Huawei P40 Pro: The Flagship That Proved Huawei's Resilience
The Huawei P40 Pro, released in March 2020, holds a unique place in smartphone history as the last Huawei flagship to launch with some level of Google Mobile Services support (limited to GMS-core apps that could be sideloaded). Powered by the Kirin 990 5G chip and featuring a Leica quad-camera system, the P40 Pro was technically excellent but commercially challenged by US sanctions that cut off access to full Google services. This retrospective examines the P40 Pro's legacy and its role in Huawei's journey toward technological self-sufficiency.
TL;DR
The Huawei P40 Pro was a technically excellent flagship with Kirin 990 5G and Leica cameras, but US sanctions meant no Google Play Services. Its forced pivot to Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) laid the groundwork for the fully independent HarmonyOS ecosystem that powers today's Huawei devices.
Key Insights
Processor
The Kirin 990 5G was one of the first 5G-integrated smartphone processors, manufactured by TSMC on its 7nm+ EUV process before sanctions cut off TSMC access. It featured two Cortex-A76 performance cores, four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, and a Mali-G76 GPU. The chip delivered competitive performance in 2020 and supported both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks.
Camera System
The P40 Pro featured a Leica-branded quad-camera system: 50MP f/1.9 main sensor (IMX700 RYYB), 40MP f/1.8 ultra-wide, 12MP f/3.4 telephoto (5x optical), and a ToF depth sensor. The RYYB color filter array provided superior low-light performance. The camera was widely regarded as one of 2020's best, winning DxOMark's top ranking at launch.
Google Services Impact
Due to US Entity List restrictions, the P40 Pro shipped without Google Play Services, Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, and other core Google apps. This was the most significant impact of sanctions on the user experience. Huawei introduced Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) with its own AppGallery, Petal Maps, and browser as replacements, but the transition was challenging for users accustomed to Google's ecosystem.
Display
The P40 Pro featured a 6.58-inch OLED curved-edge display with 90Hz refresh rate and 2640x1200 resolution. The display was vibrant and smooth for 2020 standards, with good outdoor visibility and slim bezels. The curved edges gave the phone a premium feel but occasionally caused accidental touches. Peak brightness reached 800 nits with HDR support.
Sales Impact
Without Google services, P40 Pro sales were strong in China where Google dependency was minimal, but significantly weakened in Europe and other markets where Google ecosystem was essential. European carriers that had previously promoted Huawei began to reduce or drop Huawei from their lineups. The P40 Pro's commercial difficulties accelerated Huawei's strategic shift toward self-sufficiency.
Historical Significance
The P40 Pro era marked Huawei's forced transition from a Google-dependent smartphone maker to a self-sufficient technology company. The urgency created by losing Google access drove investment in HarmonyOS, the AppGallery ecosystem, Huawei Petal services, and ultimately the Kirin chip revival with SMIC. The P40 Pro's struggles directly led to the Pura 70's later success.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Specification | Huawei P40 Pro (2020) | Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Kirin 990 5G (TSMC 7nm+) | Kirin 9010 (SMIC) |
| Google Services | None (post-sanction) | None (HarmonyOS NEXT) |
| Main Camera | 50MP RYYB (Leica) | 50MP 1-inch (XMAGE) |
| Display | 6.58" OLED 90Hz | 6.8" LTPO OLED 120Hz |
| 5G | Yes (integrated) | Yes (on Pro models) |
| Battery | 4,200 mAh, 40W charging | 5,200 mAh, 100W charging |
| OS | EMUI 10.1 (Android 10 base) | HarmonyOS NEXT |
| App Store | AppGallery (early) | AppGallery (mature) |
| Satellite | No | Yes (messaging + calling) |
| Price at Launch | ~7,999 RMB | ~10,999 RMB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the P40 Pro remains functional in 2024 but with limitations. Without Google Play Services, you need to rely on Huawei's AppGallery or sideload APKs for most apps. Many popular apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, banking apps) work through alternative stores or direct APK downloads. Performance is still adequate for daily tasks, though the 2020 processor shows its age with demanding apps and games.
Users adapted through several methods: installing alternative app stores (APKPure, APKMirror), using Huawei's Petal Search to find apps, relying on web versions of Google services, and using third-party alternatives for key Google apps (Outlook instead of Gmail, Here WeGo instead of Google Maps). In China, the absence of Google services was barely noticed since Chinese users already used domestic alternatives.
Technically, the P40 Pro was excellent for its time. Its camera system was among the best of 2020, the Kirin 990 5G was a competitive processor, the display was high-quality, and build quality was premium. The phone's weaknesses were entirely due to the software ecosystem, not hardware. Many tech reviewers praised the P40 Pro's hardware while acknowledging the Google services issue made it difficult to recommend outside China.