Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition Review — A Stylish Flip-Phone Revival?

I’m all for the nostalgia that foldable smartphones bring to the table, but truth be told, many of the first-generation options on the market were more gimmick than godsend. The teething problems with many of the foldable phones on the market meant that even the biggest tech geeks weren’t willing to part with their money purely for the sake of nostalgia.

Now, Huawei is throwing its hat into the foldable smartphone ring with its first foldable phone to be launched in South Africa. Not one to shy away from competition, the brand is taking a big swing with the launch of the Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition.

So, is this the foldable smartphone you’ve been waiting for? I spent a few weeks with the P50 Pocket Premium Edition to find out if this flip phone is more than just a nostalgia play.

Beauty in your pocket

If aesthetics matter to you, then this device is sure to pique your interest. Created in collaboration with haute couture designer, Iris van Herpen, the device features a stunning etched 3D micro-sculpture design in a beautiful gold tone. Its ultra-thin glass back, which is intricately patterned, was inspired by the brilliance of diamonds and works to turn the device into an ever-changing piece that is responsive to light and shadows.

The P50 Pocket Premium Edition not only offers the cool factor of being a foldable device reminiscent of the much-loved Motorola Razr flip phone, but it also delivers a pocket-sized work of art that you’ll be thrilled to be seen with. It truly feels like a piece of art in your pocket and makes my heart sing a little every time I whip it out to send a text message or check my email.

For this eye-catching device, Huawei has managed to brilliantly combine technology, beauty and design and I must admit, I’ve fallen head over heels for this dreamy little number. It’s chic, oh-so-beautiful, and is packed with all the features you would expect from a flagship device.

All about the hinge

Of course, when it comes to foldable smartphones, it’s all about the hinge. For the P50 Pocket Premium Edition, Huawei says it has developed an industry-leading multi-dimensional hinge which is reinforced with innovative materials that fold to fit seamlessly. I have seen quite a few terrible hinges and creases on foldable phones, but I am happy to report that the hinge and crease on the P50 Pocket Premium Edition is one of the best I have thus far.

The phone instantly transforms from a pocket-sized flip phone to a full-screen smartphone without a hitch. Nearly invisible, the seam doesn’t distract when using the screen. They really have nailed it with this flip phone, which manages to fold seamlessly. The hinge design delivers a large bending radius to help reduce stress on the screen. This ultimately results in a thinner phone with less convex on the back cover.

The device is just 15.2mm thin when folded, making it super easy to carry around in your pocket or even in a small handbag. And, when you’re ready to get the full smartphone experience, you can just flip it open to enjoy a large 6.9-inch display with a 21:9 ratio.

The screen is responsive and once fully open you feel like you’re using any other high-end smartphone on the market… But, with a super cool party trick to boot! What’s more, the device offers great functionality even when folded, with features like walking navigation, music control as well as sports and health features all accessible on the circular cover screen. Checking notifications, receiving calls and taking quick selfies are also made easy with service widgets on the cover screen. The cover screen also offers a camera display, perfect for taking selfies, even when the device is folded.

Top tier tech

More than its aesthetics, the Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition also delivers on the feature front. Boasting 12GB RAM and 512GB of onboard memory, this smartphone is geared toward power users who need to tackle multiple tasks at the same time, without any distractions. The dual SIM device is fast and super responsive, and I didn’t notice any lag when putting it through its paces with daily use. The device features a Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G chipset and runs on EMUI 12. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor gives you quick access to apps and the home screen when the device is open.

The Huawei P50 Pocket offers great standby battery life and supports super-fast charging speeds. It comes standard with a 4 000mAh battery and supports 40W Huawei SuperCharge for an effortless, high-speed battery top-up. The device also features a built-in smart battery engine for managing battery health and enabling smart battery management, battery experience, and customisable battery management. This means that you can optimise your battery to deliver performance suited to your specific needs.

Not camera shy

As we’ve come to expect from Huawei devices, the Huawei P50 Pocket truly shines when it comes to its camera setup. The double ring design of the Ultra Spectrum Camera adds to the design aesthetic of the P50 Pocket Premium Edition, making it stand out even further. The camera on this device looks great and is truly exceptional from a performance perspective as well.

The device includes a triple-lens rear camera setup featuring a 40MP True-Chroma camera, a 13MP Ultra-Wide Angle camera and a 32MP Ultra Spectrum camera. Lastly, a 10.7MP front-facing camera offers a stellar snapper for selfies.

To ensure you get the best shot every time, Huawei’s XD Optics and True-Chroma Image Engine work together to enhance the clarity and visibility of lighting to bring out natural details and vivid colours in your photography.

Price & Free gifts with purchase

The Huawei P50 Pocket Premium Edition is now available online from the Huawei Store for R28,999. The price includes the Huawei Freebuds Lipstick valued at R3,999 as well as a leather phone case valued at R999. This offer is valid until 31 May 2022, while stocks last. T’s and C’s apply.

What’s more, the P50 Pocket Premium Edition comes with excellent service benefits, including: Two-year manufacturer warranty, complimentary 50-day screen insurance, one-time free screen guard service from Huawei Service Centres, free 90-day extended warranty, free Huawei VIP Music and Video for six months, and free collection and delivery repair service. T’s&C’s apply to these service benefits.