Notebookcheck Logo

Review Update Huawei Ascend P7 Smartphone

Deluxe 2.0. Huawei discontinues its elegant Ascend P6 and sends the Ascend P7 into the race for the favor of well-heeled buyers. The Chinese manufacturer demands approximately 450 Euros (~$601) for its updated premium model. The aluminum casing only underwent a minor facelift, but more has been modified inside: The latest quad-core SoC from HiSilicon, 16 GB of flash storage, and a bright 5-inch screen with Full HD resolution.

For the original German review, see here.

Update as of the 08/22/2014: It turns out that the te Huawei Ascend P7 cheats in relevant benchmarks. That's what the colleagues from Anandtech found out. In short, clock speed of the CPU cores in different benchmarks remains considerably longer at is maximum value of 1.8 GHz as compared to standard operation. With renamed APKs this difference can be also measured. In the GFX Benchmark 2.7, the difference amounts to around 16%, in the 3DMark 2013 Ice Storm Unlimited to even 30%. Due to this insight we downgraded the Huawei Ascend P7 in the performance rating

Last year Huawei placed a claim on a juicy piece of the premium cake with its Ascend P6 and reaped in a good rating. Now the Chinese manufacture turns up the heat and announces a new challenge with the Huawei Ascend P7. The Ascend P7 wants to break with all conventions. Though the smartphone looks virtually the same as its precursor, it now relies on a 5-inch touchscreen rather than the 4.7-inch counterpart in the Ascend P6. Its outsides have only undergone a minor facelift, but the real differences are, as so often is the case, underneath the admittedly elegant surface. The P7 trusts a brand new quad-core SoC from HiSilicon dubbed Kirin 910T with an integrated Mali-450 MP4 graphics card and 2 GB of RAM. Besides that, 16 GB of flash storage and a microSD slot are installed. The IPS screen now has a Full HD resolution. That already sounds quite functional, yet Huawei cannot compete with the latest phones from HTC, Samsung, Sony or Apple technically. However, Huawei only demands 449 Euros (~$600, RRP) for its Ascend P7 - an affordable entry into the upper mid-range.

Consequently, the Apple iPhone 5c, BlackBerry Z30, Google Nexus 5, LG G2, and Samsung Galaxy S4 can be seen as contenders. We also used Samsung's Galaxy S5 for comparison, being the current reference in our Top 10.

Case

The casing's looks and build quality are very like that of the iPhone 5s.
The casing's looks and build quality are very like that of the iPhone 5s.

Huawei has not modified the casing much - there was no need because it was already really good in the precursor. Aluminum and glass are still the prevailing materials. Some details have been refreshed though. For example, the lower edge has been marginally streamlined. The design looks elegant and timeless. Huawei limits the choice of color; the P7 is now only available in black or white. The precursor's pink edition has been deleted without substitution. The casing's excellent build and the high stiffness have been adopted. The screen's surface is made of scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 that even defies strong pressure.

The smartphone's dimensions of 139.8 x 68.8 mm are quite compact for the screen size. It has a height of just 6.5 mm and is thus thinner than all contenders. The weight of 124 grams is only marginally higher than Apple's iPhone 5c with 112 grams. The other contenders all weigh more.

Very Apple-like: The user will not find any maintenance and upgrade options. The battery is non-removable.

140.7 mm / 5.54 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 9.4 mm / 0.3701 inch 170 g0.3748 lbs142 mm / 5.59 inch 72.5 mm / 2.85 inch 8.1 mm / 0.3189 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs138.5 mm / 5.45 inch 70.9 mm / 2.79 inch 9.14 mm / 0.3598 inch 200 g0.4409 lbs137.84 mm / 5.43 inch 69.17 mm / 2.72 inch 8.59 mm / 0.3382 inch 130 g0.2866 lbs139.8 mm / 5.5 inch 68.8 mm / 2.71 inch 6.5 mm / 0.2559 inch 124 g0.2734 lbs137 mm / 5.39 inch 70 mm / 2.76 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 130 g0.2866 lbs124.4 mm / 4.9 inch 59.2 mm / 2.33 inch 8.97 mm / 0.3531 inch 132 g0.291 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

Huawei's Ascend P7 sports a HiSilicon Kirin 910T quad-core SoC with an integrated Mali-450 MP4 that can fall back on 2 GB of LPDDR3 working memory. The internal flash storage has a capacity of 16 GB of which approximately 12 GB is available.

