Huawei Pura 90 Plus and iPhone 17 Pro take different approaches to premium smartphone design. Huawei focuses on advanced camera hardware, a larger display and exceptionally fast charging, while Apple prioritizes processing power, video capabilities and a polished software experience. Both target flagship buyers, but their differences make this comparison particularly interesting for photography enthusiasts and users deciding between Android flexibility and Apple’s ecosystem.
1. Major Features:
| Category | Huawei Pura 90 Plus | iPhone 17 Pro | Winner & Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 76.1 x 8.3 mm | 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm | Apple – More compact |
| Weight | 220 g | 206 g | Apple – Lighter |
| Build | Kunlun Glass 2, aluminum frame, glass back | Ceramic Shield 2, aluminum frame, glass back | Tie – Premium construction |
| Water Resistance | IP68/IP69, up to 2m for 30 min | IP68, up to 6m for 30 min | Huawei – Higher protection rating |
| Display Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | Tie – Premium OLED panels |
| Display Size | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches | Huawei – Larger display |
| Resolution | 1276 x 2848 pixels | 1206 x 2622 pixels | Huawei – Higher resolution |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Tie |
| Display Protection | Kunlun Glass 2 | Ceramic Shield 2, anti-reflective coating | Apple – Anti-reflective coating |
| Operating System | HarmonyOS 7 | iOS 26 | Apple – Broader global app compatibility |
| Chipset | Kirin 9025 | Apple A19 Pro (3nm) | Apple – More powerful processor |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB | Tie |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Tie |
| Rear Camera | 50MP main, 48MP periscope, 40MP ultrawide | 48MP main, 48MP periscope, 48MP ultrawide | Tie – Different camera strengths |
| Main Camera Sensor | 1-inch type, variable aperture, OIS | 1/1.28-inch, sensor-shift OIS | Huawei – Larger sensor |
| Telephoto Camera | 48MP, 4x optical zoom, OIS | 48MP, 4x optical zoom, 3D sensor-shift OIS | Tie |
| Ultrawide Camera | 40MP | 48MP, 120-degree field of view | Apple – Higher resolution |
| Rear Video | 4K, 1080p, HDR Vivid | 4K up to 120fps, Dolby Vision HDR, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 | Apple – More advanced video features |
| Front Camera | 13MP, autofocus | 18MP multi-aspect, PDAF | Apple – Higher resolution |
| Front Video | 4K, 1080p | 4K up to 60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | Apple – Advanced recording |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | Tie |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7, dual-band | Wi-Fi 7, tri-band | Apple – Tri-band support |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 6.0 | Tie |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Infrared Port | Yes | No | Huawei – Infrared support |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2 | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort | Tie |
| Biometrics | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Face ID | Tie – Different authentication methods |
| Additional Features | BDS satellite messaging (China only) | LiDAR, UWB Gen 2, satellite SOS | Apple – More extensive features |
| Battery Capacity | 5700mAh | 3998mAh (Nano-SIM) / 4252mAh (eSIM) | Huawei – Larger battery |
| Wired Charging | 100W | Fast charging, 50% in 20 minutes | Huawei – Faster charging |
| Wireless Charging | 80W | 25W MagSafe/Qi2 (15W China) | Huawei – Faster wireless charging |
| Reverse Charging | 18W reverse wired, reverse wireless | 4.5W reverse wired | Huawei – More versatile charging |
| Price | Approx. $730 / ₹73,500 | Approx. $1,100 / ₹1,35,000 | Huawei – More affordable |
2. Design and Display
Build and Feel
The Huawei Pura 90 Plus features Kunlun Glass 2 protection, an aluminum frame and an aluminosilicate glass back. Its IP68/IP69 rating also provides stronger protection against high-pressure water jets. The iPhone 17 Pro combines Ceramic Shield 2 protection with an aluminum frame and a reinforced rear construction. It carries an IP68 rating with water resistance up to 6 meters. Huawei offers more extensive environmental protection, while Apple’s construction feels more focused on everyday durability and premium refinement.
Display Quality
Huawei takes the lead in screen size with its 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel, 1 billion colors, 120Hz refresh rate and 1440Hz PWM dimming. Its 1276 x 2848 resolution also delivers excellent sharpness. The iPhone 17 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10, Dolby Vision and up to 3000 nits peak brightness. Apple’s anti-reflective coating adds practicality outdoors, while Huawei provides a more immersive viewing experience.
Verdict
Huawei wins on screen size, resolution and PWM dimming, while Apple counters with superior peak brightness and Dolby Vision support. The Pura 90 Plus is better for immersive viewing.
