Huawei Mate 10 Pro Vs Iphone 7 Plus Camera Is The Upgrade Worth It

The decision to upgrade a smartphone often hinges on one critical feature: the camera. For users still relying on the iPhone 7 Plus—a device released in 2016—the allure of newer hardware like the Huawei Mate 10 Pro (released in 2017) is strong. Both devices were flagship models in their time, but how do they stack up when it comes to photography? More importantly, is switching from the iPhone 7 Plus to the Mate 10 Pro a meaningful leap in camera capability?

This analysis dives deep into sensor technology, image processing, low-light performance, zoom capabilities, and real-world usability to determine whether the upgrade delivers tangible benefits.

Camera Hardware: Specs Tell Part of the Story

Understanding the foundation of each phone’s camera begins with its hardware. The iPhone 7 Plus features a dual-camera setup: a 12MP wide-angle lens (f/1.8 aperture) and a 12MP telephoto lens (f/2.8), enabling 2x optical zoom and Portrait Mode. At the time of release, this was groundbreaking for a smartphone.

In contrast, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro also uses a dual-camera system co-engineered with Leica: a 12MP RGB sensor (f/1.6 aperture) and a 20MP monochrome sensor (f/1.6). The wider aperture allows more light capture, which should theoretically improve low-light performance. Additionally, the monochrome sensor enhances detail and dynamic range by capturing luminance data separately.

Feature	iPhone 7 Plus	Huawei Mate 10 Pro
Main Sensor	12MP, f/1.8, OIS	12MP RGB, f/1.6, OIS
Secondary Sensor	12MP Telephoto, f/2.8	20MP Monochrome, f/1.6
Aperture (Main)	f/1.8	f/1.6
Zoom	2x Optical, up to 10x Digital	2x Lossless (software-based), up to 5x Hybrid
Image Processing	Apple A10 Fusion	Kirin 970 with NPU
Portrait Mode	Yes (dual-lens)	Yes (AI-powered depth sensing)

The Mate 10 Pro holds a clear advantage in aperture size and secondary sensor utility. Its f/1.6 lens lets in approximately 30% more light than the iPhone’s f/1.8, a significant edge in dim environments. Moreover, the inclusion of a dedicated AI-processing unit (NPU) in the Kirin 970 chip enables scene recognition and automatic optimization—something absent in the A10 Fusion processor.

Tip: When comparing older phones, prioritize aperture and sensor size over megapixel count—more MP doesn’t always mean better photos.

Image Quality in Real-World Conditions

Benchmarks and specs are useful, but actual photo output matters most. In daylight, both phones produce sharp, well-balanced images. The iPhone 7 Plus tends to favor natural color reproduction with slight warmth, staying true to Apple’s imaging philosophy. It handles highlights gracefully and avoids oversaturation.

The Mate 10 Pro, influenced by its Leica tuning, leans toward richer contrast and slightly warmer tones. Colors pop more, which some users prefer for social media sharing. However, this can occasionally lead to over-saturation in reds and yellows under intense sunlight.

Where the Mate 10 Pro shines is in dynamic range. Thanks to the monochrome sensor capturing additional detail, shadow recovery is noticeably better. This means more detail in dark areas without blowing out highlights—a common issue with the iPhone 7 Plus in high-contrast scenes.

“Smartphone photography isn't just about resolution—it's about how intelligently the system balances light, color, and noise.” — David Kim, Mobile Imaging Analyst at DXOMARK (2017)

Low-Light Performance: A Clear Winner Emerges

Low-light photography remains one of the toughest challenges for smartphone cameras. Here, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro pulls ahead decisively. Its larger f/1.6 aperture, combined with advanced noise reduction algorithms and longer exposure control, results in brighter, cleaner night shots.

The iPhone 7 Plus struggles in dim lighting. While optical image stabilization helps, the smaller aperture limits light intake. Images often appear grainy, with reduced detail and muted colors. Night mode didn’t exist on iOS at this stage, so there’s no software enhancement to compensate.

The Mate 10 Pro, while not featuring a formal “Night Mode” like later models, uses multi-frame stacking and AI-assisted long exposure to brighten scenes intelligently. This leads to usable photos in conditions where the iPhone 7 Plus would require a flash—often degrading image quality.