Compared with the former Ascend P6, Huawei has modified quite a bit in terms of interfaces. The loose flap of the 3.5 mm audio jack has been omitted. The port has also moved ergonomically sensibly to the upper edge. The micro-USB 2.0 port is located on the lower edge. All other ports and the physical buttons are on the phone's right side. The eject tool for the micro-SIM and micro-SD card slots is no longer incorporated.

Right: micro-SIM, micro-SD, power button, volume rocker
Right: micro-SIM, micro-SD, power button, volume rocker
Upper edge: microphone, 3.5 mm jack
Upper edge: microphone, 3.5 mm jack
Left: no interfaces
Left: no interfaces
Lower edge: microphone, micro-USB 2.0
Lower edge: microphone, micro-USB 2.0
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Software

Huawei's Ascend justifies the premium claim and is delivered with the latest Android 4.42 KitKat operating system. The manufacturer installs its tried EmotionUI user interface in version 2.3. The user interface can be customized, for example, with many different color designs via the Design app. Other designs can be downloaded for free. Beyond that, all statements made about the precursor also apply to our review sample. Overall, the system is very intuitive to use.

Useful apps like Polaris Office 4.0, XBMC Remote and a few other productivity-boosting applications are preloaded.

Communication & GPS

Huawei equips the Ascend P7 with the penta-band LTE/4G category 4 (800/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz) and a maximum data rate of 150 Mbps in download and 50 Mbps in upload. Quad-band UMTS/3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) with up to 42 Mbps in download and 5.76 Mbps in upload is also available. The reception was impeccable in the test.

The P7 user manages local data transmission via Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n or Bluetooth 4.0. DLNA and NFC for connecting to compatible peripherals are also incorporated.

GPS Test
GPS Test

The installed A-GPS/GLONASS module also impresses with good localization, as the app GPS Test proved. Huawei's Ascend P7 did a good job in the direct comparison with the Garmin Edge 500 navigation system in our practical test on a mountain bike. The measured route only deviated marginally, which was due to the "shortcuts" in curves. The review sample even tracked the real traveled route more accurately than the Garmin system in the woods. Thus, Huawei's Ascend P7 is well suitable for occasional navigating in any case.

Huawei Ascend P7 overall
Huawei Ascend P7 overall
Huawei Ascend P7 bridge
Huawei Ascend P7 bridge
Huawei Ascend P7 woods
Huawei Ascend P7 woods
Garmin Edge 500 overall
Garmin Edge 500 overall
Garmin Edge 500 bridge
Garmin Edge 500 bridge
Garmin Edge 500 woods
Garmin Edge 500 woods
Phone app
Phone app

Telephony and Speech Quality

As typical for EmotionUI, the phone app is clearly arranged and intuitive and offers all important functions. The review sample's speech and audio quality is also convincing in calls. Our contact stated a slight background noise and fairly clear intelligibility during the test call. Neither the hands-free nor making calls via the included headset gave reason for complaint.

Cameras and Multimedia

Huawei's Ascend P7 sports two camera modules. Both units record videos in 1080p with 30 fps. The rear-facing primary camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels (4128x3096 pixels) and can make use of an LED flash. The lens features auto-focus and an f2.0 aperture. The front-facing camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, which is unique in the smartphone sector. The contenders feature a maximum of 2 MP; the review sample's 8 MP is, for example, just offered by the primary camera in the iPhone 5c.

Our direct comparison with the camera in the iPhone 5 proves that not only a lot of megapixels are important. The lens size and electronic image processing are also important. Huawei's Ascend P7 does a decent job in good light. Particularly the primary camera shoots very useful pictures that, however, exhibit a light overexposure and consequently inaccurate colors. Very appealing pictures are possible outdoors and with close-ups. Although the webcam has a very high resolution, it does not capture enough light, particularly in adverse light conditions.

Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera outdoors: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera outdoors: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam outdoors: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam outdoors: Volkswagen van
Apple iPhone 5 primary camera: Volkswagen van
Apple iPhone 5 primary camera: Volkswagen van
Apple iPhone 5 webcam: Volkswagen van
Apple iPhone 5 webcam: Volkswagen van
Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera: Scene
Huawei Ascend P7 primary camera: Scene
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam: Scene
Huawei Ascend P7 webcam: Scene

The comparison of the primary camera with the contenders and a reflex camera reveals slightly overexposed pictures with marginally untrue colors. The pictures sometimes lack sharpness - particularly with objects that are a bit further away. Image noise also becomes visible in difficult structures, such as the brick wall in the background of the outdoor picture. The low-light performance is also not very convincing; the small lens simply does not capture enough light. The LED flash is not of much use here either because it only brightens up close objects. Besides that, the noise increases exponentially in darker surroundings.

