Hey, what's up?
It's Sami here, and today I want to talk to you about the Huawei Mate 60 Pro.
I've been using it extensively for over a week now.
As you may have seen, I've already posted some camera comparisons featuring this device.
In this video, I'll be consolidating all my thoughts and experiences, making it the most
comprehensive review you'll find on YouTube thus far.
I want to emphasize that no one has paid me to create this review video.
So you can trust that this video is completely honest and unbiased.
I've dedicated several days, without proper sleep or meals, to bring you this review.
So if you haven't already, please do consider subscribing to my channel!
Your support means a lot.
When it comes to design, as soon as you take this phone out,
it's bound to become the center of attention,
thanks to all the hype surrounding it right now.
This phone is quite challenging to acquire in China at the moment.
Speaking of which, I want to give a special shout-out to my friends over at Giztop for
lending me this phone for several days.
If you're interested in getting the latest phones from China, you can always trust Giztop.
The link is in the description; do check it out.
Now, moving beyond the hype, the Mate 60 Pro stands out in a crowd
due to its unique design elements.
The distinctive ring camera module, the two-tone finish on the back,
and the three dots on the front, all contribute to its high recognition factor.
The color choices take inspiration from nature and exude a fresh and elegant aesthetic,
offering a subtle touch of luxury.
On the other hand, the Mate 60 Pro+ draws its inspiration from Chinese traditional calligraphy,
boasting a unique Chinese aesthetic.
Setting aside all that, with the Mate 60 Pro, the weight of 225 grams
is well distributed across the phone.
The 6.8-inch giant screen may be a bit challenging to use with one hand and reaching its corners
might not be as easy as on the OPPO Find N2.
However, due to the slightly curved screen and the rounded design of the middle frame,
lacking harsh corners like the iPhone, it feels quite nice.
It's suitable for daily tasks such as browsing TikTok or Twitter.
One thing worth mentioning, though, is the placement of the underscreen fingerprint scanner.
It's positioned quite low and can feel awkward to operate.
If you compare it to the one on the OPPO Find X6 Pro,
you'll find the latter is much more convenient.
Fortunately, the Mate 60 Pro features a 3D depth sensor on the front, similar to the
iPhone, which makes tasks like WeChat Pay, Alipay,
and recently added face recognition payments much easier.
As I mentioned earlier, the three dots on the front are truly unique
and sometimes remind me of Chinese monks.
However, you can always choose to hide the camera cutout in the settings.
Anyway, you're probably curious about how this front screen looks.
Well, this 1.5k screen looks fantastic, and the colors are comfortable,
even when viewed from different angles.
We didn't notice any color deviation or similar issues, and the peak brightness is sufficient
to keep everything clear even under direct sunlight.
Now, let's dive into HarmonyOS.
The 4th generation offers exceptionally smooth OS animations.
The level of smoothness is truly impressive.
Just take a look at how the app opens and closes—the animations are simply gorgeous,
right?
It's arguably the smoothest OS I've ever had the pleasure of using, making it an absolute
joy to navigate.
With the return of the Kirin chipset, featuring its self-developed IP, it introduces some
exciting features.
For instance, there's the interactive Always On Display, where the animation, like that
charming chicken, is that a chicken?
Follows your head's movement.
Additionally, when you place your phone nearby, the screen lights up when you glance at it
and turns off a few seconds later.
Moreover, if the screen is unlocked and you're still looking at it, it remains illuminated.
One standout feature that I've grown to appreciate is Air Gestures.
You can scroll up or down on the screen without even touching it.
Initially, I thought it might be more of a gimmick than practical, but it's surprisingly
responsive and incredibly useful.
For instance, when my hands are occupied while eating, I can effortlessly browse content
on the phone.
You can even use it for a quick Grabshot to crop a picture—convenience at its finest!
Another noteworthy feature is the AI privacy protection.
When you're using your phone, apps send notifications as usual, allowing you to view the full message.
However, if someone unfamiliar approaches the phone, the message content is automatically
hidden.
This adds an extra layer of security and privacy.
This intelligent sensing feature is truly remarkable and enhances the overall user experience.
Hardware performance
Now, let's talk about the hardware performance, and specifically, whether this phone encounters
thermal issues easily.
If you're interested in a deep dive into the Kirin 9000S chipset, I highly recommend checking
out Geekerwan's video.
It's currently the most detailed and professional review of this chipset, though it's in Chinese.
You can use YouTube's auto-translate function to get English subtitles.
Be aware that the video does use technical jargon and may require a solid understanding
of chipsets to fully grasp.
To summarize the key points from that video, the CPU energy efficiency of the Kirin 9000S
is slightly better than the Snapdragon 888, and the GPU energy efficiency is on par with
the Snapdragon 888.
Now, let's address the thermal issues.
We all know that the Snapdragon 888 chipset has had its fair share of thermal problems.
However, the Kirin 9000S offering performance comparable to the Snapdragon 888 is quite
impressive.
Consider the issues faced by Google's Tensor and Samsung's Exynos, for instance.
So, the main concern is how the Kirin 9000S handles thermal issues.
