Huawei Pura 70 Ultra review - The powerful smartphone with a killer camera and some limitations
In China, Huawei's new Pura 70 series consists of four smartphones that each come in various different storage configurations: the Pura 70, Pura 70 Pro, Pura 70 Pro+ and Pura 70 Ultra. In the United States, the phones are not available to purchase directly, so you will have to import them if you would like to use them. The following table takes all available models into consideration, with the ones available in Europe (which is where this test was carried out) being highlighted in bold.
| Pura 70 | Pura 70 Pro | Pura 70 Pro+ | Pura 70 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6-inch OLED 2760 x 1256 pixels 1-120 Hz LTPO 1440 Hz PWM |
6.8-inch OLED 2844 x 1260 pixels 1-120 Hz LTPO 1440 Hz PWM |
6.8-inch OLED 2844 x 1260 pixels 1-120 Hz LTPO 1440 Hz PWM |
6.8-inch OLED 2844 x 1260 pixels 1-120 Hz LTPO 1440 Hz PWM |
| Main camera | 50 MPix, f/1.4-f/4.0, 1/1.3", OIS | 50 MPix, f/1.4-f/4.0, 1/1.3", OIS | 50 MPix, f/1.4-f/4.0, 1/1.3", OIS | 50 MPix, f/1.6-f/4.0, 1", Sensor Shift OIS |
| Ultra-wide angle | 13 MPix, f/2.2 | 12.5 MPix, f/2.2 | 12.5 MPix, f/2.2 | 40 MPix, f/2.2 |
| Opt. zoom | 12 MPix, Tele, 125mm, f/3.4, OIS | 48 MPix, tele-macro, 92.5mm, f/2.1, OIS | 48 MPix, tele-macro, 92.5mm, f/2.1, OIS | 50 MPix, tele-macro, 95 mm, f/2.1, OIS |
| Front-facing camera | 13 MPix, f/2.4, FF | 13 MPix, f/2.4, AF | 13 MPix, f/2.4, AF | 13 MPix, f/2.4, AF |
| SoC | Kirin 9000S1 | Kirin 9010 | Kirin 9010 | Kirin 9010 |
| Storage | 12 GB RAM 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS |
12 GB RAM 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB UFS |
16 GB RAM 512 GB / 1 TB UFS |
16 GB RAM 512 GB / 1 TB UFS |
| Battery | 4900 mAh | 5050 mAh | 5050 mAh | 5200 mAh |
| Fast charging | 66 watts | 100 watts | 100 watts | 100 watts |
| Wireless charging | 50 watts | 80 watts | 80 watts | 80 watts |
| Certification | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Weight | 207 g | 220 g | 220 g | 226 g |
| Price | 999 euros | 1199 euros | - | 1499 euros |
Huawei continues to rely on its own SoC and it again has to do without 5G and the satellite SOS system outside of China for legal reasons. Google services and the associated apps are also not pre-installed on the Huawei smartphone.
The Pura 70 Ultra—which forms the spearhead of the series—aims to impress with its camera setup, which relies on a 1-inch main sensor with a retractable lens. But its other lenses also boast powerful specs.
In this review, you'll find out how the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra compares to the competition and whether this phone is worth spending your money on.
Possible competitors compared
Version | Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v8 | 81.8 % | 07 / 2024 | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra Kirin 9010, Maleoon 910 | 226 g | 1 TB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.80" | 2844x1260 | |
| v7 (old) | 91.1 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2023 | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max A17 Pro, A17 Pro GPU | 221 g | 256 GB NVMe | 6.70" | 2796x1290 | |
| v7 (old) | 90.6 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Honor Magic6 Pro SD 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 | 229 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" | 2800x1280 | |
| v7 (old) | 91.1 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2024 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra SD 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, Adreno 750 | 232 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" | 3120x1440 | |
| v7 (old) | 89 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2023 | Google Pixel 8 Pro Tensor G3, Mali-G715 MP7 | 213 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2992x1344 | |
| v7 (old) | 89.2 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2024 | Xiaomi 14 Ultra SD 8 Gen 3, Adreno 750 | 219.8 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.73" | 3200x1440 |
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Case - The Pura 70 Ultra relies on Kunlun glass
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra comes in three colors: green, brown and black. The former is our test device. Its back is made from a structured faux leather that ensures good haptics and grip. The display is protected by 2nd-generation Kunlun glass which is supposedly even more shatterproof and scratch-resistant. Both of these elements are enclosed by a high-gloss aluminum frame.