Overall, the camera modules do a solid job. The lenses are well suitable for snapshots or selfies when not too much is expected.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

Accessories

Huawei adds a modular USB power supply, a stereo headset, and a quick-start guide in the Ascend P7's stylish box - completely in white although our review sample is black. An eject tool for the micro-SIM and micro-SD slots is also included.

Warranty

Short and sweet: Huawei includes a 24-month warranty on its Ascend P7.

Input Devices and Controls

The touchscreen in Huawei's Ascend P7 is very accurate up to its edges and is easy to use. The multi-touchscreen reliably supports up to ten fingers and gesture control. The physical buttons on the casing's right feature a clear pressure point and are made of high-quality aluminum like the casing itself.

The virtual keyboard is based on the stock Android version, but Huawei has modified it. It provides the necessary keys according to the selected input field. Like as known from many contenders, the Ascend P7 also features a glove mode with a higher sensitivity and gesture control. For example, muting a call as soon as the smartphone is turned over on its screen or accepting calls by holding it to the ear.

Both portrait mode...
Both portrait mode...
...and landscape mode provide sufficiently sized keys.
...and landscape mode provide sufficiently sized keys.

Display

5-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution
5-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution

Huawei took the criticism placed on the former Ascend P6 and its low resolution to heart and equips the Ascend P7 with a larger 5-inch screen with a Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Thus, Huawei's flagship is now on par with contenders like Google's Nexus 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S4 or S5.

Huawei's Ascend P7 does not have to shy from comparison with the contenders in brightness either. We ascertained an average of 469.6 cd/m² in conjunction with a very homogeneous illumination of a high 92%. It achieved a maximum of 489 cd/m². The Ascend P6 precursor was a bit brighter with 486.8 cd/m². Although the iPhone 5c outshines all rivals with 537.2 cd/m², its illumination of 87% is poorer. The other phones in the comparison field have to take place at the back. Google's Nexus 5 is still closest with 451.7 cd/m², but it has a marginally better illumination. LG's G2 is not as bright with 330.1 cd/m² and illumination of 84%. The OLED contenders in form of BlackBerry's Z30 with 277.9 cd/m² and 91%, and Samsung's Galaxy S4 with 300.6 cd/m² / 95% are clearly outperformed.

472
cd/m²
465
cd/m²
479
cd/m²
481
cd/m²
464
cd/m²
462
cd/m²
489
cd/m²
463
cd/m²
451
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 489 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 469.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 464 cd/m²
Contrast: 504:1 (Black: 0.92 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.18 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.71 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.48

However, our review sample cannot at all keep up with its black level of 0.92 cd/m² and a contrast of 504:1. The iPhone 5c (0.66 cd/m²/ 867:1), Google Nexus 5 (0.49 cd/m² / 957:1) and LG G2 (0.33 cd/m² / 1085:1) rivals offer more in this field. The OLED-based Samsung Galaxy S4 and BlackBerry Z30 are unfair contenders owing to their perfect rates. Even the former Huawei Ascend P6 achieved better rates with 0.58 cd/m² and 860:1. Nevertheless, there is not much reason for complaint subjectively because black areas look vivid, and colors look saturated.

Like in the precursor, the user can manually adjust the color temperature in three levels (cold, default, warm). Our tests using the colorimeter and CalMAN confirm rates close to the reference color space in the setting "warm" (set to approximately 20%). The color temperature here is 6441 k, which is very close to the reference of approx. 6500 k. Apart from that, the Gamma of 2.48 is very good, just like the average DeltaE of 4.18 in mixed colors. That is a considerably higher 6.26 in the default settings. The grayscale reproduction is also very appealing in the 20%-warm setting and presents a low DeltaE of 3.71. Nevertheless, a slight greenish/yellowish cast is visible here. Among the compared devices, only Samsung's Galaxy S4 and S5 feature an even more powerful color setting editor. Subjectively, our review sample does a very good job with the color reproduction.

