The inability to use Google services has defined Huawei’s destiny. The Chinese brand has had to row through thick and thin in order to develop Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) in record time. Although the user is more specialized in the high-end and can hunt for alternatives, the great litmus test is in affordable mobiles, where the user is less knowledgeable and expects his mobile to be operational from minute one.
Even if they are unaware of it, the bulk of Android users continues to rely on Google services. That is why the Huawei P Smart 2021 faces a big challenge: persuade people to pay around 200 euros in their phone while not making them feel odd using an ecosystem of applications to which they are not accustomed.
Regardless of the big G’s absence of services, the question is simple: is good hardware enough to compete with the tough mid-range of other manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, or Realme?
Starting with the design, the Huawei P Smart 2021 does not break new ground, which is a good thing. Without any odd experiments, you may figure out what to expect in a phone in the year 2020. A plastic finish that covers the entire back and feels quite pleasant to the touch but does not feel cheap joins a great module with four cameras that you will learn about later.
Camera function
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The front camera is visible through a hole in the glass on the screen. A well-established trend that, despite its small size and location in the centre of the screen, emphasises symmetry. At the corners, which are likewise neatly crafted, there is a fingerprint reader, which works fairly well but will be a difficulty for lefties.
The design in general is good and correct, better than you would expect in this price range, and you will appreciate it a lot despite the fact that it does not innovate. It is restrained, elegant, and decisive. Furthermore, in addition to having a USB-C connection, the presence of a headphone port is appreciated, a feature that, with few exceptions, is becoming obsolete. Huawei hasn’t left anything out of its new mid-range, so it’s included a USB-C port, which will be mainstream in 2020, as well as a 3.5-millimeter headphone connection because it is serious while while being elegant
One, and this is a big but, it’s the size. There is a large, heavy phone here. With a 6.67-inch screen and a big battery that weighs more than 200 grammes. This is not the phone for you if you want something small and portable.
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Display of high quality
When it comes to the screen, it should be noted that it has a fantastic almost 7-inch IPS panel. Because of its panoramic format, it offers a Full HD + resolution and has left us with really positive impressions. The viewing angles are fairly nice, the brightness performs well, and the definition is excellent.
Panel
You can see that Huawei did an excellent job of calibrating the panel’s colours, with a very successful dynamic range and without oversaturating the colours. Even the black ones are clearly resolved, and the small hole in the screen that houses the main camera does not disturb me any more than normal.
Yes, you will miss stepping up from the 60 Hz refresh rate. It is true that little can be expected of a phone for about 200 euros, but it is also true that some competing mobiles offer 90 or even 120 Hz. A feature that improves user experience by providing smoothness.
It is not an issue in and of itself. Users who are accustomed to traditional smartphones will have no difficulty. Those who are used to the extra fluidity that other manufacturers have incorporated into their screens, on the other hand, will notice a step back. Despite this, the screen is fantastic, and it is a pleasure to use.
Screen
The nice screen is complemented by adequate hardware. The Huawei P Smart 2021 features its own chipset, the Kirin 710A, as well as 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory extendable via micro-SD cards. An excellent configuration in this price range that will allow it to move smoothly in an operating system that runs Emui 10 under AOSP, i.e. without Google services or applications.
Conclusion
If you stick to pure and hard performance, the Huawei P Smart 2021 performs admirably, albeit you may notice some delay in specific tasks, like as demanding games. It appears that Huawei lacks the necessary travel to match its Kirin processors to those of the competitors, like as Qualcomm or Exynos processors at the time. Although it is considered that it is a question of optimization rather than power.