Huawei indicates a thickness of 8.4 millimetres, whereas we measured 8.9 millimetres. With the camera module included, this value increases to 14.65 millimetres and with the lens extended, we measured a maximum of 15.9 millimetres. Even so, the Pura 70 Ultra isn't too top-heavy and feels well-balanced when you hold it in your hand.
The Huawei smartphone's build quality is good. All gaps fit together tightly and evenly and the SIM slot cover also sits flush with the frame. The Pura 70 Ultra successfully resists twisting attempts and only lets out a minimal creaking noise.
The protective film applied to the display at the factory offers additional protection, but our test device already showed bubbles forming in the corners after a short time. The smartphone is also both waterproof and dustproof in accordance with IP68.
Sustainability - Not a lot of information from Huawei
So far, there is no precise information on how much CO2 is emitted during the production of a Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. The manufacturer has also not communicated the proportion of recycled materials used.
However, the outer packaging is mainly made of cardboard, which is said to come from sustainable forestry. Unfortunately, this is shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Spare parts were also not available to purchase at the time of testing, but Huawei does name the costs for defective components on its website and in the My Huawei app. However, these are guide prices for repairs that are not covered by the warranty.
In terms of updates, Huawei is very frugal and follows the Chinese market, where two major updates and three years of security patches are the norm. In terms of sustainability, Huawei still has a lot of room for improvement.
Connectivity - The Huawei smartphone with NearLink
Compared to the P60 Pro, Huawei has removed support for NanoMemory memory cards (NM card for short) from the Pura 70 series. What is new, however, is its integration of NearLink wireless technology, which is also used in the manufacturer's tablets.
The USB 3.2 port (Gen. 1) can transfer data quickly and achieved 269.98 MB/s in our copying test. The interface also supports OTG and wired image output. For the latter, either the display content can be mirrored or a desktop mode can be used. Connected data carriers can be formatted with FAT, FAT32, exFAT or NTFS.
An infrared transmitter, NFC and Bluetooth 5.2 are also integrated.
Software - EMUI 14.2 with short update delivery
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra uses the operating system EMUI 14.2 which is based on Open Android 12. At the time of testing, its latest security patch was from May 2024, so still quite up to date. However, the phone is set to receive only two version upgrades, whereby it isn't totally clear what Huawei considers to be a new version, as Android 12 is now almost three years old. HarmonyOS Next is also a completely new operating system which has been announced (we reported), although no reliable information is yet available. Security patches will only be available for three years. Given the price, this is a very short period of time.
Huawei has pre-installed numerous shortcuts from third-party apps. These can be removed, but this takes a little time due to the sheer quantity. The AppGallery is available for app installation; alternatively, APKs can be installed directly from the web via the petal search, although this is associated with an increased security risk. In case you don't want to do without your Google apps, we have described how to set up the Google services and apps on your Huawei smartphone in a detailed guide.
Communication and GNSS - Without 5G and only Wi-Fi 6
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra supports 2.4 and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi 6. This means you'll have to go without fast standards such as Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Together with our reference router, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Huawei smartphone may have achieved stable data rates, but they were slightly slower than what is usual for the standard.
There is no 5G reception in the global version of the device due to trade restrictions against Huawei. And the satellite SOS system available in China is not supported either. Instead, you'll have to make do with LTE. In our connection test, this wasn't particularly fast using the German Telekom network—we noted 125 MBit/s (download). For comparison, we tested a Galaxy S24 at the same time, which achieved 191 MBit/s in the LTE network and 702 MBit/s with 5G. We didn't notice any limitations in the Pura 70 Ultra's reception strength.
| Networking | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Average of class Smartphone | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
The Pura 70 Ultra supports a wide range of satellite connections with up to four bands. This lets the phone locate users quickly even indoors, although it takes a few seconds to settle on the exact position.
