With the new Huawei P20 series, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has created enthusiasm. In addition to the high-end Huawei P20 and P20 Pro with excellent Leica triple camera, the Huawei P20 lite also serves the middle class. How the test beats, and whether a touch of elegant P20 upper class has stuck with the slimmed-down model, clarifies our detailed test.
Design and workmanship
As the cheapest version of the new Huawei P20 series, the P20 lite nevertheless captivates with high-quality materials. The Chinese manufacturer uses glass as its upper class glass, the front and back rests and is perfectly enclosed by an aluminum frame. Only a narrow plastic strip is necessary on the Huawei P20 lite to complete the gap between glass panels and aluminum frames.
While the Huawei P20 lite is available in four different colors, the editors could get an accurate picture of the pink variant. In this country, one would call the color rather soft pink, because actually the back of the Huawei P20 Lite looks rather pastelig than gaudy-pink. Huawei has also paid attention to flawless workmanship in the low priced model of the P20 series. The color of the aluminum frame is perfectly matched to the back. The plastic lip and the filigree antenna lines also adapt to the color without transition.
Fine design details can be found in the form of rose-gold cutting edges in the frame. Huawei also puts shining accents here on the dual camera and the ring of the back fingerprint sensor. However, the transition from the side to the front seems a bit hard. While the frame and back of the pink Huawei P20 lite are very soft and supple, the front has a black frame that does not quite fit into the color concept.
Chic design and high quality materials
At the front is located at the bottom of the typical Huawei lettering. Significantly thinner, the black lines continue to the left and right of the display upwards and open at the top of the display in a relatively small, just black Notch, in which a speaker, the selfie camera, a brightness sensor and a very filigree notification LED edged are. The glass panel on the front looks classy and graceful. The curvy design is physically completed by very slightly rounded edges that flow into the pink plastic shell and finally the lightweight aluminum frame.
The frame has many recesses for the volume rocker and the power button on the right side of the device. In addition, at the bottom of the speaker, a microphone, the USB Type-C connector and the jack plug for headphones are embedded. The Huawei P20 lite sets off from its larger siblings, the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, with the latter port. A jack connection one searches in vain in the upper class. But the cheaper P20 lite is not waterproof and dustproof.
The dimensions of the Huawei P20 lite at a glance
The P20 lite does not just look filigree and graceful. When you lift up the smartphone, you are almost frightened, because it is a real flyweight with its 145 grams. However, a very good and balanced weight distribution prevents the feeling that it could be a cheap plastic smartphone. Despite its weight, the P20 lite is safe and very comfortable to hold.
The materials are largely slip-resistant. Even on smooth surfaces, the P20 lite does not move a millimeter from the spot – a phenomenon that can be observed again and again on many Honor devices, above all because of the high-gloss backs. The Huawei P20 lite is often referred to as the “little P20”. If you put on the measuring tape, however, will find that the P20 lite is not a small phone. It measures 71.2 millimeters in width, 149 millimeters in height and 7.5 millimeters in depth.
The Huawei P20 lite is a beautiful and immaculately crafted device. You get used to the light weight very quickly, it is also safe and comfortable in the hand. The back of the P20 lite has no exaggerated mirror effect, but convinces with a milky surface. The striking front of the P20 lite does not really harmonize with the filigree design of the frame and the back. When you turn on the display, this impression evaporates quickly.
Display
With the lush 5.84-inch display in 19: 9 format, the Huawei P20 lite continues to score. Huawei uses a frameless design with a cut-out at the top edge of the display. The so-called Notch is also found in the upper class of the P20 series and can be hidden within the display settings on the software side.
The screen of the P20 lite is not an OLED display, as we have already seen in the Huawei P20 Pro. The new middle class with FHD + display and a resolution of 2,280 x 1,080 pixels is impressive. For surfing the Internet, chatting and streaming HD videos that is quite sufficient. Individual pixels can not be identified. Only when playing Super Mario Run could you see that the little plumber hops over a mid-range display. Smooth and smooth, the game is still running.
Convincing here is the maximum display brightness, at least if you are in closed rooms. In sunlight, the display contents on the Huawei P20 lite are still recognizable, but not very easy to read. The viewing angle stability of the Huawei P20 lite, on the other hand, is impressive. Even when looking sideways at the display, all representations can be seen rich in contrast and without loss of color. The factory settings of the display provide an automatic brightness, which adapts quickly and infinitely to different lighting conditions.
A notch for the eye
The notch at the top is also switched on from the factory. Within the display settings, numerous configurations such as text size, color temperature, viewing mode and even the screen resolution can be adjusted to save power. As already described above, the notch can be faded in and out. With hidden Notch notifications, display of the network reception, battery status and Co. are still top left and right, next to the notch, which makes the display look even larger. An elegant solution.
The display of the Huawei P20 lite proves that it is not always the most expensive technology that leads to the best results. The Full HD + display offers a high resolution, presents content in a fluid and high-contrast way and displays with bright colors. Shoppers must make use of the outdoor area: In direct sunlight, the contents are no longer ideal read. For this, the display panel is very stable in viewing angle and offers an impressive maximum display brightness in closed rooms.
Image Courtesy: TheVerge.com