Huawei P20 Deals & Offers

hotukdeals' Huawei P20 Review: Leading Chinese Smartphone Rivalling the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy Phones

Focusing heavily on photography, the 5.8-inch Huawei P20 is a mid-range phone with serious technical specifications. But does this model from China's leading phone manufacturer actually measure up where it counts, and should you choose it over Apple or Samsung models? This buyer's guide will assess the P20's features and models, and give you all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

The History of the Huawei P20 Series

Founded as an offshoot from the Chinese army in 1987, Huawei has come a long way since then. Most importantly, since 2010, it has become a world leader in crafting affordable smartphones. Via strategic partnerships with companies like German photography firm Leica and chipmaker Motorola, Huawei has made huge technical advances in rapid time, becoming a true competitor to global giants like Nokia, Apple, and Samsung.

The “P” Series arrived in 2017, so it's a relatively recent addition to the Huawei family. You might not be surprised to learn that the “P” stands for “Photography”, and this is where the range excels. But it's not the whole story, by any means.

Starting with the P9, then the P10 in 2017, Huawei introduced a collection of devices that incorporated cutting edge Leica technology, and they were the first phone makers to do so. Launched in March 2018 alongside the P20 Pro, which we'll also be taking into consideration here, the P20 included a triple lens design at the rear of the phone, providing some of the most sophisticated photography capabilities ever incorporated into a mobile phone design.

Huawei P20: Key Features

Before we dive into details about the specifications, and how the P20 compares with the P20 Pro or similar devices from competitors, it definitely helps to set out the main features of the phone. And, while photography takes centre stage, you may be surprised by how many other facets this phone has. It's a genuine all-rounder:

• Photography – First off, if you love taking portraits for Instagram, or capturing every moment of holidays, the P20 will be ideal. It's double lens Leica setup (triple lens with the P20 Pro) provides excellent abilities in low and strong light situations, while the 5x hybrid zoom lets you focus on your subject and get exactly the shot you are looking for. There's a 40MP Light Fusion sensor and a 20MP black and white lens, and AI stabilisation, ensuring that your photos won't be ruined by a shaky hand. You can also manipulate your shots with ease, adding studio-style bokeh effects to enhance your portraits, making them social media-ready instantly. And the camera is incredibly sharp where movement is concerned, featuring a 0.3 second launch-to-capture speed, predictive focus, and minimal shutter lag.

• Video – While video plays a secondary role to photography, the P20 is still pretty sharp when it comes to capturing moving visuals as well. Capturing 960fps scenes at as much as 32x slowdown gives you plenty of scope to play around and create content, and the same stabilisation features make sure that footage is incredibly smooth. And when it comes to viewing your masterpieces, the 5.8 or 6.1-inch display will create an almost cinematic experience. So the P20 fuses video and photography pretty well.

• Screen and visuals – The Huawei P20 goes all out to create stunning visual effects. After all, this phone is all about images, so resolution, screen size, and colours need to be just right. On the basic P20, the 5.8-inch screen feels pretty generous, and packs in a sharp resolution of 2240 x 1080 pixels. You can play with the Colour Mode to find a saturation which suits your situation, and HDR10 comes as standard, the kind of specs that make the P20 ideal for Netflix streamers. The P20 comes with an LCD, while the P20 Pro has a sharper AMOLED screen, but both offer sharp, clear, strikingly pure visuals. Great for video, photos, and streaming, not to mention gamers.

• Processing and performance – Under the hood, the P20 has to deliver if its visuals are to work, so it's no surprise to find plenty of RAM (4GB or 6GB), 128GB of internal storage, and a high-spec Kirin 970 CPU to keep everything humming along. This provides enough power for movie watching and 3D gaming (or both at once). So whatever your phone usage needs, the P20 shouldn't run out of gas. However, it's worth noting here that there's no option for expandable storage. So you'll have to make do with 128GB, or use Cloud-based alternatives.

• Business features – The P20 isn't specifically designed for use as a professional phone, but don't let that stop you using it for work. With a simple cable, you can link it to desktops and laptops, giving you a larger screen size, which is handy for designers.

• Battery life – The standard P20 comes with a 3,400mAh battery. When all of the features are engaged, that can be sapped pretty quickly, but for everyday phone and internet usage, you won't notice much difference between this phone and equivalent models from competitors.

Who should buy a Huawei P20?

Judging by these features, the Huawei P20 is an all round phone with plenty of appeal for photography lovers, video-makers, travellers, party animals, students, music fans, and gamers alike. So if you tick any of those boxes, it's worth a look.