We compared the Huawei smartphone with a Garmin Venu 2 on a bike trip. The Ultra showed our position more accurately than the fitness smartwatch, but it retrieved the position less frequently, making curves look a little more angular. All in all, a very good locating performance.
Telephone features and call quality
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra supports dual SIM, but only with two nano-SIMs. There is no eSIM support. Functions such as VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls are also supported.
Voices are transmitted very well to the smartphone when held up to your ear and background noise is effectively filtered out, even in noisy environments. When using the loudspeaker, the user sounds a little muffled but otherwise, it is well suited for phone calls.
Cameras - The Pura 70 Ultra with super powerful cameras
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's front-facing camera features autofocus and eye-tracking—plus, it has access to a plethora of effects as well as a portrait mode with beauty filters. It can record video in a maximum of Ultra HD and at 60fps. The colors in selfies look nice and balanced and the photos look sharp—in low light, some noise quickly creeps in.
The highlight is on the back of the device, as Huawei has made use of a 1-inch sensor for the very first time. It features a lens that expands automatically. This is intended to increase the distance between the lenses and the sensor to allow more light to fall on it. In addition, Huawei has once again provided a variable aperture, which automatically regulates the exposure in four stages—but it can also be controlled manually. Sensor Shift OIS is used for image stabilization.
The photos taken on the Pura 70 Ultra in daylight look good in every way. The camera doesn't sharpen pictures too much and they have a fairly warm white balance. Its dynamic range is also wide, but this comes at the expense of some details. Using the automatic exposure mode in low light, the Huawei smartphone keeps the shutter speeds as low as possible. If you need more detail and have a fixed subject in front of you, it is better to use manual night mode.
Incidentally, Huawei doesn't always rely on classic pixel-binning methods. If the ambient light is sufficient, it creates 25.4 MPix images; only in low light does it automatically merge four pixels into one super pixel, resulting in 12.5 MPix photos. However, if you prefer, you can also use the 50 MPix mode manually. RAW is also available in Pro mode.
Automatic night mode (left) vs. manual night mode
The ultra-wide-angle camera also uses a high-resolution sensor and promises a high level of detail, but it can't quite confirm this in everyday use. The images look slightly muddy, especially in the peripheral areas. The periscope zoom offers 3.5x optical magnification and can digitally magnify up to 100x; a macro function (minimum distance 5 cm) is also used, which makes the phone's camera setup very versatile. However, its zoom quality is not yet optimal and should generate more finely structured images.
The Pura 70 Ultra records videos in a maximum of 2,160p at up to 60fps. However, this is only possible in 16:9, those who want to use the 21:9 format will have to make do with Full HD (30 / 60fps). In contrast to many competitors, however, the widescreen format is recorded in full resolution (2,560 x 1,080 pixels). The videos' quality is really good and they can even be recorded in HDR Vivid—but then only at 30fps. So far, HDR Vivid is not very widespread.
| Mode | Aspect ratio | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Photo | Full screen, 1:1, 4:3 | 12.5 / 25.4 MPix |
| Pro | Full screen, 1:1, 4:3 | 12.5 / 50 MPix |
| High resolution | 4:3 | 50 MPix |
| Video | Full screen, 16:9, 21:9 | HD (30/60fps), Full HD (30/60fps), Ultra HD (30/60fps) |
Image comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraUltra-wide angle5x zoomLow light
Under controlled lighting conditions, the Pura 7 Ultra succeeded in capturing our test chart in a very balanced way and with a high level of detail right up to the edges of the image. In low light (1 lux), the subject was brightened up considerably and the colors are well balanced, but details suffer massively as a result.
The color representation was visibly brightened—but only green, red and cyan showed a higher DeltaE deviation.
