HUAWEI is back on top. After losing its “camera king” title a few months ago, the technology giant’s latest flagship, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra, has stormed the Dxomark rankings with an unprecedented score of 175. This dethrones the previous champion, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra, which scored 169, and puts a significant gap between HUAWEI and its nearest rivals, including the vivo X200 Ultra (167) and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (161).

The Pura 80 Ultra’s victory is a comprehensive win driven by what Dxomark calls a “new standard in mobile imaging.” The smartphone’s camera system, powered by the company’s XMAGE imaging tech, scored top marks in nearly every category, particularly in Photo (180) and Video (166).

What makes the camera stand out

We’ve used the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra as our daily driver for a time, taking it from the Philippines all the way to Thailand, and to say we’re impressed is an understatement. Honestly, we shouldn’t have been surprised. This is the device that just recently obliterated the competition to claim the top spot on Dxomark, after all.

Its camera system is a beast. This Ultra, for example, features the world’s first Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera, which uses a single, large 1/1.28-inch sensor with two lenses: a 50MP 3.7x telephoto for portraits and a 12.5MP 9.4x telephoto for long-range shots. Both are backed by Sensor Shift OIS for maximum stability.

The main camera is just as impressive: a 50-megapixel 1-inch Ultra Lighting HDR Camera with a variable aperture that can go from f/1.6 to f/4.0, giving you control over depth of field and light intake. This, combined with a multispectral sensor for improved color management, allows the phone to deliver “consistently great results with vivid colors, sharp details, and natural exposure in different lighting conditions.” Dxomark also highlighted the Pura 80 Ultra’s ability to produce “nice skin tones, even under challenging mixed lighting,” thanks to that multispectral sensor.

@revuphilippines From front row thrills to distant balcony chills, the #HUAWEIPura80Ultra flagship phone captures concert magic in any light. ✨ Performance-ready, wherever you stand? Sounds like music to our ears. 🎶 #Bangkok #Thailand #HUAWEIPura80Series #HUAWEIPura80Pro #HUAWEIPura80 #HUAWEILaunch #RevuDotComDotPH @HUAWEI Philippines @huawei.mobile @monch @Alora Uy Guerrero ♬ Cheers to Me 、Jazz Echoes in the Night Sky – Kuma

Sharing some of our shots

The device’s zoom performance is a particular standout. Its dual-telephoto system reportedly outperforms competitors at long-range tele settings, with images at high magnification levels retaining crisp detail, exposure, and color consistency. In fact, the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra has the best-in-class scores for bokeh (175) and telephoto (169) performance.

On the video front, the brand’s latest flagship has made a “significant step forward” over its predecessor. Dxomark noted its “smooth and steady videos” with excellent detail and clarity, even on the move, and its “very effective video stabilization.”

What’s the catch?

No device is perfect, and the HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra is no exception. Dxomark’s review points out minor flaws, such as “minor color and brightness shifts in challenging lighting conditions.” Video performance, while significantly improved, can still show occasional white balance and exposure instabilities or texture artifacts in the most difficult shooting conditions.

You can read Dxomark’s HUAWEI Pura 80 ultra review here.

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