Huawei Ascend P2 Pro Reviews

The Huawei's Ascend P2's main attraction in some parts of the world may be the Category 4 LTE chip but its talents are wasted here in the UK. This leaves it as another typical Android smartphone albeit with an above-average camera. UK users may like to consider the P2's brother, the Huwaei Ascend P6.

We had our doubts about the manufacturer's slogan right from the outset. The resolution of 1280x720 pixels is not appropriate for a premium device and the working memory capacity is also tight. However, the quad-core SoC clocks with 1.5 GHz and is apt for virtually all situations. Features, such as the 13 MP camera, are very good because the results are also impressive. LTE alongside the standard wireless modules are installed and the concept of the Ascend P2 is also well-conceived otherwise. However, the search for that special something regrettably remained fruitless and Huawei also makes small to medium blunders. One, for example, is the very high temperature on the phone's top during load. We measured up to 47.8 °C here. Nevertheless, Huawei's Ascend P3 is a well built, powerful smartphone that smoothly renders all conceivable contents. However, other manufacturers should be considered at a street price of around 380 Euros (~$504). The LG Google Nexus 4 is a low-priced contender and is in no way inferior to the Ascend P2 - quite the contrary is true.

A good-looking smartphone and a great screen, but the P2 has some performance niggles

All in all, the Huawei Ascend P2 is an okay mid-range Android smartphone. It is far from being the ultimate device of this class, but it gets the job done and it doesn't have any major drawbacks, save for the inexplicable lack of a microSD card slot. The pretty, 4.7-inch display tops the list of things we like about it, followed by the slim profile and lightweight body, so if these are the features you value the most, then the Ascend P2 won't disappoint. Of course, there are a number of alternatives one should check out before getting the Huawei Ascend P2. The Sony Xperia SP, for example, is great, similarly-priced mid-range Android smartphone with a large, high-resolution screen and a capable processor. If design and appearance are your cup of tea, the Huawei Ascend P6, also known as the thinnest smartphone in existence, would be an excellent choice. Last year's Samsung Galaxy S III would also be a good pick as you should be able to grab one for as much as the Ascend P2 costs.

Small, light, pleasant to look at and packed with a decent screen and powerful processor. On the surface, the Huawei looks like the perfect purchase for many. The truth, however, is that it doesn't quite meet the spec with its performance. There's more lag here than we'd expect, and the phone never feels all that nippy. Even so, it remains a good choice in the mid to high-mid market. If you want more excitement, then perhaps look to one of Apple or Samsung's older phones, like the SGS III or the iPhone 4/4S. These all cost about the same now, but offer a more premium feel. There's simply nothing wrong with the P2, but it just doesn't offer some of the extra features and glamour that other handsets have. Combines with the lag, that deprives it of a half-star. But, the good news for Huawei is that the P3 could offer enough to really win it some fans, as long as it's able to keep the price in check.

The Huawei Ascend P2 is a highly capable smartphone which offers a strong line up of features and a decent level of specs - although it doesn't exactly excel at anything, or wow us with amazing features. It also has the tricky problem of the Huawei Ascend P6 which basically lines up alongside the Ascend P2 sporting a fancier, slimmer metallic frame, although spec wise it's not quite as cutting edge. So as well as fighting with its brother the Ascend P2 also has the difficult task of marking itself out as a flagship device in a market dominated by the superior Galaxy S4, HTC One and Xperia Z. Of course the Huawei Ascend P2 does carry a far more attractive price tag, but that still means it's doing battle with the still excellent Galaxy S3, One X+ and iPhone 4S, and with the Huawei brand not exactly in the mind of the everyday consumer it could be a tricky sell. That's not to say you'll be disappointed if you do opt for the Ascend P2 and it is a potentially great value 4G option at the top end of the market.