Accessories and warranty - The Huawei phone with a 12-month warranty
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's scope of delivery is comparatively extensive. In addition to the smartphone, buyers receive a modular 100-watt power adapter, which offers an interface for both USB Type-C and Type-A—but can only supply one device with power at a time. A protective cover, a SIM tool and a USB-C cable are also included.
The top-of-the-range Huawei smartphone is covered by standard local warranties that depend on the location in which you purchased your phone.
Input devices & operation - The Pura 70 Ultra with an optical fingerprint sensor
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's capacitive touchscreen features a sampling rate of 300 Hz, is nice and smooth and responds to touches reliably and accurately. If you believe that the phone's NearLink integration will also include input pen support, then you will be disappointed.
An optical fingerprint sensor is integrated into the display to ensure biometric security—it recognizes saved prints quickly and with high accuracy. Additionally or alternatively, less secure facial recognition is possible via the front-facing camera, which also works very well. 3D face recognition is still reserved for the Mate series.
The linear vibration motor gives out subtle but tactile feedback. Knuckle gestures, a one-handed mode and a senior mode are on board once more.
Display - The Pura 70 Ultra with LTPO-OLED and up to 120 Hz
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's OLED display has a diagonal of 6.8 inches (17.27 cm, 110.5 cm²) and features an advanced Full HD resolution, making content look razor sharp. Thanks to its integrated LTPO technology, its refresh rate is adjusted dynamically depending on the content that's being shown and its range is between 1 and 120 Hz.
When depicting a full white screen and with the ambient light sensor activated, we noted a brightness of 1,095 cd/m² in the center of the screen. If equal parts of light and dark are shown, its brightness climbs all the way up to 2,028 cd/m² (APL18), and when playing back an HDR video on YouTube, we even measured up to 2,863 cd/m², which is a lot more than the promised 2,500 nits. If you adjust its brightness completely manually, then you'll have up to 623 cd/m² at your disposal.
Like on all OLED panels, the Pura 70 Ultra isn't exempt from the screen flickering that is typical for this technology. As Huawei uses quite high-frequency PWM dimming at up to 1,440 Hz, however, this shouldn't be too hard on the eyes. At minimum display brightness, we measured 1,351 Hz, but also low-frequency flickering (363 Hz) with a higher amplitude. The panel is therefore comparatively easy on the eyes, but some discomfort cannot be completely ruled out for sensitive people.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 1095 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.83
ΔE Greyscale 2.3 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
99.8% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.28
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra OLED, 2844x1260, 6.8" | Huawei P60 Pro OLED, 2700x1220, 6.7" | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max OLED, 2796x1290, 6.7" | Honor Magic6 Pro OLED, 2800x1280, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 6.8" | Google Pixel 8 Pro OLED, 2992x1344, 6.7" | Xiaomi 14 Ultra AMOLED, 3200x1440, 6.7" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -9% | 1% | -8% | -49% | 6% | -13% | |
| Brightness middle | 1095 | 1188 8% | 1102 1% | 1575 44% | 1317 20% | 1510 38% | 997 -9% |
| Brightness | 1094 | 1189 9% | 1102 1% | 1508 38% | 1365 25% | 1467 34% | 1002 -8% |
| Brightness Distribution | 96 | 98 2% | 98 2% | 89 -7% | 94 -2% | 92 -4% | 96 0% |
| Black Level * | |||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.1 | 1.3 -18% | 1.1 -0% | 1.7 -55% | 3.4 -209% | 1.1 -0% | 1.6 -45% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.4 | 3.7 -54% | 3.1 -29% | 3.9 -63% | 5 -108% | 3.8 -58% | 3.3 -38% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.3 | 2.3 -0% | 1.6 30% | 2.4 -4% | 2.8 -22% | 1.7 26% | 1.8 22% |
| Gamma | 2.28 96% | 2.23 99% | 2.19 100% | 2.22 99% | 2 110% | 2.23 99% | 2.19 100% |
| CCT | 6500 100% | 6561 99% | 6555 99% | 6398 102% | 6458 101% | 6670 97% | 6493 100% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 363 Hz Amplitude: 21.43 % |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 363 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 363 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8350 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Measurement series with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness looks flat, but this is due to the scaling. The info box shows the enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness).
