:9 1080p IPS LCD w/ waterdrop notch

RAM: 4/6GB LPDDR4

Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1, NM Card

Audio: 3.5mm jack, dual stereo speakers (earpiece + bottom)

Battery: 4000mAh sealed Li-Po, SuperCharge up to 22.5W, 15W wireless charging

OS: Android 9.0 Pie w/ EMUI v9

Main rear camera: 12MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/1.8 lens

Secondary ultrawide camera: 16MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/2.2 lens w/ 17mm equivalent focal length

Secondary zoom camera: 1/4" 8MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/2.4 lens w/ 80mm equivalent focal length + OIS

Huawei Mate20 Pro

Spoiler

SoC: Huawei Kirin 980

CPU: 2x ARM Cortex A76 @ 2.6GHz (Big), 4x ARM Cortex A76 @ 1.92GHz, 4x ARM Cortex A55 @ 1.8GHz

GPU: ARM Mali G72

Display: 6.39" 19.5:9 1440p OLED w/ notch

RAM: 6GB LPDDR4

Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1, NM card slot

Audio: No 3.5mm jack, dual stereo speakers (earpiece + bottom)

Battery: 4200mAh sealed Li-Po, SuperCharge up to 40W, 15W wireless charging dual-way

OS: Android 9.0 Pie w/ EMUI v9

Main rear camera: 1/1.7" 40MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/1.7 lens

Secondary ultrawide camera: 1/2.7" 20MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/2.2 lens w/ 17mm equivalent focal length

Secondary zoom camera: 1/4" 8MP CMOS w/ PDAF, f/2.4 lens w/ 80mm equivalent focal length + OIS

Let's start with the Mate20, arguably what I would call the phone for those of us who aren't so much a fan of current trends. It's more traditional in the sense that it keeps the headphone jack and also doesn't have a large display notch. However, it does come at quite a bit of a cost in comparison to the Mate20 Pro as it has a downgraded camera setup, a slightly smaller battery, slower charging, and others like a physical fingerprint sensor on the back (not sure if I'd consider than a con TBH) alongside other differences. You also lose IP68 versus the Pro.

Quote

There are a few differences between the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro, the most obvious of which can be found on the front. While both devices feature near-bezel-less displays, the regular Mate 20 actually looks better from the front. It comes with a very minimal “dewdrop” notch that houses the single front-facing camera. The Mate 20 Pro’s notch is more similar to something you’d see on an iPhone. This is because the Pro model comes with more advanced face unlock tech (more on that later).

 

One other notable difference between the two: the standard Mate 20 has a headphone jack, while the Pro doesn’t. Yet another point for the cheaper model!

 

The Mate 20 gets quite a big downgrade from the Pro model. It still has a triple-lens setup, but comes with a 12MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, 16MP wide-angle sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, and an 8MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture and OIS.

The star of the show here (if you are okay with the notch and no headphone jack) is the Mate20 Pro, packing a whack-ton of bells and whistles that seem poised to directly take on Samsung's crown jewel, the Galaxy Note, of which its 9th iteration (or 8th?) has been very well-received.

 

The phone's camera setup is very similar to that of the P20 Pro, but it omits the monochrome sensor in favor of an ultrawide secondary, joining the likes of LG's V40 and Samsung's Galaxy A9 in the new batch of devices embracing the ultrawide setup. Combined with the strong performance of the primary camera (minus Huawei's overplayed "Master AI" enhanced auto scene detection) and the zoom module and it should be a plenty versatile camera.

 

The Mate20 Pro also has its own take on FaceID, with a similar setup process to that on the iPhone X (jury is out on which one's better still) but also has an in-display optical fingerprint sensor, which Huawei claims is 20% faster than the Mate RS.

Quote

Like most Android flagships this year, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has an iPhone-like notch at the top of its screen, but on this occasion, the notch serves the same purpose as on the iPhone. Huawei has built its own version of the iPhone’s Face ID, and it’s gone further by also implementing a fingerprint sensor into the Mate 20 Pro’s display, which the iPhone lacks. Both of those features will require in-depth testing to see how well they work, but they’re undoubtedly good to have.

The Pro also has added bonuses of being IP68 water and dust resistant, a 4200mAh battery that charges at up to 40W with the included fast charger alongside 15W wireless charging that works both ways. Yes, you can use the Mate20 Pro as a wireless charger to charge other devices. Nobody asked for this but it's a funny party trick.

 

Pricing and availability info have yet to be announced as of this time.

 

Images and quotes courtesy of The Verge (yes, the same website who made that controversial PC, though not the same group)

and Android Authority

 

D13H4RD's opinion

Spoiler

I'm not going to lie. Despite my recent prejudice against Huawei phones for their recent behavior towards consumers, the Mate20 line actually looks like a solid pair of devices. While the Mate20 definitely is no slouch, especially since it doesn't have a big notch and a headphone jack, the Mate20 Pro is the star. There's just a lot packed into it. From optical under-display finger scanners and 3D facial scanning to a meaty battery and what looks like a beast camera array if the P20 Pro was any indication. Yeah, I'm still somewhat salty over the lack of a headphone jack but it's been that way since the Mate10 Pro, so while I'm still salty, at least I expect it. And good on Huawei for launching it with Android Pie (and not forcing us into those ridiculous gestures, dear Lord).