3. Specifications Including Battery
Performance
The Huawei Pura 90 Plus runs HarmonyOS 7 with the Kirin 9025 chipset, paired with 12GB RAM and storage options reaching 1TB. It provides a capable flagship-oriented configuration, although performance and app compatibility depend on the software ecosystem and market availability. The iPhone 17 Pro uses Apple’s 3nm A19 Pro chipset, a six-core CPU and a six-core GPU, alongside 12GB RAM. Apple’s processor offers a stronger foundation for demanding applications, gaming and sustained creative workloads. The iPhone is the more convincing choice for users prioritizing raw processing performance and long-term software support.
Battery and Charging
Huawei equips the Pura 90 Plus with a 5700mAh battery, 100W wired charging and 80W wireless charging. It also supports 18W reverse wired charging and reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 17 Pro has a market-dependent battery capacity, with wired fast charging and 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging, although the Chinese version supports 15W wireless charging. Huawei clearly offers more charging flexibility and faster top-ups. Apple’s advantage lies in its optimized software and integrated charging ecosystem.
Verdict
Huawei wins decisively in battery capacity and charging speeds, while Apple offers stronger processing performance. The Pura 90 Plus is the more practical choice for heavy users.
4. Camera
Main and Secondary Lenses
Huawei equips the Pura 90 Plus with a 50MP 1-inch-type primary camera featuring variable aperture, PDAF and OIS. Its 48MP periscope telephoto camera provides 4x optical zoom, while a 40MP ultrawide completes the setup. The iPhone 17 Pro features three 48MP rear cameras, including a primary sensor with sensor-shift OIS, a 4x optical zoom periscope telephoto and a 120-degree ultrawide. Huawei’s larger primary sensor and variable aperture make its hardware particularly interesting for photography enthusiasts. Apple, meanwhile, offers a more consistent high-resolution camera system with advanced computational photography and extensive professional video recording options.
Selfie Camera
The Huawei Pura 90 Plus features a 13MP autofocus selfie camera capable of recording 4K video. The iPhone 17 Pro steps ahead with an 18MP multi-aspect front camera featuring PDAF, Dolby Vision HDR recording and spatial audio capabilities. Both support 4K selfie recording, but Apple’s additional video features make it more appealing to content creators. Huawei’s autofocus support is welcome, although Apple’s more advanced front-camera recording capabilities provide greater creative flexibility.
Verdict
Huawei has an impressive photography-focused rear camera setup, particularly its 1-inch-type primary sensor. However, Apple wins overall for versatile video recording and creator-focused camera features.
5. Pricing
The Huawei Pura 90 Plus is priced around $730 (₹73,500), making it considerably more affordable than the iPhone 17 Pro, which is priced around $1,100 (₹1,35,000). The difference is substantial, particularly for buyers comparing flagship camera hardware, display technology and battery capabilities. Huawei delivers several premium features at a considerably lower asking price, while Apple commands a significant premium for its processor, camera software, video capabilities and integrated ecosystem. The Pura 90 Plus is clearly the more accessible option.
Is the price justified?
The iPhone 17 Pro justifies its higher price through the A19 Pro chipset, advanced video recording, premium display technology and Apple’s software ecosystem. However, Huawei offers considerably more battery capacity, faster charging, a larger display and impressive camera hardware for less money. Its value proposition is particularly attractive if HarmonyOS and regional app availability meet your requirements. For hardware-focused buyers, Huawei delivers more for the money.
Verdict
Huawei wins the value-for-money battle comfortably. The iPhone 17 Pro justifies its premium for performance and video capabilities, but costs substantially more.
6. Conclusion
The Huawei Pura 90 Plus stands out with its 1-inch-type primary camera, variable aperture, 4x periscope zoom, 5700mAh battery, 100W wired charging and 80W wireless charging. Its IP68/IP69 protection and larger LTPO OLED display further strengthen its hardware appeal.
The iPhone 17 Pro counters with the A19 Pro processor, Ceramic Shield 2, Face ID, LiDAR scanning, second-generation Ultra Wideband, satellite connectivity and advanced ProRes RAW and Dolby Vision video recording. These features make Apple particularly attractive to professional content creators and users invested in its ecosystem.
Verdict
Huawei Pura 90 Plus comes out ahead in overall hardware value, offering an impressive camera system, larger battery, faster charging and a bigger display. However, regional software limitations and potential app compatibility issues make it a difficult choice for international buyers. The iPhone 17 Pro delivers a more reliable global software experience, broader app support, and stronger ecosystem integration
Disclaimer: Prices, specifications, and availability may vary by region and retailer. Recommendations in this article are based on editorial opinion, feature-based value, and market positioning at the time of writing. Readers are advised to do their own research before making a purchase.
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