While Samsung and Motorola have already delivered clamshell foldables, Huawei decided to wait a little longer (about 2 years) before feeling ready to enter the space. Originally launched in China in December, the P50 Pocket has now gone international, and we have a review unit at our headquarters. While our team is busy with a full review, let’s take a quick hands-on to see what’s so special about the P50 Pocket.

First stop – design. The P50 Pocket has its own look and feel that sets it apart from other clamshell foldables we’ve come across. Huawei went with its own 3D structural glass design, with grooves arranged in a pattern that makes it feel more premium and also helps with grip.

You can see that the two-ring design of the P50 series is reflected here, with the bottom circle housing the camera setup, while the top circle houses the 1-inch OLED outer screen. The P50 Pocket is taller and wider than the Z Flip3. The box includes a two-piece plastic case, 40W charger and cables.

Opening the device reveals a massive 6.9-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. This is the largest screen ever fitted to a foldable of this type, and thanks to its proprietary hinge mechanism, it’s remarkable how Huawei has managed to do it all without a noticeable gap in the middle.

With a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, everything feels snappy and smooth. The outer ring screen is also very handy, as it can display detailed app information from third-party apps, and comes with its own service widget that allows for QR codes, music players, and even map navigation.

While we’re here, let’s check out the cameras – you get a 40MP main cam with a 26mm equivalent lens, and a 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide snapper and a 32MP f/1.8 hyperspectral camera, and they Should improve color rendering. This is a valid combination on paper, although it would be better if the telephoto module was installed somehow.

Huawei took last year’s flagship Snapdragon 888 (4G speeds only) and paired it with 8GB of RAM and 256/512GB of storage, depending on which configuration you choose. The software front is covered by EMUI 12, which looks and functions similarly to the P50 Pro.

On the battery side, we have a 4,000 mAh battery that charges at 40W, which is way ahead of competing clamshell foldables in both respects. That’s all we have right now, but stay tuned for our full review, which will cover all the details.