Color accuracy default
Color accuracy default
Color accuracy warm
Color accuracy warm
Color management
Color management
Color saturation
Color saturation
Grayscale cold
Grayscale cold
Grayscale default
Grayscale default
Grayscale warm
Grayscale warm

Owing to the high brightness, displayed content could still be recognized well even outdoors. Although the very glossy screen cannot defy direct sunlight, it was still possible to recognize something. No problems were noticed in half-shade. The automatic brightness control also always functioned reliably.

The screen is based on the IPS technology that offers a very stable color reproduction even in extreme viewing angles. Only the brightness drops marginally in narrow viewing angles.

The legibility suffers in direct sunlight,...
The legibility suffers in direct sunlight,...
...but content is easy to recognize in half-shade.
...but content is easy to recognize in half-shade.
IPS typical strong viewing angles
IPS typical strong viewing angles

Performance

Huawei installs a quad-core SoC in the form of HiSilicon's Kirin 910T, which is virtually its own product because HiSilicon Technologies belongs to Huawei. The brand new CPU clocks with 1.8 GHz.

The smartphone presented a mixed performance in our benchmark course. In contrast to AndEBench and AnTuTu v4 where Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 only achieved a slight lead, Geekbench 3 was more drastic. Although the review sample could outperform Google's Nexus 5 in the single-core test with its high base clock, it had to let the other contenders pass. It could still surpass the BlackBerry Z30 and Apple iPhone 5c in the multi-core test, but all contenders left the Ascend P7 far behind in Linpack, thus showing where the new SoC should be seen. It looks similar in PassMark Performance Test. Huawei's Ascend P7 managed a slight lead over its contenders, with the exception of Apple's iPhone 5c, only in the 3D Graphics test. Consequently, the Ascend P7 is more in the upper mid-range in terms of performance.

However, this shortcoming is not noticed in routine use. Navigating through the operating system is fast and reliable.

AndEBench
Java (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
584 Iter./s
Google Nexus 5
407 Iter./s -30%
LG G2
503 Iter./s -14%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
581 Iter./s -1%
Samsung Galaxy S5
705 Iter./s +21%
Native (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
13307 Iter./s
Google Nexus 5
11344 Iter./s -15%
LG G2
13332 Iter./s 0%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
14007 Iter./s +5%
Samsung Galaxy S5
17584 Iter./s +32%
AnTuTu v4 - Total Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
23864 Points
Google Nexus 5
22379 Points -6%
LG G2
22397 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
27593 Points +16%
Samsung Galaxy S5
37353 Points +57%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
599 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
710 Points +19%
BlackBerry Z30
636 Points +6%
Google Nexus 5
694 Points +16%
LG G2
819 Points +37%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
679 Points +13%
Samsung Galaxy S5
941 Points +57%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1796 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
1273 Points -29%
BlackBerry Z30
1233 Points -31%
Google Nexus 5
2239 Points +25%
LG G2
2210 Points +23%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1889 Points +5%
Samsung Galaxy S5
2885 Points +61%
Linpack Android / IOS
Single Thread (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
83.2 MFLOPS
Apple iPhone 5c
309.4 MFLOPS +272%
Google Nexus 5
95 MFLOPS +14%
LG G2
415 MFLOPS +399%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
304.8 MFLOPS +266%
Samsung Galaxy S5
355 MFLOPS +327%
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
254 MFLOPS
Apple iPhone 5c
484 MFLOPS +91%
Google Nexus 5
273.8 MFLOPS +8%
LG G2
730 MFLOPS +187%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
618 MFLOPS +143%
Samsung Galaxy S5
678 MFLOPS +167%
PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1
System (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
2655 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
3459 Points +30%
Google Nexus 5
2984 Points +12%
LG G2
4010 Points +51%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
3430 Points +29%
Samsung Galaxy S5
4158 Points +57%
CPU Tests (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
12178 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
24996 Points +105%
Google Nexus 5
9380 Points -23%
LG G2
15144 Points +24%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
14415 Points +18%
Samsung Galaxy S5
17472 Points +43%
Disk Tests (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
6315 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
12892 Points +104%
Google Nexus 5
8021 Points +27%
LG G2
10104 Points +60%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
9161 Points +45%
Samsung Galaxy S5
16759 Points +165%
Memory Tests (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1429 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
3181 Points +123%
Google Nexus 5
2424 Points +70%
LG G2
4249 Points +197%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
2967 Points +108%
Samsung Galaxy S5
3921 Points +174%
2D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1572 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
1162 Points -26%
Google Nexus 5
1829 Points +16%
LG G2
3331 Points +112%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
2509 Points +60%
Samsung Galaxy S5
3475 Points +121%
3D Graphics Tests (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1253 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
1759 Points +40%
Google Nexus 5
1155 Points -8%
LG G2
1174 Points -6%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1094 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy S5
1179 Points -6%

