We already said that September would be one of the months with the most smartphone launches, and the truth is that one of the best ones to be presented this month has just arrived, the Huawei Mate S, a new large-screen mobile phone capable of rivaling the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.
Halfway
The Huawei Mate S that has just been introduced is a high-end smartphone, of a very high level, but the truth is that it is perceived that it is not the smartphone that was initially going to be launched. In fact, it was said that this would be the Huawei Mate 8, but given the impossibility of launching it with the new processor, they have decided to launch a highly polished version of the Mate 7, with greater capacity to compete with the largest phones on the market such as the new generation iPhone 6s Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. Even so, its processor Huawei Kirin 935 The eight-core processor offers good performance: the big.LITTLE configuration with 4 cores at 2,2 GHz and 4 at 1,5 GHz, accompanied by the GPU Mali-T628 MP4. Perhaps a step below what we see in the latest major mobile phones from Apple and Samsung, but with a difference that we will also find in the price. However, with its 3GB RAM (LPDDR3), and an internal memory of 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB —expandable via microSD up to 128 GB in hybrid tray which allows the use of two SIMs or one SIM + microSD—we can be very sure that the performance of the mobile will be very good.
Great design
As was the case with the previous Huawei Mate 7, and something that has become common in this company, the Huawei Mate S is a smartphone with a great designIts official dimensions are 149,8 x 75,3 x 7,2 mm and the weight stays in 156 gramsThese figures strike an excellent balance between size and ergonomics. The bezels are compact and the front is fully utilized, with narrow bezels that make for a great handheld experience.
But the best of all is that it is built with a unibody aluminum housing which is for the back section and frame of the smartphone, with a front glass 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 which gives it a very remarkable finish and scratch resistance. The rear curvature improves grip, the metal does not feel cold and does not slip easilyWell-finished buttons, good travel, and an overall solid, premium feel.
At the bottom we find the grilles for the speaker and microphone, with a sound powerful and clear for its category, although it is easy to cover the exit if we watch videos horizontally. hybrid SIM tray allows you to choose between dual SIM or expand the memory with microSD, a practical solution for many users.
Screen and camera
But if there is something that always stands out in a smartphone, it is the screen and the camera quality of the same. We are talking about a 5,5-inch AMOLED screen, which reminds us a lot of the iPhone 6 Plus, although in this case there will be significant differences. Not so much in the resolution, which will also be Full HD (1.920 x 1.080 pixels), as in the technology itself, since it is an AMOLED display with a PenTile matrix that, in practice, no evidence of pixelation at first glance. We enjoy pure blacks, great contrast, vivid colors and very good visibility outdoors thanks to its high brightness and thin glass that reduces reflections.
Huawei allows you to adjust the color temperature from the settings to fine-tune the white balance to your liking. Viewing angles are wide, and unlike less advanced IPS panels, black remains stable even when tilting the screen. It's a wise decision to stay in Full HD: it improves performance, reduces consumption, and does not penalize sharpness at this size.
To this we should add its camera, 13 megapixels for the main unit, and of 8 megapixels for the front unit. Although, it must be said that if the camera stands out for anything, it is precisely for the software. With the possibility of managing the settings of ISO, and exhibithion time, will give many more possibilities to users who are fans of the world of photography.
The rear camera incorporates optical stabilization (OIS), RGBW matrix to improve dynamic range and a dedicated image processor (Altek) that helps to obtain cleaner colors and less noise. The focus is not the fastest, but it is accurate, and Pro mode invites you to play with parameters such as white balance, exposure or manual focus. The mode painting with light It remains striking for creating creative effects, and the macro mode surprises with a nice bokeh given the limitations of a mobile sensor.
On the front camera, the 8 MP sensor even has front LED flash with intensity control for more balanced nighttime selfies. In video, it records at 1080p and maintains competent stabilization for everyday shots.
