Huawei’s flagship Mate series has recently welcomed the next generation, called, you guessed it, the Mate 90 series. With this flagship, Huawei is finally giving us something companies like Vivo have offered with flagships like the X series: the ability to attach an external camera accessory. But before we get to that, let’s dig into what’s new.
All told, there are four main models in the series. There’s the Mate 90, Mate 90 Pro, Mate 90 Pro Max, and Mate 90 RS Ultimate Design. The Pro Max also has a Collector’s Edition, which is worth remembering if that external camera has already caught your attention.
In general, the new Mate series boasts flagship chips across the lineup, HarmonyOS 7, third-generation Red Maple True Color imaging, IP68/IP69 ratings, Wi-Fi 7, and NearLink. Moving up the range brings second-generation Linglong displays, the all-Kunlun Xuanwu architecture, and four-SIM support with three on standby. The Ruiying Z10 camera module joins the party through the Pro Max Collector’s Edition and RS Ultimate Design. Shopping by surname alone won’t quite do it here.
Mate 90: The Starting Point Still Gets a Telephoto
The regular Mate 90 runs Huawei’s Kirin 9030 chip with 12 GB of RAM and a choice of 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB of storage. Its 6.75-inch OLED has a 2832 × 1280 resolution and an adaptive 1–120 Hz LTPO refresh rate.
Around the back, you get a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.4–f/4.0 variable aperture and optical image stabilization, a 40 MP ultrawide, and a stabilized 50 MP telephoto. Huawei calls its optical zoom approximately 4×. Yes, the entry model gets a proper zoom camera, too.
A 13 MP autofocus ultrawide selfie camera and a 3D depth camera occupy the front. Power comes from a 6,600 mAh battery, with up to 66 W wired and 50 W wireless charging.
The phone measures 161.9 × 75.7 × 7.95 mm (6.37 × 2.98 × 0.31 inches) and weighs approximately 217 grams (7.65 ounces). It comes in Lattice Green, Lattice Pink, Zero White, and Obsidian Black. Green and pink get the lattice-pattern treatment, for those who would rather their phone have a little texture than another plain slab of color.
Mate 90 Pro: Faster Charging, Same Footprint
The Pro keeps the same dimensions and 6.75-inch screen size, but upgrades to a dual-layer OLED and Kirin 9035 processor. RAM options expand to 12 GB or 16 GB, with storage reaching 1 TB.
Its rear cameras retain the 50 MP main, 40 MP ultrawide, and 50 MP telephoto arrangement, although the Pro’s telephoto adds macro capability. The variable-aperture main camera and optical stabilization remain, as does the 13 MP front camera with 3D depth sensing.
The battery is still 6,600 mAh, but wired charging jumps to 100 W. Wireless charging stays at 50 W. At approximately 222 grams (7.83 ounces), it adds only five grams over the standard model.
Colors include Emerald Green, Amber Orange, Crystal Diamond White, and Obsidian Black. The orange is exclusive to the Pro, giving you a perfectly valid reason to choose a phone that has nothing to do with benchmark scores.
Mate 90 Pro Max: More Screen, More Zoom
The Pro Max moves to a 6.9-inch dual-layer OLED with a 2848 × 1320 resolution and a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. Its full-color Linglong display adds BT.2020 wide-color support.
Huawei quotes up to 12,000 nits peak brightness for its second-generation Linglong technology. That figure applies to a small 1% screen area, rather than the entire display blazing away at once. The company also quotes 6,000 nits at 20% APL. Either way, outdoor visibility is clearly getting plenty of attention.
Huawei lists Kirin 9050 and 9050 Pro processors for the regular Pro Max, while the Collector’s Edition specifically gets the 9050 Pro. The regular version offers 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM; the Collector’s Edition has 16 GB.
The camera upgrade is a 200 MP telephoto with optical stabilization and macro capability, joining a 50 MP variable-aperture main camera and 40 MP ultrawide. Huawei claims 18 EV of dynamic range for the main camera, helping it handle scenes with bright highlights and deep shadows.
