Huawei Pura 80 Ultra Impresses Despite Google Limitations – Can It Spark a Comeback?

The lack of Google Play Services remains a hurdle for many users, but the recent poll results prove Huawei still has its spark. The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, in particular, has emerged as a highly desirable flagship—even if it’s out of reach for many due to price or availability.

The Pura 80 Ultra received a strongly positive reception. If Huawei were still running a full Google-powered Android OS, this might have been one of the best-selling premium smartphones of 2025. But the reality is more complex: the U.S. sanctions forced Huawei to shrink its global distribution, and the company still hasn’t fully recovered its international reach.

One key discussion point was the complex telephoto camera setup. While the device features 3.7x and 9.4x zoom options, the full 50MP sensor (1/1.28") is only fully used at 3.7x. At 9.4x, a 2x crop is applied, dropping the output to just 12.5MP—something many users felt should’ve been communicated more clearly by Huawei.

As for the rest of the lineup, the Huawei Pura 80 Pro+ gained traction over the Pro model, mostly thanks to its enhanced satellite messaging. While both models had decent support, the Ultra clearly stole the spotlight.

Surprisingly, the vanilla Pura 80 also drew significant interest. Unlike previous generations, the standard model didn’t suffer from voter fatigue caused by multiple “Pro” options, and its simpler setup appeals to budget-conscious users.

While the lack of native Google support is still a turn-off for some, tools like GBox can partially fill the gap by enabling access to many Google apps. However, there’s a risk involved: users may face compatibility issues and limited customer support, especially with warranty and 5G band issues in non-Chinese regions.

Still, the Pura 80 lineup is a testament to Huawei’s once-dominant position in the global smartphone market—and a reminder that the brand still knows how to build compelling hardware.

Looking ahead, mark July 10 on your calendar—the Huawei Mate 80 series will officially launch globally. It’s unclear if the Mate 80 Pro+ will be widely available, but Huawei fans in Africa, Asia, and South America can expect a strong camera-focused flagship.