Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max review
Design, build quality, handling
The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max is easily recognizable for its signature camera housing on the back, one that has been growing steadily since its introduction on the first Pura 70 series. Other than this trait, the new Pura is your typical dual-glass smartphone with an aluminum frame in between.
The Pura 90s Pro Max comes in four different colors, two of which are quite fresh and feature what Huawei claims to be an industry-first: Dual-Tone Gradient Mid-Frame. It certainly brought memories of the dual-tone frame of the RedMagic 5s, but we can't be sure if the dual-tone finish is technically the same.
The two versions with this finish are Orange Ocean and Blaze Purple, which are in line with the Pura 90s Pro Max holiday aura and we want to quote the maker on the rest - the Pura 90s Pro Max "draws its aesthetic palette from holiday tranquility" and that the phone "exudes effortless vacation ease" and also "embodies travel romance through a vivid spectrum of captivating hues". Well, we'd say mission accomplished.
We have the Graphite Black model for review, which is less adventurous and more stylish. The same can be said about the Blush Gold colorway, which is also boring, just brighter. There are no gradients on these two colorways.
The Pura 90s Pro Max is IP68 and IP69 rated for dust, water and pressurized water jet resistance. It's rated to withstand depths up to 2m for 30min.
The Kunlun front glass is also advertised for its scratch and drop resistance.
The Pura 90s Pro Max is a flat device on both sides, but the triangular camera housing is about half a centimeter thick, and the phone can never really lie flat on a desk. At least it doesn't wobble with or without a case.
The camera island is unique, and it has this volcano-like shape rising from the back glass. And while the housing is a separate piece from the back, you have to look really close to see that.
And now, let's look at the Pura 90s Pro Max from up close.
The front has the 6.9-inch LTPO OLED screen with impressively thin bezels. It has a small perforation for the 13MP ultrawide-angle selfie camera.
The earpiece is almost invisible near the top part of the frame, and it also doubles as a stereo speaker. It has a secondary top-facing outlet, but its position is quite peculiar.
The back has the camera housing, with three separate rings for each camera - the 50MP primary, the 200MP telephoto, and the 40MP ultrawide. The rings of the ultrawide and telephoto camera contain the almost invisible color spectrum sensor and laser emitter and transmitter. Finally, the LED flash is also around, outside those rings.
The aluminum frame is polished and quite slippery. It's also quite easy to smudge up on this black version of the Pura 90s Pro Max.
There is nothing to note on the left-hand side.
The right side houses the volume and power key. The latter also incorporates the fingerprint scanner on its surface. The sensor is always-on and accurate as you'd expect it to be.
The bottom has the primary mic, the USB-C port, the dual-SIM tray, and the other speaker.
The Pura 90s Pro Max measures 164 x 77.1 x 8.1 mm and weighs 231 grams, which is about the same size and weight as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. A heavy slab for sure, but not an overweight one.
The phone is made of glass and polished aluminum, which makes it incredibly slippery. Fingerprints and smudges stick out a lot, too.
Overall, the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max is a beautiful device, that's for sure. It is easily recognizable, features a premium build and is promised to be tough. The gargantuan camera housing may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we think most people won't mind it after they discover its prowess.
