Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max Review: 200MP Periscope Camera Leads a EUR 1,149 Flagship

The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max is the camera phone reviewers have spent this week arguing about, and the argument is mostly about software rather than hardware. On the imaging side the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max is running near the front of the field; on usability, testers say it still leaves points on the table.

A 200MP periscope telephoto leads the camera system
The rear array pairs a 50MP main sensor with a physical variable aperture, a 40MP ultra-wide, and a 200MP periscope telephoto built on a large 1/1.28-inch sensor. That telephoto sensor size is well beyond what most flagships put behind a zoom lens.

An industry-first subpixel layout
The periscope camera uses an RYYB subpixel array, which Huawei says is the first of its kind in a telephoto module. Swapping green filters for yellow lets more light through, which is the whole point of the design on a lens that normally struggles after dark.

Video across every lens
All the cameras, including the front-facing one, record up to 4K60. Consistent capture across lenses is one of the harder things to get right on a multi-camera phone, and it is a practical win for anyone cutting footage from more than one focal length.

The display and glass
The 6.9-inch LTPO OLED panel runs at 2880 x 1308 and is completely flat, which suits photographers reviewing images without edge distortion. Huawei covers it with Kunlun Glass and claims up to 70% less reflection along with 16 times the scratch resistance of standard cover glass.

Charging and price
Both versions support 100W wired and 80W wireless charging. Pricing starts at €1,149, or roughly $1,300, which puts the phone level with the top tier of the Android market rather than undercutting it.

Where reviewers push back
The criticism is consistent: the hardware is there, the camera interface and the tools around it are not. Reviewers describe puzzling choices in how the shooting modes and controls are laid out, and note that most of the complaints could be fixed in a software update rather than a new model. Buyers outside Huawei's core markets should also factor in the software ecosystem before committing.

The verdict so far
Treat the Pura 90s Pro Max as a specialist purchase. If image quality is the deciding factor and you are comfortable with Huawei's software situation, the camera results are strong enough to justify the price. If you want a phone that gets out of your way, wait for the interface updates.

Protect the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max with a Komodoty case
A phone carrying a 200MP periscope module needs its camera housing kept off hard surfaces. Komodoty makes slim, fitted cases for Huawei handsets in aramid fiber and thin wood over a Kevlar core, with cutouts machined around the lenses and ports and wireless charging left unobstructed. See the fitted range in the Komodoty Huawei cases collection.