Huawei announces P40 series of smartphones with 50MP sensors and 10x optical zoom

Huawei has just announced three phones in the Chinese company's new P40 series: the Huawei P40, P40 Pro and P40 Pro+.

As before, Huawei has emphasised the camera capabilities of the new phones, with each offering a different number of cameras. The “basic” Huawei P40 has a three-camera array, the P40 Pro features four cameras, and the P40 pro+ has five. All the phones share the same Kirin 990 5G chipset and feature the same 1/1.28-inch image sensor on their main cameras, which use pixel binning for increased dynamic range and low light performance.

As on earlier models, Leica have been involved in the development of the camera technology and the phones are all branded with the German company's logo. 

The P40 Pro features a 50MP Quad-Bayer sensor, OIS and f/1.9 aperture lens, but also gains an ultra-wide camera with a 1/1.54" 40MP sensor and a periscope style tele-camera that offers 5x optical magnification. 

The P40 Pro+ replaces the 5x tele with two tele lenses; a 3x conventional tele for closer distances, and a 10x optical periscope-style lens for objects further away. According to Huawei, the 10x lens reflects light five times to achieve its long focal length, and AI algorithms from the ultra-wide camera and zoom lenses work in tandem to stabilise the footage. 

There's a host of other notable features too, incuding a new built-in color temperature sensor and AI white balance algorithms which should improve color accuracy by 45 percent according to the company. AI will also assist with better colour management for portraits. 

All three models have 4K/60p video capabilities on both front and rear cameras, and all three models offer impressive looking optical image stabilisation, as well as AI-powered image stabilisation. Ultra Slow-Mo is available at a jaw-dropping 7680fps, and there’s also 4K timelapse, and real-time bokeh for videos. 

If this video below is accurate, the stabilisation on the P40 looks to be very impressive:

The P40 Series – the P40 and P40 Pro – are available to  preorder now, and will be available from Thursday 16 April. The P40 from Huawei Authorised Chatswood Store, Mobileciti and Harvey Norman, whilst the P40 Pro will also be available from JB HiFi and Officeworks.No word has been given on availability of the P40 Pro + yet.

And the cost? The P40 RRP is $1,099 and P40 Pro is $1,599, and both come with a 'complimentary VIP service', to help consumers set up their new device.

You can find out more about the new smartphones at Huawei.