After using the Huawei P20 Pro as my daily driver for the past week and a half, I have to say I’m really enjoying my time with the device.
However, apart from the spectacular triple rear camera setup and iPhone X-style notch, many of the P20’s other key features aren’t well known.
Below, find my five favourite things about the Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone.
Face unlock
The Huawei P20 Pro’s face recognition functionality is more reliable than many other premium Android devices currently on the market.
I’ve used the facial recognition software on the Samsung Galaxy S8, S9 and OnePlus 5T in comparison, and I’ve noticed that the P20 Pro unlocks more consistently than the other devices.
And while I haven’t used the iPhone X myself, in comparing the facial recognition software with an iPhone X user, I found that in four out of five times the Huawei P20 Pro unlocked faster — though it’s important to note this was under low lighting.
Further testing is required, but so far this is one of my favourite features of the P20 Pro.
IR blaster
Following the P20’s facial recognition software, another of my favourite things about the P20 Pro is the infrared (IR) blaster. An IR blaster, similar to the remote for a TV, can send a signal wirelessly to another device with an IR receiver.
The P20 Pro’s IR blaster allows it to control TVs, air conditioners, set-top boxes, cameras, DVD players and projectors. Although I personally only use the IR blaster to control my TV, it does have the option to control these other devices.
While a phone with an IR blaster isn’t original, it’s a feature I find myself missing when using devices like the OnePlus 5T, Google Pixel 2 XL or Samsung Galaxy S9.
Dolby Atmos
The P20 Pro is loud. The phone features a Dolby Atmos simulated surround sound system that produces a loud and clear sound that’s easily capable of filling a room. The volume is rich and includes wide range of frequencies, with deep bass and high treble.
The P20 Pro’s speaker placement is also great. It features a front-facing speaker and two other speakers flanking the USB Type-C port, causing the sound to be pushed out in more than one direction.
Navigation gestures
The fingerprint sensor doubles as a home button but can do so much more.
Switching the settings on the device allows the user to completely navigate through the phone’s operating system. Tapping on the home button allows users to go back.
Swiping on the home button horizontally works similar to how the ‘overview’ button works. Holding down the home button until there’s a subtle vibration will cause users to go home. Lastly, swiping up beside the home button lets the user activate the Google Assistant.
Easy Projection
My absolute favourite feature is the ‘Easy Projection’ functionality. This allows the user to plug the handset into a monitor and the phone becomes a desktop. With this functionality, I was able to connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and use the P20 Pro almost like a desktop device.
While Google Chrome operated find in this mode, Slack’s Android app was less than stellar. However, I did spend a day this week writing for a few hours with the P20 Pro running in ‘Easy Projection’ mode. That said, the P20 Pro’s 4,000mAh battery only lasted around three hours in the Easy Projection mode.
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