We used Calman to check how accurately colors are reproduced on the phone's display. The Pura 70 Ultra delivered consistently good results, with minimal deviations that are invisible to the naked eye.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 0.81 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.426 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.3795 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.17 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.545 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.6245 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 4 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.1 ms). | ||
Outside, the Huawei phone's screen remains legible even on sunny days. If anything, some reflections may get in your way.
The display's viewing-angle stability is equally good. Its brightness dips ever so slightly when viewing it from very flat angles, and we noted a slight green tint. But during everyday use, this shouldn't be noticeable.
Performance - The Pura 70 Ultra uses the Kirin 9010
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra makes use of the company's own HiSilicon Kirin 9010 with 16 GB of RAM. The CPU delivers good system performance with twelve cores, but it clearly trailed behind the current high-end competition in the benchmarks. In addition, its AI performance is comparatively low, even if it is even higher than that of the Kirin 9000W.
During everyday use, however, the system's performance is good and it runs without any stuttering.
The Maleoon 910 integrated into the SoC is positioned between an Adreno 640 and an ARM Mali-G76 MP12 in terms of performance. This is very little GPU power for a current high-end smartphone and you'll have to go completely without modern features such as ray tracing.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
When surfing the web, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra catches up with the competition and delivers great surfing speeds.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (Safari Mobile 17) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Chrome 121) | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (Chrome 125) | |
| Average HiSilicon Kirin 9010 (n=1) | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra (Chrome 123) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=159, last 2 years) | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro (Chrome 122) | |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro (Chrome 117) | |
* ... smaller is better
Since the Pura 70 Ultra still relies on UFS 3.1, its rivals are much faster with UFS 4.0. However, it works very quickly within its storage class, as a direct comparison with the Pixel 8 Pro shows.
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | Honor Magic6 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 8 Pro | Xiaomi 14 Ultra | Average 1 TB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 55% | 7% | -57% | 40% | 0% | -17% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1991.82 | 3923.31 97% | 3610.25 81% | 1501.13 -25% | 4102.56 106% | 1992 ? 0% | 2130 ? 7% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 1832.42 | 3678.35 101% | 1893.63 3% | 257.28 -86% | 3095.36 69% | 1832 ? 0% | 1727 ? -6% |
| Random Read 4KB | 387.34 | 415.68 7% | 437.12 13% | 156.16 -60% | 362.88 -6% | 387 ? 0% | 291 ? -25% |
| Random Write 4KB | 588.69 | 678.39 15% | 181.55 -69% | 258.92 -56% | 527.15 -10% | 589 ? 0% | 336 ? -43% |
Games - Well-optimized gaming fun
Even though the Maleoon 910 inside the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra doesn't have any speed records in sight, Huawei has still managed to optimize the platform well so that most games run smoothly at up to 60fps—even at high detail levels.
When playing Genshin Impact, the phone managed high frame rates even in the highest detail setting and we only very rarely detected dropped frames. We analyzed the games with GameBench.
Emissions - The Huawei smartphone with dual speakers
Temperature
Under permanent load, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's surface temperatures largely climbed above the 40-degree Celcius mark—but at no point was this an issue or uncomfortable.
During the 3DMark stress test, things were stable for quite some time but then dropped sharply, only to recover briefly a short time later. This could very well be noticeable when playing games.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.7 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.7 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 34.1 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.4 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra | |
| Google Pixel 8 Pro | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
| Honor Magic6 Pro | |
Speakers
The two speakers of the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra deliver a good sound at a reasonable volume, but are a little treble-heavy at maximum volume and therefore sound slightly hollow. They also tend to distort at high tones.
The USB-C port can be used for wired audio output. Only a few codecs are available for Bluetooth, but with LDAC and L2HC there are at least two high-res capable ones. However, the Pura doesn't support Auracast.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 70% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi 14 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (2.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 3% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 22% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - 5,200 mAh for long runtimes
Power consumption
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra's power consumption was low during our tests, with no complaints in any area.
