Huawei Pura 70 Ultra sets new record in DxO rankings, ignites photography debate

It's hard to give a definitive answer as to which smartphone takes the best photos. Many elements influence this. Predominantly, the deciding factor is the skills of the person taking photos—how well they know photographic techniques and whether they can exploit the potential of a given device. This potential depends both on the hardware specifications and the software, which allows even seemingly average photos to "magically" become something that draws our attention.

DxO, which has been leading the ranking of the best smartphones for many years, tries to include all the issues mentioned above in its creation. The ranking generates a lot of controversy, as many users question its credibility. However, smartphone manufacturers still view it as a benchmark for photographic success (also in the video domain, as smartphones have their strengths in this area).

Last year, the Huawei P60 Pro was at the top of the list. Since the Art model was not widely available, this could have influenced the evaluation and, consequently, the number of points awarded in the ranking. It seems this year, the DxO experts made the right decision by placing the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra at the top of the ranking. This flagship smartphone model received 163 points from them.

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra was the first phone to cross the 160-point threshold in this ranking, achieving precisely 163 points. This model stood out in tests for photo quality, background blur, and zoom capabilities. DxO also examines phone usage scenarios and recommends the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra for taking photos with family and friends. They believe that this phone also performs exceptionally well in low-light conditions. DxO, wanting to show that some imperfections could still be improved, did not place the Huawei Pura 70 Pro at the very top in two key categories.

These two categories assess the photo preview quality compared to the final effect and video. Although this model achieved very good results, according to DxO, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro still lead the way in these areas.

Huawei has been dominating the DxO ranking for some time now. After the success of the Huawei P60 Pro last year and before the launch of the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, the Huawei Mate 60 Pro+ was at the top of the ranking for almost three months (this model is not available in the US). Meanwhile, this year, the Honor Magic6 Pro was considered the best smartphone by DxO for nearly three months. Honor, although trying to be perceived as an independent brand, is still benefiting from the Huawei legacy when it comes to photography.

A ranking, even a subjective one, would not be of much significance if it was not supported by attractive photos taken by users worldwide. These can be achieved even with less advanced smartphones. However, Huawei emphasizes that its flagship photographic models have something unique to offer. This is the XMAGE Awards competition, which celebrates its seventh edition in 2024 (although the event was previously held under a different name). Entries for the global version of the contest can already be submitted, and the local edition of the XMAGE Awards is to be announced soon.

In this year's edition, categories such as the Best of the Pura Series and the Best of the Mate Series will appear, indicating that Huawei still regards its two flagship series as independent. A complement to the competition is the largest exhibition of photos taken with Huawei smartphones, inaugurated in Dubai. Nearly 300 photographs selected from millions of submissions were presented there. These photos capture moments of warmth and calm from different parts of the world and the authentic life and feelings of ordinary people, aiming to stimulate the imagination and creativity of users. The motto of this exhibition is: "A world that warms hearts - 12 years of Huawei photography".