Legend

 
Huawei Ascend P7 HiSilicon Kirin 910T, ARM Mali-450 MP4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Apple iPhone 5c Apple A6, PowerVR SGX543MP3, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
BlackBerry Z30 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro MSM8960T, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Google Nexus 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
LG G2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 32 GB SSD
 
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The synthetic 3D graphics benchmarks turn out similar. It was usually only Apple's iPhone 5 that calculated slower in the 3DMark tests. Our review sample first did a better job in the Full HD test Ice Storm Extreme. All in all, it was also only middling in the comparison.

3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Physics (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
11572 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
7961 Points -31%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
11170 Points -3%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
6686 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
5583 Points -16%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
11395 Points +70%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
7378 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
5980 Points -19%
LG G2
20000 Points +171%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
11344 Points +54%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
13330 Points
Google Nexus 5
9622 Points -28%
Samsung Galaxy S5
15198 Points +14%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
6599 Points
Google Nexus 5
15100 Points +129%
Samsung Galaxy S5
19530 Points +196%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
7433 Points
Google Nexus 5
13404 Points +80%
Samsung Galaxy S5
18367 Points +147%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Physics (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
11485 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
7816 Points -32%
LG G2
7791 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
11318 Points -1%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
4406 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
2824 Points -36%
LG G2
10651 Points +142%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
6110 Points +39%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
5105 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
3291 Points -36%
LG G2
9848 Points +93%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
6806 Points +33%
Basemark X 1.1
Medium Quality (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
11110 Points
Google Nexus 5
20368 Points +83%
Samsung Galaxy S5
23999 Points +116%
High Quality (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
4142 Points
Google Nexus 5
9471 Points +129%
Samsung Galaxy S5
11990 Points +189%
Epic Citadel
High Performance (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
51.3 fps
Google Nexus 5
56.3 fps +10%
LG G2
57 fps +11%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
59 fps +15%
Samsung Galaxy S5
57.2 fps +12%
High Quality (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
53.8 fps
Google Nexus 5
55.2 fps +3%
LG G2
54.7 fps +2%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
58.7 fps +9%
Samsung Galaxy S5
55.7 fps +4%

The contenders also mostly manage the browser benchmarks more effectively. Although BlackBerry's Z30 operates consistently slower, our review sample often scored worse than LG's G2 or Google's Nexus 5. In the more real-life WebXPRT 2013 benchmark, the P7 gained ground considerably, and it could surpass almost all rivals, including Samsung's Galaxy S5 in some tests.

This is noticed in a quite swift page setup and decent performance in routine browsing. That would feel even faster when using swifter browsers, such as Google Chrome.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
2775 Points
BlackBerry Z30
1466 Points -47%
Google Nexus 5
5416 Points +95%
Google Nexus 5
4722 Points +70%
Samsung Galaxy S5
3875 Points +40%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
16135 ms *
Apple iPhone 5c
14535 ms * +10%
BlackBerry Z30
17456 ms * -8%
Google Nexus 5
7852 ms * +51%
LG G2
10015 ms * +38%
Samsung Galaxy S5
6302 ms * +61%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
794 Points
Apple iPhone 5c
902 Points +14%
Google Nexus 5
835 Points +5%
LG G2
829 Points +4%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
555 Points -30%
Samsung Galaxy S5
712 Points -10%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1043 ms *
Apple iPhone 5c
730 ms * +30%
Google Nexus 5
1090 ms * -5%
Google Nexus 5
716 ms * +31%
LG G2
815 ms * +22%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1168 ms * -12%
Samsung Galaxy S5
408.7 ms * +61%
WebXPRT 2013
Overall (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
252 Points
BlackBerry Z30
116 Points -54%
Google Nexus 5
302 Points +20%
LG G2
245 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
218 Points -13%
Samsung Galaxy S5
237 Points -6%
Photo Effects (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
821 ms *
BlackBerry Z30
4312 ms * -425%
Google Nexus 5
28.05 ms * +97%
LG G2
1326 ms * -62%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1297 ms * -58%
Samsung Galaxy S5
2569 ms * -213%
Face Detection (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
4340 ms *
BlackBerry Z30
10790 ms * -149%
Google Nexus 5
1211 ms * +72%
LG G2
2661 ms * +39%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
4474 ms * -3%
Samsung Galaxy S5
2774 ms * +36%
Stocks Dashboard (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1510 ms *
BlackBerry Z30
1517 ms * -0%
Google Nexus 5
57.4 ms * +96%
LG G2
1226 ms * +19%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1540 ms * -2%
Samsung Galaxy S5
1017 ms * +33%
Offline Notes (sort by value)
Huawei Ascend P7
1394 ms *
BlackBerry Z30
2562 ms * -84%
Google Nexus 5
30.35 ms * +98%
LG G2
1914 ms * -37%
Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
1525 ms * -9%
Samsung Galaxy S5
1313 ms * +6%

