The Mate 30 Pro was unveiled back in September and is still yet to release in the UK. That’s primarily because the device is hamstrung by a US ban that forbids it from coming with Google apps and services pre-installed, two fundamental pillars of the Android user experience in Western markets. Although the device is severely hindered when it comes to software, its hardware is undoubtedly first class. The Mate 30 Pro comes with a gorgeous display with extreme curves, a rapid processor, a gorgeous design and a humongous battery.
Just like all Huawei flagships, the Mate 30 Pro’s camera is also superb. The device was reviewed by DxOMark back in September and was awarded a score of 121, a figure that left it joint first in the site’s rankings with the Xiaomi Mi Note 10.
To put that figure into context, Huawei’s P30 Pro sat at the top of DxOMark’s ranking following its release back in March with a figure of 116.
What is DxOMark you ask? Well, it’s a publication based in France that’s renowned for meticulously testing smartphone camera systems and awarding them a final score based on performance.
Although the Mate 30 Pro’s score was already higher than that of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and the Huawei P30 Pro, it seems the phone’s array of sensors is more capable than initially thought.
DxOMark initially only reviewed the 4G-only model of the device but recently put the 5G edition through its paces. While there’s no difference between the two devices in terms of camera specifications, it seems the latter totes a number of software improvements for noise management, a more stable autofocus and more.
The French outlet awarded the 5G version of the Mate 30 Pro a score of 123, a tally that puts it two points clear of the regular Mate 30 Pro and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 in its rankings. The device also extends the Chinese flagship’s lead over the P30 Pro to seven points, too.
DxOMark admitted the upgrade in camera quality have most certainly come from “changes in software and tuning”. While the outlet said the 5G variant took slightly worse photos with its ultra wide-angle camera thanks to its reduced field of view, it was noted to be superior to its 4G counterpart in terms of zoom, bokeh and night mode.
The Paris-based publication explained: “The Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G’s camera performance improves further over the already outstanding non-5G variant of the device, and with a DxOMark Camera score of 123, takes the top position in our ranking. The Photo score improves by two points to 134, making the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G the best device for still images we have tested to date.
“The most important improvements are slightly better detail and noise management as well as a more stable autofocus when using the zoom; generally slightly better results when shooting in very low light, and a wider dynamic range when using bokeh mode. Autofocus, detail, and noise all have been slightly improved in video mode, too.
“On the downside, the effective focal length of the ultra-wide camera, which in comparison to the competition wasn’t too wide on the Mate 30 Pro to begin with, has now been reduced even slightly more by a new anti-distortion algorithm.”
In addition to taking sublime photos, the Mate 30 Pro was also said to excel in video performance too. The device was given a video score of 102, the same figure achieved by the iPhone 11 Pro Max and Xiaomi Mi Note 10.
So there you have it, the Mate 30 Pro has regained its place at the top of DxOMark’s rankings. It’s just a shame you still can’t pick one up in the UK…