Huawei P20 Overview

The Huawei P20 was released largely in the shadow of the P20 Pro, despite boasting a superior spec and delivering more distinctive design features. But, this shouldn't distract from the fact that the P20 is a more-than-impressive phone in its own right, with it's futuristic features and dynamic design keeping it a worthy contender on the market.

A high-resolution screen

The first thing that strikes you about this handset is it's surprisingly beautiful aesthetic, consisting of a hardened glass back with an opalescent pink finish for a premium look - without the premium price tag. Unlike some so-called ‘budget smartphones ', however, the Huawei P20 also boasts a coveted notch that helps designers to make the most of the compact dimensions at their disposal.

For those that don't know, the notch is a small cut-out at the top of the display, which creates an opportunity to retain the space either side and use it to display information such as remaining battery life, signal data and the date.

A bulky battery that lasts

We think it's a little unfair that some slated the Huawei P20 because of its lack of wireless charging. But wireless charging is hardly a basic feature for any budget smartphone (yet), and its absence is more than made up for with an all-day battery that will last for a long time. This 3,400mAh power pack will power your handset for longer than 24 hours on a single charge, whether you use it to stream content, message or make calls.

Two cameras are better than one

Fantastic photos are the name of the game, and it's with that in mind that Huawei has designed the H20, inspiring the brand's ongoing partnership with camera legends Leica. That's why the handset has dual rear lenses and a selfie camera that will always capture your best side. The latter is a 24MP behemoth with an impressive aperture of f/2.0, while the rear cameras are 12MP and 20MP respectively and ideal for capturing portrait shots. And that's not all; the Huawei P20 also incorporates a coveted ‘Cat Mode.

Disguise-accommodating security technology

Biometrics are central to contemporary smartphone design, not least because they provide a secure and convenient way of accessing your handset. The P20 is no exception, with its relatively simple spec elevated by the cutting-edge Face Unlock feature. Quick and effective in equal measure, this is incredibly intuitive and also capable of recognising your features even in instances where you 're wearing glasses.

Able to handle gaming with ease

On a similar note, a growing faction of smartphone users are leveraging their handsets in order to stream content and play games. Interestingly, the P20 provides a competitively priced option for this demographic, with full-screen videos particularly vivid and captivating on the handset's LCD display. The design and performance of the P20 also lends itself to gaming, with the underrated Kirin 970 chipset more than capable of handling intensive games and providing a truly immersive experience.

It's easy to feel a little sorry for the P20, with users and expert reviews constantly comparing this handset unfavourably to premium handsets and the P20 Pro. To see more about why the P20 is a stellar choice, you might want to check out our refurbished P20 deals.

5 real life highlights:

1. This handset's punchy power pack is ideal for streaming and gaming
2. The P20's triple rear camera adapt to different lighting and subject matter
3. This phone also boasts a mighty 24MP f/2.0 selfie camera
4. AI capability is added to the camera app, for some serious editing
5. Up to 6GB of RAM and a generous 128GB of storage means you can save more