Real Example: Urban Evening Walk

Consider a user walking through a city street at dusk, wanting to capture the glow of storefronts and neon signs. Using the iPhone 7 Plus, the resulting image shows dark shadows, limited detail in building facades, and a lack of vibrancy. The Mate 10 Pro captures the same scene with visible textures in darker areas, accurate color rendition of lights, and less digital noise—even without manual adjustments.

This practical difference underscores how hardware improvements translate into real usability. For travelers, urban photographers, or anyone who frequently shoots after sunset, the upgrade offers measurable value.

Zoom and Portrait Capabilities Compared

The iPhone 7 Plus introduced optical zoom to mainstream smartphones with its 2x telephoto lens. This remains functional for moderate cropping needs—getting closer to distant subjects without full digital degradation. However, beyond 2x, digital zoom kicks in quickly, leading to softness and loss of clarity.

The Mate 10 Pro takes a different approach. It lacks a true telephoto lens but uses its high-resolution 20MP monochrome sensor to enable hybrid zoom. By combining pixel data from both sensors, it achieves up to 5x “hybrid” zoom with acceptable quality. Beyond that, digital zoom applies, but initial clarity gives it a head start.

For portrait photography, both phones support depth-effect modes. The iPhone 7 Plus relies purely on dual-lens parallax to estimate depth, which works well on faces but sometimes fails with pets or objects. The Mate 10 Pro uses AI to detect subjects and simulate bokeh, offering more flexibility in edge detection and background blur realism.

Step-by-Step: Evaluating Your Upgrade Need

If you're still using an iPhone 7 Plus, consider the following steps before deciding on an upgrade:

1. Assess your current pain points: Do you struggle with blurry night photos? Is zoom unusable? Are colors too flat?
2. Compare sample shots: Find side-by-side images online taken with both devices in conditions similar to your typical usage (e.g., indoor family photos, outdoor travel).
3. Test app compatibility: Ensure your essential apps (especially cloud services, messaging, and productivity tools) work seamlessly on Android if switching from iOS.
4. Evaluate ecosystem lock-in: If you rely heavily on iCloud, AirDrop, or Mac integration, moving to Huawei may disrupt workflows.
5. Check battery and performance: The Mate 10 Pro has a larger battery (4000mAh vs. 2900mAh) and faster charging, which indirectly supports longer photo sessions.

Tip: Before upgrading, clean your current phone’s camera lens—dust and smudges can mimic poor camera performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Huawei Mate 10 Pro replace a DSLR for casual photography?

No single smartphone fully replaces a DSLR, but for everyday use—social media, family events, travel—the Mate 10 Pro delivers excellent results. Its dynamic range and low-light performance exceed the iPhone 7 Plus significantly, making it a viable standalone option for non-professionals.

Is the switch from iOS to Android difficult for camera users?

There is a learning curve. The camera UI differs, and features like Live Photos or Portrait Lighting aren’t directly mirrored. However, Huawei’s camera app is intuitive, and third-party apps like Google Camera can enhance functionality further.

Does the Mate 10 Pro still receive software updates?

Official major updates ended in 2020, though security patches were provided until 2022. As of now, it runs Android 9 with EMUI 9. While stable, it lacks newer computational photography features found in modern flagships.

Conclusion: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

For users clinging to the iPhone 7 Plus primarily for its camera, upgrading to the Huawei Mate 10 Pro represents a meaningful improvement—particularly in low-light performance, dynamic range, and intelligent scene optimization. The combination of a wider aperture, dual-sensor design, and AI-enhanced processing delivers visibly superior results in challenging conditions.

However, the decision isn’t purely technical. Ecosystem loyalty, software longevity, and personal preference for iOS versus Android must be weighed. If you’re open to switching platforms and prioritize photographic capability over brand consistency, the upgrade is absolutely worth it.

Photography evolves rapidly in the smartphone world. Even a one-year generational leap—from 2016 to 2017—can bring transformative changes in how we capture life’s moments. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro wasn’t just a new phone; it was a statement that computational photography had arrived. For the right user, stepping into that era from the iPhone 7 Plus isn’t just an upgrade—it’s an enhancement of creative potential.

💬 Have you made the switch from iPhone to Huawei? Share your camera experience and whether the image quality jump changed how you take photos every day.