Huawei Mate 10

[qifatt]

It can be sim card error. I kanna once from starhub. Borrow another sim card to test ur phone.

 

[samuel005]

great review. I find huawei now is encouraging their user doing unboxing review in their Facebook and they have some gift for the most creative review

Just got mine for the last two days - $795 from Moby Shop in Far East Plaza.

Here is my early impression of the phone.

Screen:
- Really deep blacks for an IPS LCD, I can't tell the diff with my S8+ AMOLED in the presence of anything more than low light in the room. It has to be really dark for you to tell the diff between the Mate 10 LCD screen black and the S8+ AMOLED black. However you can definitely can tell the difference in a dark room though. Very impressive contrast ratio for an LCD.
- Very cool screen temp, on default it is already quite a cool hue. If you set it to the cool temp setting will make the whites too blue.
- Max brightness is slightly retina scorching - definitely easily visible outdoors in sunlight.
- The colours however are still not as vibrant as my 18 month P9 Plus with a 1080p AMOLED panel. Let's not kid ourselves, all the premium phones are going OLED for a reason, it is probably the superior technology from colour and battery efficiency perspective. I have become accustomed to the Samsung style over saturated colours over the years and colour wise it is not a match for AMOLED panels even on the Mate 10 vivid setting.
- QHD sharp beautiful screen other than losing saturated colours to AMOLED, amazing to watch Youtube HDR videos
- There might be some jealousy when you put it next to an AMOLED screen to be honest but only if you compare it directly otherwise you won't miss it
- Pentile screen RGB-RGW configuration but you can't tell even looking closely. There is no stippling like older gen Pentile screens.

Speakers / Audio:
- Speakers are amazing, louder than S8+ and P9 Plus easily, crazy loud, can easily fill a whole room if it's quiet
- 3.5mm audio not perceptibly louder or better than other phones specifically but I have not tested with HiFi speakers / lossless audio

Performance:
- Fast, no lag on daily use
- I have not tested gaming
- To be fair all flagships I think depend more on software not being bloated than the raw power of the processor. I think all current gen flagships are adequately powered from hardware perspective. Depends on whether or not the phone has been bogged down with bloatware and it doesn't seem so with the Mate 10
- This NPU business really has no impact currently on day to day use apart from the camera recognising objects. Over-hyped at present.

Camera:
- Not adequately tested but it is definitely much brighter than the P9 Plus. You can even appreciate how big the 1:1.6 lenses are just looking at the back of the phone!
- Low light is admirable, probably not the best but pretty comparable to the S8+

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52MllGMlhSY0dDU0k
Mate 10 - Night shot setting with vivid colours. About 23 sec exposure. ISO stated to be "100" but it's definitely lower - when you manually try ISO 100 it is over exposed at lower exposure times. Amazing colours, even if they are not real.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52UmFUcU5VZGFoc2c
S8+ - Manual settings ISO 50 (lowest), 8 sec exposure (maximum on S8+ pro mode is 10 sec only), white balance 5000K with vivid colours.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52aDlySnlVTzZlRlk
P9 Plus - Night shot settings with vivid colours. Also 23 sec exposure. Again ISO stated to be "100" but it's definitely lower just as on the Mate 10.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52UEFfazJkd1Yzclk
Mate 10 - minimal lighting. Picture is brighter than in real life.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52OGZFajNkZjhOS2s
S8+ - as above pic is brighter than in real life.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9nPobmTax52MG5kcjRFOW5Fb0U
P9 Plus - Fail! Really can't make it with the 1:2.2 lenses.

Battery:
- Hard to make firm conclusions after 48 hours but it's solid. Definitely can at least make it to 5+ hours SOT.
- This is already updated to the firmware update ALP-L29 8.0.0.115 (C636). I believe the original was 8.0.0.103. Apparently there was some bug with Google Play services chewing up battery. Instructions for update at the bottom.