* ... smaller is better

Games

The SoC integrated ARM Mali-450 MP4 graphics card supports OpenGL ES 2.0 and almost achieves the performance of a Qualcomm Adreno 320. Since the graphics chip does not support OpenGL ES 3.0 yet, it cannot perform current benchmarks like GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan. Nevertheless, the available performance is sufficient for smoothly rendering up-to-date Android games.

We tested the performance based on a few titles. While the kart-racing game Angry Birds Go! ran smoothly, problems turned up in the first-person shooter Dead Trigger 2. The zombie chase ran lag-free in low detail settings, but graphics errors repeatedly occurred in high settings. The game, however, already warns about this possibility in the menu. Other current titles, such as Spiderman Ultimate Power or Trials Frontier, ran without problems.

The large touchscreen considerably contributes to the gaming fun because it responds accurately and fast. Both the accelerometer and position sensor also function impeccably and accurately.

Dead Trigger 2: low details
Dead Trigger 2: low details
Dead Trigger 2: graphics settings
Dead Trigger 2: graphics settings
Dead Trigger 2: high details
Dead Trigger 2: high details
Dead Trigger 2: graphics errors in high details
Dead Trigger 2: graphics errors in high details
Angry Birds Go!
Angry Birds Go!
Spiderman Ultimate Power
Spiderman Ultimate Power
Trials Frontier
Trials Frontier

Emissions

Temperature

Huawei's Ascend P7 does an even better job than its precursor in this section, although it sports stronger components. The somewhat larger casing and the consequently better heat dissipation is likely noticed here.

We ascertained a maximum of 37.9 °C during full load, which is approximately 4 °C less than in Huawei's Ascend P6. The average was only 32 to 35 °C. The review sample is also respectably on par with its rivals used for comparison and is much cooler than Samsung's Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5.

The surface temperatures dropped over a large area to below 30 °C in idle mode. The phone reached a maximum of 33.8 °C in some places.

Overall, Huawei's Ascend P7 always stays pleasantly cool, and it only gets a bit warmer in some spots and in permanent full load.

Max. Load
 34.8 °C
95 F
36.2 °C
97 F
36.5 °C
98 F
 
 33.9 °C
93 F
35.5 °C
96 F
37.9 °C
100 F
 
 32.7 °C
91 F
33.1 °C
92 F
34.5 °C
94 F
 
Maximum: 37.9 °C = 100 F
Average: 35 °C = 95 F
32.1 °C
90 F
32.8 °C
91 F
31.3 °C
88 F
32.8 °C
91 F
33.3 °C
92 F
32 °C
90 F
32.1 °C
90 F
32.2 °C
90 F
30.7 °C
87 F
Maximum: 33.3 °C = 92 F
Average: 32.1 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  33.9 °C = 93 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37.9 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 33.3 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

The little mono speaker is on the smartphone's back and pleases with a high maximum volume and few distortions. However, this speaker is also affected by a lack of bass and restrained mids. Nevertheless, Huawei's Ascend P7 does quite a good job in the category comparison and additionally scores with optional Dolby Digital Plus settings.