Fingerprint reader and Force Touch
To the above we should add what for me is the most remarkable thing about this smartphone and what makes it truly innovative. Firstly, the Force Touch technology Inspired by pressure detection, which is capable of differentiating the levels of pressure we exert on the screen. Different levels of pressure multiply the touch screen's possibilities. This is one of the most significant new features, although it's worth remembering that It is only available in the 128 GB version and not in all markets.
Of course, the Huawei Mate S also features a fingerprint reader, which in this case is located on the back cover, below the main camera. It should be noted that this reader also becomes a button on the smartphone itself, even being able to manage notifications (slide to lower the curtain), accept a call, move around the gallery o shoot the camera using only the sensor. The accuracy is outstanding, and the unlocking speed is instantaneous, even with your finger at unorthodox angles.
Performance, software and connectivity
The Kirin 935 delivers solid figures on a day-to-day basis: fluid animations, good tactile response and competent multitasker. In very demanding 3D games, some frame drops may occur due to the choice of the Mali-T628 MP4 GPU, a conservative component, but in popular titles, performance is stable. Thermal control is well resolved, and the metal chassis helps dissipate heat undisturbed.
The layer EMUI It comes with many customization options (themes, knuckle gestures, display settings) and several of its own utilities. It's a skin that moves away from pure Material Design and comes with pre-installed apps; most can be uninstalled. One point to consider: EMUI's power manager is aggressive in closing processes in the background to save battery life, which can delay notifications in apps like WhatsApp or Slack if not added to the exceptions list in settings.
In terms of connectivity, it comes very complete: LTE with broad band support, Wi‑Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, GPS with GLONASS and even Ant + for sports accessories. Includes FM radio, port microUSB with OTG and connector 3,5 mm jack. The base memory is 32 GB, with about 24 GB free approximate for the user, and always with the option of lightening with a microSD.
- Screen: AMOLED 5,5″ Full HD, 401 dpi, 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4.
- chip: Kirin 935 (8 cores), Mali-T628 MP4 GPU, 3 GB LPDDR3 RAM.
- Storage: 32/64/128 GB + microSD (hybrid tray).
- Cameras: 13 MP f/2.0 with OIS and RGBW sensor; front 8 MP with flash.
- biometrics: Rear fingerprint reader with gestures.
- Connectivity: LTE, Wi-Fi ac, BT 4.1, NFC, GPS/GLONASS, Ant+, FM, OTG.
Battery
Perhaps the worst thing about this smartphone is the battery. We say the worst because it is a battery with a capacity of only 2.700 mAh, very little considering the previous Huawei Mate 7 had over 4.000 mAh. Even so, the smartphone is claimed to last a full day, so it still doesn't have bad battery life.
In practice, with intensive use it is possible to achieve between 4,5 and 5 hours of screen time spread throughout the day. Includes fast charge to recover several hours in a few minutes, and EMUI's power-saving profiles help stretch those milliamps. Just remember to check the power manager and allow in background the essential apps to avoid missing notifications.
Availability and price
The Huawei Mate S, presented at IFA, will officially arrive on September 15, and we already know how much it will cost. The most basic version, with internal memory of 32 GB, will be priced at 649 Euros, while the memory version of 64 GB will have a slightly higher price of about 700 EurosThere is an edition of 128 GB which integrates Force Touch. Over time, the price may vary depending on distribution and availability.
It will be available in four colors: a version with gray back cover and black front cover, a version silver and white, a version golden and a version pinkStorage combinations, colors, and the presence of Force Touch may vary depending on the market.
Huawei has made a notable leap in design and experience, opting for a quality AMOLED panel, a versatile camera with Pro mode and what is probably the best fingerprint reader on Android of its generation. It doesn't lead in raw power or battery capacity, but it makes up for it with its finish, useful features, and a more manageable size within the phablet format. If you're looking for a large, elegant, and balanced phone, the Mate S remains a very attractive option.