However, it's important to reiterate that this is a phone that's been built around taking beautiful photographs. So, if that's your major motivation, pay even closer attention. For others, it's not so essential, although still a major contender. And, it has to be said, there are cheaper phones around.

Huawei P20 Review

The above list of features suggests that the Huawei P20 is a positive addition to the UK's phone market, but it's just a list after all. So what have actual users made of the device, and do they feel that the specs translate into a champion product? In most instances, the answer is yes, although it's important to note some criticisms where they arise. No phone is perfect.

For Trusted Reviews, the P20 didn't disappoint. Awarding the phone 4/5, Trusted's reviewer highlighted the photography capabilities, the stunning aesthetics of the casing, and the generous internal storage as well as the AI-optimised processor. TechRadar also gave the phone 4/5, foregrounding the battery capacity, photography, and the generally stylish look of the P20.

However, not all experts were as complimentary. Alphr gave it just 3/5, noting that the basic P20 was significantly inferior to the P20 Pro, whose triple lens setup gave it the edge over most other mid-range phones. And the reviewer was also negative about the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. So wireless headphones would be essential for any users.

Generally, feedback from the press has been that the P20 offers excellent value, retailing a couple of hundred pounds below other devices with similar features, but it's not a game-changer. Words like “reliable” and “solid” typify the press response. So if you need a no-frills phone which performs well for photography and gaming, it should do well. But bear in mind, that it's no iPhone XR.

Huawei P20 vs P20 Pro vs P20 Lite Models: Specifications

As mentioned above, the P20 has been released alongside a bigger brother, the P20 Pro. There are some major differences between the two (not to mention a hefty price gap), and it's important to know how to choose between them. This specifications comparison should help you out:

Firstly, the basic Huawei P20:

• Dimensions: 149.1 x 70.8 x 7.7 mm

• Weight: 165g

• CPU: Octacore Kirin 970

• Memory: 4GB RAM

• Storage: 128GB

• Display Size: 5.8-inches LCD

• Display Resolution: 1080 x 2240 pixels, at 429 PPI

• Cameras: Dual 12MP and 20MP with f/1.6 and f/1.8 aperture, Leica lenses, and 24 MP, f/2.0 selfie option

• Video: 1080p at 30fps

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2

• Ports: USB 3.1, with no 3.5mm headphone jack

• Battery: Non-removable 3,400mAh battery

And the Huawei P20 Professional:

• Dimensions: 155 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm

• Weight: 180g

• CPU: Octacore Hisilicon Kirin 970

• Memory: 6GB or 8GB

• Storage: 128 or 256GB

• Display Size: 6.1-inches AMOLED

• Display Resolution: 1080 x 2240 pixels, at 408 PPI

• Cameras: Rear Leica triple cameras - 40 MP (Wide Angle Lens, f/1.8 aperture), 20 MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens, f/2.2 aperture), and 8 MP (Telephoto, f/2.4 aperture) and 24 MP, f/2.0 selfie option at the front

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2

• Ports: USB 3.1, type-C – does not feature a 3.5mm headphone jack

• Battery: 4,000 mAh battery

Finally, we also need to bring in the P20 Lite – a smaller and cheaper version of the standard model:

• Dimensions: 148.6 x 71.2 x 7.4 mm

• Weight: 145g

• CPU: Octacore HiSilicon Kirin 659

• Memory: 4GB

• Storage: 128GB

• Display Size: 5.84-inches LCD

• Display Resolution: 1080 x 2280 pixels, at 432 PPI

• Cameras: Dual 16MP and 2MP rear (f/2.2), with a 16MP f/2.0 selfie option

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2

• Ports: USB 2.0, type-C – features a 3.5mm headphone jack

• Battery: 3,000 mAh battery

Which P20 Phone Is Right For You?

So, after weighing up those specifications, which phone should you go for? Assuming it's a straight race between the P20 Professional, the standard P20, and the smaller model, a few considerations come into play.

Firstly, if you just want a good setup for photography and aren't too worried about professional-quality images, don't worry about the P20 Professional. The smaller version and the standard P20 deliver excellent images and connectivity, and will do just fine for everyday social media users. And remember, the smallest P20 has a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that can be a deal breaker for audio fans, and something that's becoming less common with this standard of phone.

However, if you intend to multi-task on your device between high-end photography, video capture and manipulation, work tasks, internet usage, and gaming, the P20 Professional is a much better way to go. It's just far more powerful, with better lenses and more features. If you can afford it, that is.