Build:
- I always thought I would prefer thicker + bigger battery but to be honest this is the first time I have held a phone and realized why manufacturers are ditching 3.5mm jacks to save space - it is miniscule mm differences on paper but it does have a perceptible different in hand feel
- The in hand feel of the P9 Plus being just a tad thinner or the slightly lesser width of the S8+ and the Mate 10 Pro (dummy phone) do feel better.
- Otherwise the glass sandwich build is solid + free TPU case in box + already applied plastic screen protector (lousy quality fingerprint oil magnet unfortunately but better than nothing). Looking forward to buying the Ringke Fusion case + Nillkin glass screen protector for it once it is out.
- I have not tested the water resistance so can't comment

Software:
- EMUI 8.0 minimal difference as far as I can tell from EMUI 5.0 on my P9 Plus. I actually quite like it.
- Some incompatibilities - can't install Solid Explorer (had to sideload - not sure if this is Oreo or EMUI related and SE has not been update since June 2017). SE also can't detect my SD card but ES file explorer can.
- Sideloading apps / install unknown apps is now separately allowed from app to app (i.e. from solid explorer or chrome etc - peculiar setup)
- You can get rid of nav bar to maximize screen space and use the single button at bottom to do back/home/recent apps with gestures like the P10 but I find it less intuitive than using the standard bar. You can however hide the nav bar and call it up anytime by swiping up, so it's a good compromise.
- Fingerprint scanner like all Chinese phones (Huawei and Xiaomi are what I have tested) are way faster and more reliable than the S8+ (slightly slower and higher chance to misread and not unlock - this has been tested on multiple S8+ and a Note 8 as well)

HOW TO UPDATE TO LATEST FIRMWARE 8.0.0.115 (C636)
- For some reason the firmware is not coming up on System Update yet despite it being available on Firmware Finder and being allowed for install when verified with IMEI
- Firmware finder on Google Play Store
- Usually on P9 Plus I would update using Firmware Finder proxy downloaded directly from Firmware finder as an apk but the FF Proxy apk will NOT install on Mate 10 for whatever reason
- Install using DNS method from Firmware finder
- Use DNS Changer from Google Play Store to change the DNS and follow instructions from Firmware finder
- You will end up downloading the Firmware twice in a row for some buggy reason - 2+GB becomes 5+GB. This used to happen on my P9 Plus as well
- Everyone online suggests you download the full firmware instead of the OTA update for any Huawei phone update

Other thoughts:
- Read online on Youtube comments that the Mate 10 Pro OLED screen was sourced from China screen manufacturer BOE who could not produce QHD OLED screens till recently which explains Huawei's weird "decision" to put a 1080p OLED on Mate 10 Pro - this sounds most likely a supply constraint decision rather than a real conscious decision from them. Everyone in the market is trying to wean themselves off the Samsung supply chain for panels - look at the millions Google and Apple have invested in LG for them to supply OLED panels to them.
- Choice of 10 vs 10 Pro probably boils down to SD card / 3.5mm jack for 10 vs waterproofing / better in hand build feel / OLED panel colours for 10 Pro. Can't comment if the 1080p Mate 10 Pro vs 1440p Mate 10 makes much of a diff, but I suspect not.

Sorry for long winded post. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[samuel005]

yes, this Facebook group for MATE 10 is really quick response and useful

for you guys...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1898972277024310/

i think some huawei sg tech guys are lurking in that group or something...
pretty fast response to tech enquires

 

[nick_tan]

It can be sim card error. I kanna once from starhub. Borrow another sim card to test ur phone.

Tried already and it's the same.

I guess it's not able to click on the Mobile Network. It's greyed out.

 

[raintr33]

For those whose previous phone had fingerprint sensor at the rear, how does it feel now with the Mate 10 fingerprint sensor in front? Can you get used to it?

I think this is my main decision point to wait for Pro version.

 

[deckcard]

For those whose previous phone had fingerprint sensor at the rear, how does it feel now with the Mate 10 fingerprint sensor in front? Can you get used to it?

I think this is my main decision point to wait for Pro version.

