Huawei P10 review

The Huawei P10 is a very limited upgrade over other Huawei products of the past few years – and in some respects we  found it actually performed worse than the Huawei P9.

The Huawei P9 is still a great phone – so it may be worth taking a look at last year’s flagship device from the brand if you’re looking for a better benchmarked processor setup and slightly better battery life.

There’s not really much reason to upgrade from another Huawei product here but that said, the P10 is still a worthwhile phone to buy in 2017.

The initial price of the Huawei P10 was a bit higher than some may have been expecting, but it's plummeted right down, so if you’re smitten with the design of this phone you’ll be happy enough.

Who’s this for?

Huawei is pushing this phone at the fashion-conscious tech lover, and those who aren’t obsessed with having the latest spec inside their phones. If that’s you, the Huawei P10 will likely suit you perfectly.

Many will also prefer this design over the P9, but apart from looks the changes here are quite minimal, and we’d recommend going for the older phone if design isn’t a big deal for you.

There’s no standout reason to buy this phone – and in the face of tough competition in the shape of the LG G6 and upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8, the Huawei P10 may struggle to stand out. 

Should you buy it?

If you’re an Android fan who likes the look of recent iPhones, the Huawei P10 may well be for you. The design of the iPhone is essentially mimicked here, and the P10’s features stand up to most other flagship phones on the market right now.

The camera on the P10 is good, but it’s not as great as those on the iPhone 7 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. 

In terms of power and battery life, you’ll likely be happy with what the Huawei P10 can do. Unless you’re pushing your phone to its absolute limits it’ll be able to handle most tasks you throw at it.

Our testing found the Huawei P9 was a better device for power and battery though plus the price of that phone is already coming down, even before the P10 hits the shops.

The P10 doesn’t do anything spectacular compared to other phones on the market and there’s no must buy USP of this device. The P10 offers a nice combination of looks and features, and you’ll enjoy using it – but the Huawei P9 offers that too and you won’t miss much by buying last year’s phone instead.

First reviewed: March 2017

Competition

Not a fan of the Huawei P10? Here are a few alternative phones you should consider…

Honor 9

The Honor 9 has a lot in common with the Huawei P10. There's a dual-lens camera, similar software and the same chipset, but Honor's phone comes with a few major differences too.

Honor's latest flagship is much cheaper than the Huawei P10 and it comes with a unique glass backed design that looks great by reflecting light. If you don't want to spend as much as you would on the Huawei P10, be sure to take a look at the Honor 9 too.

• Read our full Honor 9 review

Huawei Mate 9

The Huawei Mate 9 is essentially a larger version of the P10, packing a 5.9-inch display and most of the same spec you’ve seen discussed in this review. You won't get the innovative fingerprint scanner/home button combination or a phone that's as easy to hold, but this may still be better for you than the P10.

It’s slightly more expensive than the P10, but if you’re looking for a larger phone with a big screen, this is a great option for a Huawei device.

• Read our full Huawei Mate 9 review

Samsung Galaxy S8

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is our favorite phone in the world right now and it may suit you better than the Huawei P10. This phone is almost all screen with its curved infinity display that looks different to anything else on the market.

There's top of the range internals, Android 7 software, an iris scanner and many other reasons to buy the Samsung Galaxy S8 so be sure to check this out before you go ahead and grab the Huawei P10. 

Just beware the price - it's quite a bit higher than the cost of Huawei's flagship.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 review

LG G6

The LG G6 is one of the best-looking phones we’ve seen, with barely any bezel around its screen and an impressive spec list. 

It’s still running last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor though and it has proven quite expensive. We liked the LG G6 a lot in our full review though and it may be worth a look before you buy the Huawei P10.

• Read our full LG G6 review

Huawei P9

The Huawei P9 is still a great phone, and as we’ve mentioned it even beats the P10 when it comes to its benchmarking scores and low-light photography.

You’ll want to pick this handset up if you’re looking for a Huawei device and want to save a little money. The launch of the P10 has meant the P9’s price has dropped a touch more, making it an even more tempting option.

• Read our full Huawei P9 review