 

There's one problem though. If you read the spec sheet, you'd notice that I said "NM Card". That's because Huawei introduced a new card type called a Nano Memory Card, which is the same form factor as a nanoSIM, meaning that it can fit into a secondary SIM slot if it is also configured to read said cards. Neat....except it doesn't look to be universal. That's a problem, much like how Sony's Vita memory cards were a problem. Unless someone proves me wrong about this being proprietary, I don't see this as being good for us. Good thing that they gave these phones 128GB of storage in the first place because if my fears of this being like the Vita cards turn out to be true, I don't think they'd sell.

 

[Bouzoo]

I actually like the Mate 20, I won't lie. I am fairly curious how it will compare to Pixel 3 in the camera department. If only Huawei wasn't that anti consumer in rooting department I'd actually recommend them. I know most people don't care, but it's a matter of principle. 

And thank god for so much better design of the camera setup, as opposed to the P series. 

[WereCat]

I'm itching to upgrade from my Mate 8... The Mate 20 definitely looks like a nice upgrade but before I can see the price and reviews I'm not upgrading. 

[D13H4RD]

10 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

If only Huawei wasn't that anti consumer in rooting department I'd actually recommend them.

That NM card though...

[ARikozuM]

I'm more interested in those croissants than the phone. It's an hour until lunch...

 

Also, can we get stereo speakers on phones? 

[Shally]

The "Dew drop" notch looks even worse than a normal notch imo.
 

[FunkmastaFlex]

Any notch is unacceptable IMO 

[BuckGup]

Why don't they just put a chin bar and put speakers where the screen would be normally. I think people would complain less and not care if 200 pixels were removed

[D13H4RD]

If it's any consolation, these notches can be hidden like the P20 Pro.

 

So at least they aren't so much an eyesore, not even compared to the Pixel 3 XL

[mynameisjuan]

17 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

Why don't they just put a chin bar and put speakers where the screen would be normally. I think people would complain less and not care if 200 pixels were removed

Do you see how much shit the Pixel 3XL is getting for its chin? Tell me again how people would complain less. 

[BuckGup]

6 minutes ago, mynameisjuan said:

Do you see how much shit the Pixel 3XL is getting for its chin? Tell me again how people would complain less. 

That's because it has a chin and horrible not. Can't have both. Also in fairness other phones that have a smaller notch also have no chin so I see a reason to complain

[WereCat]

https://m.alza.sk/search.htm?exps=Huawei mate 20

 

€1000 for Mate 20 Pro

[D13H4RD]

1 minute ago, WereCat said:

https://m.alza.sk/search.htm?exps=Huawei mate 20

 

€1000 for Mate 20 Pro

Expected at this point tbh

[Bouzoo]

24 minutes ago, mynameisjuan said:

Do you see how much shit the Pixel 3XL is getting for its chin? Tell me again how people would complain less. 

Yet the reviews are more than really positive. People just got used to it. 

[mynameisjuan]

1 minute ago, Bouzoo said:

Yet the reviews are more than really positive. People just got used to it. 

Same with the notch. Just saying that people will still complain, if not more. 

[WereCat]

6 minutes ago, D13H4RD2L1V3 said:

Expected at this point tbh

Though Alza often has way higher prices than other eshops. 

They still sell P20 Pro for €800 while I can find it often for €600 elsewhere. 

[Bouzoo]

Just now, mynameisjuan said:

Same with the notch. Just saying that people will still complain, if not more. 

I am the first one to complain. Google design team outdid themselves this time. The phone is horrible looking beyond words. Sad thing is that pretty much all newer phones will have a notch, until we manage to fit everything in the screen, but the chin... can't justify that. A large chin that is. 

[DrMacintosh]

Notch and a chin= lazy

 

Also why curved class edges? So dumb

[xAcid9]

Other than the SOC and Storage, is everything else from Mate 20 is a downgrade from Mate 10? 

Meanwhile, currently downloading Pie for my Mate 10. 

[D13H4RD]

Oh yeah, they just announced this one

 

5000mAh battery, anyone?

[xAcid9]

2 minutes ago, D13H4RD2L1V3 said:

Oh yeah, they just announced this one

 

5000mAh battery, anyone?

Just saw that, i'm moist now. 

[WereCat]

4 minutes ago, D13H4RD2L1V3 said:

Oh yeah, they just announced this one

 

5000mAh battery, anyone?

5000mAh but on a 7.2" display so...

[Bananasplit_00]

5 minutes ago, D13H4RD2L1V3 said:

Oh yeah, they just announced this one

 

5000mAh battery, anyone?

eXtra unexcusable lack of 3.5mm jack

[xAcid9]

4 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

eXtra unexcusable lack of 3.5mm jack

It does have 3.5mm. 

[D13H4RD]

13 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

eXtra unexcusable lack of 3.5mm jack

Their specs page mention that this one does include the headphone jack. 

 

Only the Pro doesn't.