the review of Cellulare Magazine

Huawei P40 Lite represents the first model of a new generation of smartphones from the Chinese manufacturer. For many reasons: because P40 Lite is the first device in the flagship range that will be presented on March 26 and will include P40 and P40 Pro; because it is the first real model that, despite not having Google Mobile Services on board, delivers an App Gallery full of apps and contents to consumers, able to allow users to download all the services usually used in a few minutes; because it is launched with an unprecedented promotion, which gives buyers the Freebuds 3 true wireless headphones, a value of 179 euros in a phone that costs 299 euros; and, finally, because once again, Huawei has managed to produce a smartphone that is really difficult to find fault with.

But let’s proceed in order: Huawei P40 Lite is a smartphone equipped with one schermo Punch FullView 6.4-inch with 1,080 × 2,310 pixel FHD + resolutionis powered by the Kirin 810 processor, offers a memory of 6 GB of Ram and 128 GB of storage space, runs on Android 10 and has the EMUI 10 interface. four cameras on the back and a selfie cam on the front panel, housed in a small hole in the display at the top left.

Huawei P40 Lite: how to download Google services

Let’s get straight to the point. It is quite surprising how quickly the App Gallery, or Huawei’s content store, is getting richer by the day. All major apps are available, many will become so day by day in the coming weeks.
As for the use of Google services, which are not pre-installed, thanks to TrovApp it is possible to download practically everything. This is a third party app, which you download from AppGallery, which works like a search engine. When you select an app to download, such as Instagram, WhatsApp or Maps, the basic app searches in four directions: on APK Pureon store of Amon itnell’AppGallery itself and on the sites of the software producers. With one click you will have the app in your home. In short, a small time commitment to install the Google app package, from which Gmail and YouTube are excluded, but only at the level of the app, but can normally be used by the browser, just as we do every day from our computer.

Finally, for the contacts that we are used to having in the Google Cloud, Phone Clone comes to the rescue, which automatically transfers the address book to the setting of the new phone if you come from a Huawei device.

It displays the P40 Lite

The new smartphone from Huawei has an IPS panel with Full HD + resolution, has interesting features, it proves itself clearly visible outdoors, well-contrasted colors and, above all, it offers the possibility to calibrate both the white balance and the color saturation. The diagonal is 6.4 inches with a density of 398 ppi. The screen, as mentioned, is interrupted only by a small hole that houses the sefie cam, has thin frames and ensures an excellent use experience.

The hardware of P40 Lite

The presence of the Kirin 810 processor, an octa-core with 12 nm production process assisted by artificial intelligence that allows it to recognize 22 categories of objects and scenes, a very useful feature especially when using the camera. The CPU, consisting of two 2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and six 1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, pushes with sufficient power, supports all the functions of the smartphone without too much effort and, above all, has the gift of not never overheat. The graphic section is managed by Gpu Mali G52, while the memory offers 6 GB of Ram and 128 GB of storage space. The interior space can be extended using the NM cards (up to 256GB), Huawei’s proprietary standard. The fingerprint scanner it is not “in-display” nor on the back of the body, but on the side button of the device.

UI Experience

Huawei proposes the traditional Emui 10 interface which runs on Android 10. Without prejudice to the lack of Google services, which we talked about above, the UI of the Shenzhen manufacturer maintains some characteristic strengths, among which a considerable attention to security deserves to be noted, with the possibility to lock an app with a password. The system also allows you to clone some apps to have for example the double client of Facebook or WhatsApp, it offers a notepad on which you can write freehand and the Huawei Health app, useful for managing both your daily activity but, above all, the smartwatches of the house, such as GT2.

The P40 Lite camera

Smart photography has always been the flagship of the “P” line of Huawei smartphones, and again this year we have to expect many new features. P40 Lite, in this case, integrates four rear cameras, configured as follows: a 48 Megapixel main sensor (26 mm equivalent lens with F / 1.8 lens), an 8 Megapixel ultra wide (F / 2.4) sensor, a 2 Megapixel sensor with bockeh camera function (F / 2.4) and a 2 Megapixel macro lens (F / 2.4). Then there is a 16 Megapixel selfie cam (F / 2.0).

All in all, the shots returned by the camera are of good quality both during the day and in low light conditions and in the evening (in this situation we noticed an excellent performance of both the “point and shoot” and night modes). More than decent focusing speed.

I video they can be shot in Full HD at up to 30fps, and this is perhaps one of the few limitations of this phone that does not have 4K quality.

The audio of the smartphone

In daily use, even intense, we have never had any problems in the transmission and reception of call audio, always clear and crystalline. A single note: we would have appreciated the possibility of raising the volume of the ear capsule which, even at the most, sometimes shows a bit of the rope especially if you are outside and in particularly noisy environments. Very good, however, both for volume and for clarity, it speakerwhich allows for comfortable hands-free calls.

Battery

The battery is 4,200 mAh. According to the manufacturer, it ensures an autonomy of more than 24 hours. That would mean a couple of days away from the charger. A not so distant goal if we think that, during our test, we tried both to stress the smartphone with a very intense use, including phone calls, music, videos and – above all – games, and to use it in a more sparing way, in a mode perhaps more similar to that adopted by the average user. Well, if in the first case we arrived at midnight with still 10% (therefore with the phone to be recharged), in the second case we arrived at the following late afternoon. In both situations, P40 Lite is to be promoted with flying colors. Moreover, not a small thing, the phone has the 40W Huawei Super Charge fast charging, and charges up to 70% in just 30 minutes. A security!

Our Awards

Huawei P40 Lite wins our awards for Camera e The price ratio, areas where Huawei’s smartphone excels. The sales promo with the free Freebuds 3 is a really strong reason to buy.

Cellulare Magazine’s judgment: Huawei P40 Lite

One of the latest reflections made aloud in the editorial office before the package with the P40 Lite inside was delivered to us concerned Huawei which, for years, has been presenting devices that are difficult to find fault with. At most some lack, which is another thing. If we look at the competition as a whole, the same thing cannot be said. And after trying the P40 Lite this belief comes out reinforced, above all and not only, for the price of this phone which has a price of 299 but a higher pedigree in terms of market range. In all honesty and without where to resort to any practice excessively geek, we also feel like saying that the lack of Google services, no longer represents a serious handicap, if anything an obstacle, if we consider that both Huawei and the developers of third parties have worked in recent months to propose methods (not empirical) to be able to use most of the services without having to go crazy looking for them everywhere. In everyday life, P40 Lite confirms itself as a phone with a pleasant aesthetic (the square theme inside which the four rear cameras have been enclosed is beautiful) and reliable in all sectors. Double smile also for the presence of the 3.5 mm jack, a bit mistreated lately also by Huawei and removed from several models, and of the colors (on all of us we unanimously vote for the petroleum-colored one – Crush Green, received for the trial).

Finally, let’s go back to the promo which includes the Freebuds 3 (that we tested HERE): difficult not to be tempted to buy. Here, however, the official website of the product.

VERSUS

• The fingerprint reader on the power button requires some practice
• The body is a bit dirty and holds fingerprints
• Google services are not natively present but can largely be downloaded to the phone through third-party apps