The 3.5 mm audio jack convinces with little background noise and a high volume.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Although the screen and performance have grown, Huawei's Ascend P7 consumes considerably less power than its precursor. In figures, that would be 0.6 to 2.0 watts when idling. However, contenders like the frugal BlackBerry Z30 or Google Nexus 5 show the way. Our ammeter recorded between 3.9 and 5.2 watts under heavy load - which is still clearly below the rates of the Ascend P6 but also on par with rivals like Samsung's Galaxy S4. The standby consumption of 0.1 watts is also finally up-to-date.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.6 / 1.7 / 2 Watt
Load midlight 3.9 / 5.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The low power consumption in conjunction with the now larger 9.5 Wh / 2500 mAh battery should let Huawei's Ascend P7 clearly surpass its precursor in battery runtime. The review sample impressively confirms this theory with approximately 30% longer runtimes.

The P7's maximum runtime is 16 hours and 3 minutes in the energy-saving mode using minimum brightness. The smartphone shuts down after 3:48 hours in the load test with maximum brightness. Our Wi-Fi test performed using a brightness set to 150 cd/m² (approx. 70%) and a medley of websites is more realistic. It finished after a good 9:34 hours. This good impression is put back into perspective when compared with the contenders. They all last longer - endurance devices like BlackBerry's Z30 even last almost twice as long. The review sample only proved to be absolutely competitive in the full load test.

The bottom line is that Huawei's P7 is completely suitable for everyday use, and it even lasts a day away from an external power source.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
16h 03min
WiFi Surfing
9h 34min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 48min

Verdict

In review: Huawei Ascend P7, courtesy of Huawei.
In review: Huawei Ascend P7, courtesy of Huawei.

Huawei does not penetrate the top-of-the-line smartphone sector with its Ascend P7. It simply lacks the first rate components, such as a competitively swift SoC with a high-performance graphics chip. The elegant, timeless design and the excellent build would throughout be competitive in this sector though. Its intuitive use alongside the generous included software, the good speech quality, and the wireless modules' consistently good reception convinced us - keyword: LTE. The Ascend P7 also reaps in points with its bright, viewing angle, and high-resolution IPS Full HD screen. Furthermore, the latest Android 4.42 KitKat, a large flash storage that can also be expanded via a micro-SD card and all relevant interfaces are also on board. Even more so with NFC and DLNA. The always pleasant surface temperatures are also positive, and the battery runtimes are just as solid, though they could be longer especially in the comparison. However, with an RRP of around 450 Euros (~$601), the smartphone is not as pricey as most contenders.

Cuts have then been made in the SoC that is strong enough for most everyday situations, but that seems a bit sluggish for a flagship and cannot reach the premium sector. Since the device cheated in different benchmarks, we had to lower its performance ratingThe camera modules do not provide top notch performance, and the small speaker that does not actually do a bad job but does not present an exceptional performance either. It is too bad that although the Wi-Fi module always functions reliably, it does not provide the really high-speed ac standard.

So users who do not need absolute top performance in every sector and are satisfied with the upper mid-range will find a great total bundle for a fair price in Huawei's Ascend P7. Google's Nexus 5 is a very strong rival in this price range though.

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
In review: Huawei Ascend P7. Test sample courtesy of Huawei.
In review: Huawei Ascend P7. Test sample courtesy of Huawei.

Specifications

Huawei Ascend P7 (Ascend Series)
Processor
HiSilicon Kirin 910T 4 x 1.8 GHz, Cortex-A9
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
, LPDDR3
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, capacitive 10 finger touchscreen, IPS LCD, 442 ppi, Corning GorillaGlass 3, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 11.36 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: microSD (max. 64 GB), Sensors: GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, proximity, ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, DLNA, NFC
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM/2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS/3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) with HSDPA+: 42 Mbps and HSUPA: 5.76 Mbps, LTE/4G (800/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz) Cat.4 with 150 Mbps (download) and 50 Mbps (upload), SAR 0.521 W/kg
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 6.5 x 139.8 x 68.8 ( = 0.26 x 5.5 x 2.71 in)
Battery
10 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 2500 mAh, Talk time 2G (according to manufacturer): 1340 h, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 840 h, Standby 2G (according to manufacturer): 404 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 422 h
Operating System
Android 4.4 KitKat
Camera
Webcam: primary camera: 13 megapixels (4128 x 3096 Pixel), f2.0, auto-focus, LED flash, video light; front-facing camera: 8 megapixels; videos @ 1080p/30fps
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, Keyboard: virtual, Keyboard Light: yes, Huawei EmotionUI 2.3, browser, data backup, energy management, designs, profile, FM radio, recorder, music player, flashlight, file manager, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
124 g ( = 4.37 oz / 0.27 pounds), Power Supply: 51 g ( = 1.8 oz / 0.11 pounds)
Price
450 Euro