In normal daily usage, such as browsing Twitter, watching TikToks, and taking photos, it performs
well without any issues.
However, I did encounter one problem after extended camera use, particularly when shooting
4K video for hours.
In such cases, I noticed frame loss issues, like the one when comparing it with the OPPO
Find X6 Pro.
Upon examination in Premiere, I found that the Huawei footage had lost 13 frames, resulting
in stuttering during video playback.
While I'm not a hardcore gamer, I did try a few games and found that in some, it managed
to deliver the full frame rate, like 120fps in Glory of the King, without any overheating
issues.
I also played PUBG for half an hour and didn't experience overheating problems—pretty much
like a typical flagship device.
Additionally, I observed that the heat was evenly distributed on the back of the phone,
unlike some other phones I've tested that concentrate heat in one area.
It's important to note that this is a newly released chipset and phone, and there's plenty
of time for gaming manufacturers and Huawei to optimize performance.
I believe it will only improve as time goes on.
Satellite Communications:
In the process of preparing this video for the Mate 60 Pro, many people have been asking
about its Satellite Communications feature.
If you're curious about the call quality, I've come across some online tests that you
can check out.
Judging from these tests, it's clear that the call quality is quite good.
It connects swiftly and doesn't fall short when compared to professional, expensive,
and bulky satellite communication equipment.
If you're an outdoor enthusiast and your area happens to support Satellite Communications
with this phone, it's definitely something worth considering.
Camera Performance
Regarding the camera performance, to be completely honest, I probably shouldn't have invested
so much time and effort in comparing this phone.
The Mate 60 series was released in a rush without advance notice or marketing, and the
official launch event is scheduled for about a week from now.
So, it's possible that Huawei hasn't fully optimized everything yet, including camera
hardware adaptation and color tuning.
However, I have to say that, even in its current state, it doesn't fall short of existing flagship
phones in terms of overall camera performance, whether we're talking about video quality,
stabilization, or photos.
For more detailed comparisons, you can check out some of the comparisons I've done before.
Now, let's discuss what I like about the camera.
The microphone on the Huawei Mate 60 Pro is exceptional!
It delivers incredibly clear audio, effectively reducing wind and environmental noise, surpassing
many others in this aspect.
The super macro feature is probably the best, allowing me to get extremely close to the
subject for highly detailed macro shots.
On the flip side, there are a couple of things I don't particularly like.
First, the slow-motion mode.
I've noticed some color deviation in certain scenarios.
For example, I tried it several times, and my hand appeared way too red.
Another issue, as I mentioned earlier, is the frame loss problem that can occur after
extended use of the camera, along with the phone feeling a bit warm.
However, I wouldn't be overly concerned about this.
Historically, Huawei's Mate series has had better camera performance with Kirin chips
compared to Snapdragon chips.
Camera performance is, after all, one of the highlights of the Huawei Mate series.
So, let's give it some time to see if Huawei can address these concerns.
I'll definitely follow up on this, so please do subscribe for future updates!
Battery: The Huawei Mate 60 Pro boasts a substantial
5000mAh battery and supports rapid charging with 88W wired charging, 50W wireless charging,
and 20W reverse charging.
While I didn't conduct a specific battery endurance test, my daily usage, which includes
taking photos, occasional web browsing, and general smartphone activities, easily lasted
me an entire day.
However, I did put the charging speed to the test.
Using the original charger, it took just 40 minutes to charge from 1% to 100%.
Audio Test: Now, let's talk about the audio performance,
let me know if you like the sound!
In conclusion, the surprise release of the Huawei Mate 60 series has garnered tremendous
attention worldwide, and perhaps even Huawei didn't anticipate this level of response.
Huawei's objective is straightforward: they aim to regain the market share they've lost
over the past three years, and the Mate 60 series marks their first step in that direction.
Undoubtedly, Huawei has made a significant impact.
I've spent a lot of time at Huawei stores recently, and I've consistently seen fans
coming in, eagerly inquiring about when they can purchase a Huawei phone.
Some have even traveled from places like Singapore, expressing their willingness to pay more to
secure a phone in advance.
Unfortunately, the response has always been the same: "Sorry, you'll have to wait at least
a month."
It's been a while since a phone has generated such worldwide excitement.
Everyone loves the story of an underdog making a comeback, and for many users, this phone
carries more symbolic meaning than just being a device; it's like a continuation of belief.
However, putting aside all the emotions, this is undeniably a competitive flagship that
many people are considering purchasing.
It does have its issues, and it's not at its absolute best at the moment.
There's room for improvement in terms of software usability, addressing thermal issues, and
optimizing gaming performance.
But compared to Apple's minor updates each year, the Mate 60 Pro is clearly a more interesting
option.
It introduces satellite communication, an incredibly smooth Harmony OS, fun gesture
controls, and a great photography experience, all of which make using the phone much more
enjoyable.
That wraps up this video.
I hope it has answered some of your questions about the phone.
This video was a labor of love, and if you haven't already, please consider subscribing!
I want to extend a special thanks to Giztop for lending me the phone.
Thanks for watching, I'm Sami, and I'll see you in the next one.