Huawei P20: Sim Free or On Contract

There are also different ways to pay for a Huawei P20, whatever class you choose to go for. Broadly speaking, the choices you'll find at hotukdeals divide between contract and SIM free deals.

In the first instance, you'll sign up for a certain period of time with a phone provider, and payments are locked in for that period. If you choose well, you can pick a plan with enough data and call time for your average usage, and keep payments low. So it's a good option for those with a stable income, and who know that their data needs won't change radically.

The second option can be cheaper in some situations. Here, you'll need to purchase the handset from a retailer, then buy a SIM separately, or choose a handset and SIM package. In this instance, you need to be able to pay for the phone, which can be a hefty investment. It also helps if you learn about how to exchange and sell your device when upgrade time rolls around. That way, you can recuperate some of the initial outlay, making your purchase more cost-effective.

Deals without SIMs are more flexible. That way, you can choose your payment durations and pay-as-you-go if necessary. But they aren't always the best value for money. It's important to compare every deal at hotukdeals before you make a decision, as discounts vary, and small print can catch out careless buyers.

Huawei P20 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9

However, you might not be convinced by the Huawei P20 at all. In that instance, it makes a lot of sense to compare the P20 against a broadly similar device, and the popular Samsung Galaxy S9 is a pretty good reference point.

Part of the Galaxy range, the S9 launched in February 2018, and offers a similar array of tools for photography fans. In raw terms, both the S9 and the P20 are very capable in the visual department, but there are some variations. For instance, the S9 has an AMOLED screen (and no top notch), while the P20's LCD screen can seem a little flat by comparison.

Samsung's phone offers wireless charging and comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, both of which are key features for some, but not all phone users. Aesthetically, the phones look very similar, with the same kind of gradient tones and minimalist format. So they will look the part in public. But the P20 actually wins out with its more slender composition.

The Snapdragon processors used in the S9 are slightly more powerful than the Kirin variants used by Huawei, but not dramatically so. Fundamentally, most users are unlikely to notice a slowdown with their P20 that wouldn't be experienced on an S9.

Finally, there's the price. And this is where Huawei always shine. Their P20 retails for as much as £200 less than the S9, and with roughly similar specifications, that's a lot of money.

Huawei P20 Accessories

Before buying your phone, it's always a good idea to think about accessories. So here are some suggestions to bundle in with a P20 purchase:

• Screen Protector – Phone screens are always a weak point, no matter how advanced glass composites are these days. hotukdeals merchants like eBay and Amazon sell a range of tempered glass protectors tailored exclusively for the P20, and every owner should have at least one in their bag.

• Case – It also makes a lot of sense to have a robust casing to add extra protection. There are attractive transparent designs over at Tech21, liquid crystal versions from Spigen, and super-rugged Olixar “Armourdillo” options as well. Check them out at merchants like Amazon, or browse our listings to find one at the right price.

Introducing the Huawei P20 and Huawei P20 Pro

How and Where to Make a Huawei P20 Purchase

Now that we've run through the features and models of Huawei P20, you should be close to making a decision. And whether you opt for the slimmed down Lite version, the standard P20, or the flagship P20 Professional, it's vital to find the lowest price available. That's where hotukdeals comes in.

Our listings are the best place to find Huawei P20 discounts and there are sure to be plenty to choose from, whenever you shop. We make it easy to browse phones from the UK's biggest retailers, including Carphone Warehouse, O2, EE, Sky Mobile, Amazon, Tesco Mobile, giffgaff, and John Lewis.

When you check out the listings, be sure to pick a cost-effective deal with your mobile provider, or just buy the handset and SIM in a separate package. Remember that deals with phone companies come with overall costs, not just monthly fees, and that they tend to have data and call limitations. So don't get stuck with extra fees if you need to increase your download limits.

It's also a good idea to time your purchase well. P20 or P20 Pro phones are likely to be cheaper around Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November and the January New Year sales. And Amazon Prime Day in summer is also a great time to bargain hunt. But you may be surprised by the frequency of discounts at other times. There's plenty of value to be found in the mobile phone market, and hotukdeals makes doing so simple.

Boost Your Phone's Performance With a Cut-Price Huawei P20 From hotukdeals

The Huawei P20 comes with excellent photography features, razor-sharp video, a powerful Kirin processor, and a form factor which has genuine style. Pitched at people who want something similar to Samsung and Apple phones, but also want to save some money, the P20 is a superb alternative. Find the best prices at the Huawei P20 hotukdeals listings.