Both Pro Max versions have a 6,800 mAh battery, 100 W wired charging, and 50 W wireless charging. They measure 164.5 × 78.7 × 8.15 mm (6.48 × 3.10 × 0.32 inches), weighing approximately 234 grams (8.25 ounces), or 235 grams (8.29 ounces) for the Collector’s Edition.
RS Ultimate Design: Titanium Enters the Chat
The RS takes the Pro Max’s core camera arrangement, 6.9-inch dual-layer OLED, 6,800 mAh battery, and 100 W wired/50 W wireless charging, then wraps them in a more elaborate package with a polished titanium frame.
It runs the Kirin 9050 Pro, has 16 GB of RAM, and offers up to 2 TB of storage. Xuanwu Kunlun Glass protects the display.
At 8.4 mm (0.33 inches) thick and approximately 248 grams (8.75 ounces), it is the heaviest of the bunch. The Ultimate Design name comes with a little extra substance.
The Z10 Is a Camera, Not Just a Lens
Now, about that attachment. The Ruiying Z10 carries its own 1-inch, 50 MP RYYB sensor and a lens offering 24–240 mm continuous optical zoom. That’s a genuine 10× optical zoom range, with a maximum aperture varying from f/2.0 to f/4.5.
You also get optical image stabilization, 4K video, and close-up shooting at the 3.5× focal setting, with a quoted minimum shooting distance of 15 mm (0.59 inches). This is quite a bit more involved than clipping a magnifier over your phone’s existing camera.
Huawei pairs it with the Mate 90 Pro Max Collector’s Edition or Mate 90 RS Ultimate Design. The ordinary Pro Max does not get the same compatibility. If the Z10 is the reason you’re shopping, check the full model name before getting distracted by the colors.
Huawei’s third-generation Red Maple system also promises improved color reproduction, with claimed gains of 37% in overall color accuracy and 62% in portrait skin-tone accuracy. New portrait options include soft lighting, fireworks, and starburst effects. Your next evening out may involve considerably more camera equipment than your friends expected—phone, module, and someone willing to wait while you compose the shot.
It is worth noting that the camera-as-lens concept isn’t new. Previously, Sony did it with the Sony Cyber-shot QX Series, and so did Olympus with the Air and the DxO ONE. And more recently, Xiaomi also showed off a concept but did not quite materialize.
Connections, Protection, and HarmonyOS 7
Across the range, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and NearLink handle wireless connectivity. HarmonyOS 7 adds features such as Huawei’s Xiaoyi assistant, help with recording information, and a gallery agent.
The Pro Max supports two physical SIMs plus two stored eSIM numbers, with three numbers usable simultaneously under Huawei’s stated carrier conditions. That includes a requirement for at least two of those active numbers to belong to the same mainland Chinese carrier. The standard Mate 90 and Pro support two simultaneous numbers.
All four main models carry IP68/IP69 ratings. Huawei’s IP68 testing covers immersion in six meters (19.7 feet) of still fresh water for 30 minutes, while IP69 covers hot, high-pressure water jets. The Pro and higher models add the all-Kunlun Xuanwu protection architecture, extending the durability treatment to the camera cover glass as well as the phone itself.
Prices and Availability
The Mate 90 series has been launched in China, with prices starting at 5,999 yuan [CH] (about US$895) for the Mate 90, 6,999 yuan [CH] (about US$1,045) for the Mate 90 Pro, and 9,499 yuan [CH] (about US$1,415) for the Mate 90 Pro Max. The Pro Max Collector’s Edition starts at 10,999 yuan (about US$1,640), while the RS Ultimate Design starts at 12,999 yuan [CH] (about US$1,940).
If you want the Pro Max Collector’s Edition bundled with the Z10 camera module, the 16 GB + 1 TB package will set you back 19,499 yuan (about US$2,905). That’s quite a commitment to getting a better shot of your lunch.
Images: Huawei [CH].
