The highly anticipated Huawei Mate 80 series, the company’s latest annual flagship lineup, has been officially unveiled in China. The launch event introduced a comprehensive range of models, including the standard Huawei Mate 80, the powerful Mate 80 Pro, the top-tier Mate 80 Pro Max, and the ultra-premium Mate 80 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN.
The entire series is making its debut with the all-new HarmonyOS 6 operating system and is scheduled to be available for purchase starting November 28th. The Mate 80 series marks a significant step forward, boasting substantial upgrades across design aesthetics, performance metrics, imaging capabilities, and crucial communication technology.
Core Specifications and Design Highlights
The new design language for the Mate 80 series features a distinctive dual-ring module on the back and an all-metal chassis, offered in elegant colours like Obsidian Black, Snowy White, Dawn Gold, and Spruce Green, with some variants utilizing a refined fiber material finish.
The standard Mate 80 differentiates itself with a frosted metal middle frame, while the Pro model features a glossy finish.
Under the hood, the series is powered by next-generation Kirin chipsets. Richard Yu, Huawei’s Executive Director and Chairman of the Consumer BG, highlighted the performance leaps, noting that the Kirin 9020 in the Mate 80 delivers a 35% performance improvement over its predecessor, the Mate 70. The Mate 80 Pro (12GB) with the Kirin 9030 also sees a 35% gain, while the 16GB Pro model, equipped with the Kirin 9030 Pro, achieves an impressive 42% performance uplift.
The integration of the Ark Graphics Engine further ensures notable boosts in operational smoothness and loading speeds across the board.
Display and Camera Technology
Display technology is a key focus, with the Mate 80 and Mate 80 Pro featuring a 6.75-inch OLED screen with a 2832 x 1280 resolution, and all models incorporating a 3D ToF depth camera.
The flagship Mate 80 Pro Max takes the lead by introducing the industry-first dual-layer OLED structure, dubbed the “Linglong Screen,” which boasts a peak brightness of 8000 nits. This model also prioritizes durability, built with an all-metal Basalt architecture, second-generation Kunlun Glass, and an ultra-tough Basalt body for superior resistance.
Imaging is driven by the second-generation Hongfeng (Red Maple) Primary Color Camera system. The Mate 80 Pro Max features an advanced quad-camera setup, including a 50MP Ultra High Dynamic main sensor with a 1/1.28′ size and an F1.4 / F4.0 ten-stop variable aperture, alongside a 4x optical macro telephoto and a 6.2x optical super telephoto lens.
Even the Mate 80 Pro’s main camera is a powerful 50MP unit, and professional users can enhance their setup with an optional TILTA professional imaging kit.
Connectivity
Huawei continues to push boundaries in connectivity, with the Mate 80 series fully supporting Tiantong Satellite Communication and Beidou Satellite Messages.
It is also the first in the industry to feature 700MHz emergency communication, enabling connection over distances up to 13 kilometers in areas with no base station signal. Added features include 2.4GHz Wi-Fi-free communication and Wi-Fi 7+ support.
For resilience, the entire series is rated for 6-meter IP68 dust and water resistance, with the Pro Max and ULTIMATE DESIGN models extending protection to IP69 against high-pressure water jets.
Pricing
The pricing begins with the Huawei Mate 80 at 4699 Chinese Yuan (CNY) for the 12GB+256GB configuration, which roughly translates to RM2,736. Its highest variant, the 16GB+512GB model, is priced at 5499 CNY (approximately RM3,201).
Moving to the Mate 80 Pro, the entry-level 12GB+256GB starts at 5999 CNY (around RM3,493), while the premium 16GB+1TB configuration reaches 7999 CNY (approximately RM4,659).
The high-end Mate 80 Pro Max mirrors the Pro’s top price, with its 16GB+1TB variant costing 8999 CNY (about RM5,241).
Finally, the luxurious Mate 80 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN, which exclusively offers a 20GB RAM option, starts at 11999 CNY (approximately RM6,986) for the 512GB storage model and tops out at 12999 CNY (around RM7,568) for the 1TB version.