 

Huawei's Ascend wants to penetrate the top-of-the-line smartphone sector.
Huawei's Ascend wants to penetrate the top-of-the-line smartphone sector.
The build is first rate and...
The build is first rate and...
...the design is elegant and timeless.
...the design is elegant and timeless.
The gaps are...
The gaps are...
...all very even.
...all very even.
The accessories of Huawei's Ascend P7 are always white, although our review sample is black.
The accessories of Huawei's Ascend P7 are always white, although our review sample is black.
The included eject tool is used for...
The included eject tool is used for...
...opening the micro-SIM and micro-SD card slots.
...opening the micro-SIM and micro-SD card slots.
The P7 offers a net storage capacity of approx. 12 GB.
The P7 offers a net storage capacity of approx. 12 GB.
Android system information.
Android system information.
The direct comparison shows that Huawei's Ascend P7...
The direct comparison shows that Huawei's Ascend P7...
...features an even slimmer build than the iPhone 5.
...features an even slimmer build than the iPhone 5.
It largely follows Apple's design language but manages to remain unique.
It largely follows Apple's design language but manages to remain unique.
The front-facing camera has a quite high resolution of 8 megapixels and is suitable for selfies and video chats.
The front-facing camera has a quite high resolution of 8 megapixels and is suitable for selfies and video chats.
The primary camera on the back boasts with a 13 megapixel resolution, auto-focus, and LED flash.
The primary camera on the back boasts with a 13 megapixel resolution, auto-focus, and LED flash.
Huawei installs Android 4.4.2 KitKat with its proprietary EmotionUI version 2.3.
Huawei installs Android 4.4.2 KitKat with its proprietary EmotionUI version 2.3.
The virtual keyboard has also been slightly modified.
The virtual keyboard has also been slightly modified.
A simplified home screen is available for newcomers.
A simplified home screen is available for newcomers.
The screen is well calibrated ex-factory and...
The screen is well calibrated ex-factory and...
...allows customizing the color temperature according to the user's preferences.
...allows customizing the color temperature according to the user's preferences.
Unfortunately, the virtual Android system buttons reduce the screen's size a bit.
Unfortunately, the virtual Android system buttons reduce the screen's size a bit.
Huawei offers free backgrounds to suit any taste.
Huawei offers free backgrounds to suit any taste.
The P7 provides diverse energy-saving options.
The P7 provides diverse energy-saving options.
The mono speaker is located on the smartphone's back and...
The mono speaker is located on the smartphone's back and...
...supplies an adequate sound quality considering the size.
...supplies an adequate sound quality considering the size.
The speaker benefits considerably from sound options, such as the DTS mode.
The speaker benefits considerably from sound options, such as the DTS mode.

Similar Devices

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

HTC Desire 626G Dual SIM Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592
Doogee Valencia2 Y100 Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592
Huawei P8 lite Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620
Kazam Tornado 348 Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592
Archos 50c Oxygen Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592
iOcean X7S Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592
Zopo ZP1000 Smartphone Review
Mali-450 MP4, Mediatek MT6592

Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+Very good build
+Timeless design
+Stiffness
+Very bright IPS screen
+High resolution
+Good connectivity
 

Cons

-SoC could be faster
-Only middling application performance
-Slightly outdated graphics chip
-Non-removable battery
-Slow Wi-Fi
-Somewhat poor black level and contrast
-Battery runtimes
-Only middling camera modules and speaker

Shortcut

What we like

The stylish design and the slim, rigid casing that features a decent build. Also, the intuitive EmotionUI 2.3 and the latest Android 4.4.2. The configuration with a large flash storage and LTE is just as great.

What we'd like to see

A bit more power and faster Wi-Fi.

What surprises us

That Huawei manages to unhinge the competition with its Ascend P7.

The competition

Apple iPhone 5c

BlackBerry Z30

Google Nexus 5

LG G2

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S5

Rating

Huawei Ascend P7 - 08/22/2014 v4(old)
Michael Moser

Chassis
92%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
44 / 60 → 73%
Weight
95%
Battery
92%
Display
85%
Games Performance
50 / 63 → 79%
Application Performance
31 / 70 → 44%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
68 / 91 → 75%
Camera
73%
Average
75%
85%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Michael Moser, 2014-07- 5 (Update: 2018-05-15)