OPINION: Huawei makes some of the best smartphone camera systems in the world and has been a leader in the segment since the late 2010s.
The problem is, without Google Play Services, the phones aren’t as tempting as they should be, meaning most people aren’t taking advantage of the great photography experience that Huawei devices offer.
While Huawei cameras have always been good, 2018’s Mate 20 Pro really opened my eyes to how far Huawei’s camera technology has come. The combination of 40MP, 28MP, and 8MP rear cameras may not look impressive by 2024 standards, but they delivered exceptional photos compared to the iPhone X, which was my daily driver at the time .
This was especially true for night photography, with the Mate 20 Pro really enhancing those low-light shots in a way I’ve never seen before. Of course, most manufacturers have now caught up, but sample photos from last year’s Huawei P60 Pro show that the company’s camera technology remains among the best on the market when it comes to photography general and in low light.
Huawei also tends to be ahead of the curve when it comes to using new smartphone camera technology, whether it’s the introduction of periscope lenses with the Huawei P30 Pro or of the Huawei P50 Pro’s variable aperture which allows you to switch between f/1.4. and f/4.0 to change the appearance of your photo.
It’s a trend that continues with this year’s Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, featuring not only an impressive main camera with a huge 1-inch sensor, variable aperture from f/1.6 to f/4.0 and stabilization by sensor movement, but also a unique retractable camera. system to fully utilize this large sensor, creating the necessary distance between lens and sensor without a huge bulky camera module.
Although we haven’t tested the phone yet, those who have seemed very impressed with what the phone can offer.
But, alas, even with some of the best camera technology on the market, the lack of Google services means the vast majority of Android users simply won’t invest.
Of course, the ideal solution to this scenario would be for the United States to lift its sanctions against Huawei, allowing the company to work with companies like Google again and bring back the Play Store and Google services to its smartphone collection – but given that this has been going on since 2019, it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Instead, I implore Huawei; Please license your awesome camera technology to other smartphone manufacturers.
This seems like a win-win situation in my mind; Smaller smartphone companies like Nothing could take advantage of Huawei’s extensive camera research and development while paying only a percentage of what it would cost to develop the same technology in-house, and that would generate a strong and consistent income for Huawei.
Given that Huawei phones haven’t been very popular outside of China since the ban, this could also be a way for Huawei to show that its technology is still best in class, even if it can’t deliver the complete smartphone experience. what Westerners are waiting for.
And since the majority of Western brands have no presence in China, it’s not like Huawei would compete with its own camera technology on its home turf.
After all, we’ve seen various smartphone companies collaborate with camera companies like Hasselblad and Leica in the past, including Huawei, so why not collaborate with Huawei to develop top-notch camera hardware?
Personally, I would buy a high-end Android phone with Huawei-designed camera technology in a heartbeat, and I feel like people who have used Huawei phones over the years Last 8 years would feel the same. .