I feel front is better especially if u leave the phone on the table or when mounted on a car phone holder

 

[beast]

How does the object recognition AI work? Was playing with the sample at Harvey Norman. Pointing the hp at the object on camera mode, don't see any symbol representing the object as seen in youtube

 

[raintr33]

I feel front is better especially if u leave the phone on the table or when mounted on a car phone holder

That's true. But majority of my phone usage would not be lying on the table but in my hand. I think a rear sensor would be a more appropriate location for my usage.
The front sensor requires a 2 hand approach, whereas rear sensor can read the print from whichever hand was holding the phone.

 

[trd2970]

I feel front is better especially if u leave the phone on the table or when mounted on a car phone holder

Not supposed to use hp while driving

Sent from null using GAGT

 

[hpv500]

Not supposed to use hp while driving

Sent from null using GAGT

Can use while stationary at traffic lights mah

Sent from HUAWEI EVA-L19 using GAGT

 

[deckcard]

That's true. But majority of my phone usage would not be lying on the table but in my hand. I think a rear sensor would be a more appropriate location for my usage.
The front sensor requires a 2 hand approach, whereas rear sensor can read the print from whichever hand was holding the phone.

Huh? U need 2 hands to press the home button? To me front home is more practical becos orientation of ur thumbs doesn't matter. Use it just like u would hold the phone with one hand and thumb to press home, back or recent keys. Very natural becos that's how normally do anyway.
Save Thumb prints for holding the phone and index fingers for table and car mount. Many options

 

[deckcard]

Not supposed to use hp while driving

Sent from null using GAGT

U are kidding me right? Do u know when u can or cannot use the phone?
So all ur Uber, grab car or even taxi rides are illegal becos they can't touch their phone so how they can accept any jobs on the road?

 

[raintr33]

Huh? U need 2 hands to press the home button? To me front home is more practical becos orientation of ur thumbs doesn't matter. Use it just like u would hold the phone with one hand and thumb to press home, back or recent keys. Very natural becos that's how normally do anyway.
Save Thumb prints for holding the phone and index fingers for table and car mount. Many options

Thanks for providing that perspective. Didn't realise front sensor also work with one hand operation.

Then it seems to be a better choice than the rear.

 

[MichaelTan]

Hi all.

Just some tips after a lot of things clarified. Re M10Pro. Brown will come first then Blue later. But my main tip is, if you see Mate 10 Pro preorder, if you really want it, BUY IMMEDIATELY if available and guaranteed, because stock is very limited.

It's so limited that I myself don't have any allocated to me from company and I have to buy from other preorder sites.

 

[siewsphone]

Hi all.

Just some tips after a lot of things clarified. Re M10Pro. Brown will come first then Blue later. But my main tip is, if you see Mate 10 Pro preorder, if you really want it, BUY IMMEDIATELY if available and guaranteed, because stock is very limited.

It's so limited that I myself don't have any allocated to me from company and I have to buy from other preorder sites.

serious? I want mate 10 pro blue!

 

[MichaelTan]

serious? I want mate 10 pro blue!

That one will be significantly later than brown. If you want fast, try to love brown.

Bro, I also want blue but since the news I've learned to love brown.

 

[Skyy]

That's true. But majority of my phone usage would not be lying on the table but in my hand. I think a rear sensor would be a more appropriate location for my usage.
The front sensor requires a 2 hand approach, whereas rear sensor can read the print from whichever hand was holding the phone.

The "lying on table" use case will probably be for people who sit at a table for long periods of time so it's just lying horizontally on its back.

How come front sensor requires 2 hand approach? If you can use your finger to reach the fingerprint sensor on the back, you surely can use your thumb to to touch the front fingerprint sensor, unless you like to place your phone face down on the table then back sensor is better.

 

[tomicaguy]

11/11 happens to be singles day sales. So mate 10 pro could still be hot.

Sent from HUAWEI VIE-L29 using GAGT

 

[deckcard]

The "lying on table" use case will probably be for people who sit at a table for long periods of time so it's just lying horizontally on its back.

You forgot home?

 

[Skyy]

You forgot home?

what do u mean?