The smartphone can be charged using Huawei's SuperCharge at up to 100 watts when connected to a cable. Wireless charging is also possible at up to 80 watts. Up to 20 watts are available for reverse charging.
With the power adapter included in the scope of delivery, a full battery charge took exactly 47 minutes in our test, with the 50 per cent mark being hit after just 18 minutes and the 80 per cent mark after 31 minutes.
| Off / Standby |   0.08 / 0.18 Watt |
| Idle |  0.6 / 1.23 / 1.3 Watt |
| Load |
4.54 / 10.84 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra 5200 mAh | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 4422 mAh | Honor Magic6 Pro 5600 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5000 mAh | Google Pixel 8 Pro 5050 mAh | Xiaomi 14 Ultra 5000 mAh | Average HiSilicon Kirin 9010 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -13% | -42% | -68% | -22% | -11% | 0% | -28% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.6 | 0.5 17% | 0.8 -33% | 0.73 -22% | 0.63 -5% | 0.8 -33% | 0.6 ? -0% | 0.87 ? -45% |
| Idle Average * | 1.23 | 1.97 -60% | 1.32 -7% | 1.22 1% | 1.47 -20% | 0.89 28% | 1.23 ? -0% | 1.424 ? -16% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.3 | 1.99 -53% | 1.37 -5% | 1.34 -3% | 1.55 -19% | 0.91 30% | 1.3 ? -0% | 1.586 ? -22% |
| Load Average * | 4.54 | 3.36 26% | 11.62 -156% | 16.52 -264% | 8.45 -86% | 8.99 -98% | 4.54 ? -0% | 7.13 ? -57% |
| Load Maximum * | 10.84 | 10.43 4% | 11.65 -7% | 16.58 -53% | 8.63 20% | 9.01 17% | 10.8 ? -0% | 10.8 ? -0% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Runtimes
The Pura 70 Ultra's 5,200 mAh battery ensures extremely long runtimes, being surpassed only by the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Magic6 Pro.
If the battery threatens to run out completely, the Huawei smartphone switches to a special energy-saving mode, which still guarantees access to calls and text messages for four hours before the lights finally go out.
| Huawei Pura 70 Ultra 5200 mAh | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 4422 mAh | Honor Magic6 Pro 5600 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5000 mAh | Google Pixel 8 Pro 5050 mAh | Xiaomi 14 Ultra 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 15% | 10% | -12% | -38% | -42% | |
| Reader / Idle | 3229 | 3514 9% | 3519 9% | 2227 -31% | 1344 -58% | 1983 -39% |
| H.264 | 1648 | 2013 22% | 2027 23% | 1922 17% | 1122 -32% | 1055 -36% |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1152 | 1163 1% | 1548 34% | 1148 0% | 760 -34% | 751 -35% |
| Load | 297 | 384 29% | 223 -25% | 202 -32% | 220 -26% | 131 -56% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - The camera remains Huawei's great strength
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is a really good smartphone that impresses in particular with its excellent camera setup. Although it doesn't come without its flaws, it offers a flexible total package and is of good quality.
In addition, Huawei has given its flagship phone a great display that boasts good brightness, color accuracy and refresh rate—plus, it is comparatively easy on the eyes.
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra offers a great total package, however, it does require a few compromises to be made.
But political restrictions also mean that the Pura 70 Ultra has to deal with some limitations in terms of its features. Its lack of Google services due to microG (see manual) almost fades into the background, but its not having 5G support, in particular, is a bitter pill to swallow given the phone's price range. We also miss 6 GHz Wi-Fi, the Kirin SoC is rather weak for a high-end smartphone, and its update period is short.
Alternatives to the Pura 70 Ultra include the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Magic6 Pro.
Price and availability
Currently, the Pura 70 Ultra isn't available to purchase in the United States. You may be able to get it as an import device from certain online retailers. It has an estimated retail price of around US$1,600.
Please note: We have updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
- 07/10/2024 v8
Daniel Schmidt
Total Sustainability Score: 
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.
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