One of the most interesting camera smartphones as of late is none other than the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra. It has five cameras working together: a 50MP main camera with a huge 1-inch sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, a 12.5MP ultra-telephoto, a 40MP ultrawide camera, and a 1.5MP multi-spectral camera.
But its camera megapixels is not the main highlight, for this camera boasts the ability to take sharp and clear 50x zoom, as well as decent sharp 100x zoom. The secret behind its prowess is a Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera system which is a first in the industry.
Retailing for a sensitive price of RM6,599, it stands to be one of most interesting smartphone cameras you get in this generation.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
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A Digital Camera in a Smartphone
The Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera system works to seamlessly combine a 3.7x medium telephoto and 9.4x super telephoto lens into a single optical structure.
In simpler terms, the point of this camera system is to have quick and soooth transitions between near and far focal lengths, similar to how digital standalone cameras deal with optical zoom in one compact module while ensuring the camera receives as much necessary light intake possible.
The setup allows users to shoot crisp portraits and cinematic close-ups from any distance, all with vivid clarity and spatial depth, even in challenging lighting situations.
Another highlight is how the phone offers clear and crisp photos with its 3.7x and 9.4x optical zoom, plus up to 100x digital zoom which is optimised with AI and HUAWEI's own imaging XMAGE.
Sample Shots on HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra by ProductNation
In our tests, we will give it to HUAWEI's claims on delivering clear images even up to 100x zoom which is true to an extent, but is also not always the best. This is because the 100x zoom is highly AI-enhanced and thus has an obvious AI result, which is expected. We will say that Pura 80 Ultra is still one of the best on pixel-processing results in terms of blur and mushiness.
Moreover, we find the dual lens system to have a a bit of a delay when transitioning between optical zooms, which was actually common with compact digital cameras. So to ensure you have the best clear images even when shooting at 50x, make sure the lens has transitioned to the appropriate optical zoom lens (which is automatic).
Also, if you're a camera enthusiasts that loves the likes of bird watching, you'll find the phone to offer clear images with superb stabilisation, which is a common issue for those who wants to take photos steadily at high zooms. In fact, we even found the stabilisation to be even as impressive at 100x zoom, though it's not perfect.
Another small fault was that the AI detection of background can be spiffy when it comes to portrait shots (see below).
Purchase with Free Gifts
The HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra is priced from RM6,599. It's a steep price, but the few camera-focused phones are already simialrly priced.
For a cheaper option, you have the next best thing which is the little brother HUAWEI Pura 80 Pro. Although it doesn't have the switchable dual-telephoto lens setup, it's said to offer great results as well, supported by a 48MP module with 4.0x optical zoom.
Pre-order is now available at HUAWEI Experience Stores, the HUAWEI Official Website, HUAWEI Official Store on Shopee, HUAWEI Flagship Store on Lazada, and the HUAWEI Official TikTok Shop. Doing so will grant you free gifts worth up to RM1,428, including the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 and one year of HUAWEI Care+. Sales and deals will run from 2 August to 31 December 2025.
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