The Huawei P Smart 2021 brings a compelling blend of solid build, dependable performance, and an attractive price tag to the mid-range smartphone arena. Whether you call it the P Smart 2021 or its near-identical twin, the Huawei Y7a, this device aims to strike the perfect balance between affordability and functionality. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore every facet of the Huawei P Smart 2021—from design to battery life—so you can decide if it’s the right budget smartphone for your next upgrade.
Design and Build Quality
Ergonomics and Materials
The Huawei P Smart 2021 sports a plastic unibody that feels surprisingly sturdy in hand. Its matte finish minimizes fingerprints, especially in lighter hues, and the gently curved edges make it comfortable to grip despite the 6.67-inch frame. At 165.7 × 76.9 × 9.3 mm and 206 g, this phone sits firmly in the mid-range category without feeling overly bulky. Even extended use—texting, browsing, or streaming video—rarely produces hand fatigue, thanks to its ergonomic contours.
Camera Module and Layout
A modest rectangular camera module adorns the back of the Huawei P Smart 2021, housing four lenses in a neat arrangement. The module protrudes minimally, reducing wobble when the phone lies face up on a flat surface. The arrangement consists of the 48 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, a 2 MP macro shooter, and a 2 MP depth sensor. On the right, you’ll find the power button—doubling as a fast fingerprint sensor—and volume rocker. Below, a USB-C port, a single mono speaker grille, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack round out the lower edge, delivering versatile connectivity options.
Display: Bright, Sharp, and Reliable
IPS Panel Pros and Cons
The 6.67-inch IPS LCD on the Huawei P Smart 2021 offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 × 2400 pixels, yielding around 395 ppi. This display strikes a solid balance between crisp imagery and battery efficiency. Colors appear vivid, though blacks lack the inky depth found on OLED panels. Viewing angles remain consistent, and there’s no severe color shifting when tilting the device. On the flip side, the panel refreshes at 60 Hz, which some gamers and tech enthusiasts may find limiting compared to modern 90 Hz or 120 Hz alternatives.
Outdoor Legibility and Color Accuracy
Under direct sunlight, the Huawei P Smart 2021’s display peaks at roughly 500 nits, making it workable for quick glances at notifications or navigation instructions. Color temperature skews slightly cool out of the box, but users can tweak white balance settings in the EMUI menu to achieve warmer tones. Whether you’re reading e-books in the park or watching videos on a balcony, the screen maintains readability without excessive glare.
Performance and Hardware
Kirin 710A Chipset Overview
Powering the Huawei P Smart 2021 is the homegrown Kirin 710A chipset, built on a 14 nm process node. It features an octa-core CPU configuration—four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz for performance, and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz for efficiency. Paired with 4 GB of RAM, the chipset manages everyday tasks—social media scrolling, video calls, and web surfing—without obvious stutters.
Benchmark Scores and Real-World Usage
In synthetic tests, the Kirin 710A registers around 180,000 points in AnTuTu v8, placing it toward the lower end of mid-range performance. However, benchmarks only tell part of the story. During day-to-day use, casual games like “Subway Surfers” and “Candy Crush” run smoothly at medium settings. Demanding titles such as “PUBG Mobile” require reduced graphics presets to maintain stable frame rates—about 25–30 fps on average. Multitasking between email, streaming apps, and chat windows may trigger occasional app reloads, but the phone handles light to moderate workloads effectively.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery Capacity and Efficiency
Equipped with a 5000 mAh cell, the Huawei P Smart 2021 delivers impressive endurance. In our standard video loop test at 50% brightness and volume, the phone lasted nearly 17 hours before dipping below 10%. For real-world usage—mixing voice calls, browsing, messaging, and streaming music—most users will find themselves charging once every two days.
Charging Speed and Daily Endurance
Fast charging arrives in the form of 22.5 W wired support. From a cold start, the battery goes from 0 % to 50 % in about 35 minutes and reaches full charge in under 90 minutes. Wireless charging is absent, a predictable omission at this price point. Still, the combination of strong battery capacity and rapid top-ups makes the P Smart 2021 a reliable companion for busy schedules.
Camera System: Capturing Moments on a Budget
Main 48MP Sensor
The flagship lens on the Huawei P Smart 2021 is a 48 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. By default, it bakes pixels together via 4-in-1 binning, producing sharp 12 MP images. Daytime photos exhibit pleasing clarity and balanced exposure. Dynamic range is respectable, preserving detail in shadows and highlights. In low light, night mode extends exposure times to brighten scenes and reduce noise, though ultra-sensitive smartphone cameras still produce grain in very dark settings.
Macro, Depth, and Selfie Lenses
An 8 MP ultrawide lens (120° field of view) captures expansive landscapes but introduces barrel distortion at frame edges. The 2 MP macro camera allows you to get within 4 cm of your subject, highlighting tiny textures but at the cost of lower resolution. Portrait enthusiasts will appreciate the 2 MP depth sensor for natural bokeh effects. On the front, the 8 MP selfie camera sits in a small punch-hole cutout. Selfie shots are bright and well-exposed under daylight; in darker conditions, noise reduction algorithms can soften fine details.
Software Experience: EMUI 10.1 on Android 10
AppGallery and Workarounds for Google Services
Huawei P Smart 2021 arrives with EMUI 10.1 layered on Android 10, but without Google Mobile Services. Instead, the Huawei AppGallery serves as the primary app store. While the selection has grown—boasting over 100,000 apps—some popular titles and banking apps might require sideloading or third-party app stores. Users eager for a full Google ecosystem can leverage “Petal Search” widgets to find APKs or use web-based versions of Gmail and Maps.
User Interface Tips and Tricks
EMUI 10.1 brings useful features like Multi-Window mode, Digital Balance (for screen time insights), and a battery guardian that prevents overcharging at night. Color-coded themes, customizable navigation gestures, and App Twin (to run dual instances of apps) enhance personalization. Despite initial setup complexity, once you configure these tools, day-to-day navigation feels fluid and intuitive.
Connectivity and Extras
Audio, Ports, and Biometrics
The inclusion of a 3.5 mm headphone jack will delight audiophiles on a budget. Bluetooth 5.1 ensures stable wireless audio streaming. The bottom-firing speaker is loud enough for voice calls and casual media playback, though bass is minimal. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone in under 0.3 seconds on average, and face unlock via the front camera offers a secondary biometric option.
Network Compatibility
Huawei P Smart 2021 supports dual SIM cards and features LTE Cat 12 speeds, delivering up to 600 Mbps download and 150 Mbps upload. Wi-Fi 802.11 ac provides reliable home and office connectivity, and GPS accuracy hovers within 5 meters, suitable for navigation apps and location-based services.
Pros and Cons of Huawei P Smart 2021
- Pros: Affordable price, large 6.67″ display, excellent battery life, versatile camera setup.
- Responsive fingerprint sensor and comfortable ergonomics.
- Rapid 22.5 W wired charging and 5000 mAh battery.
- Includes 3.5 mm jack and expandable storage via microSD.
- Cons: No Google Mobile Services onboard.
- Performance limited by aging Kirin 710A chipset in high-end gaming.
- Mono speaker and absence of 90 Hz refresh rate.
- Low-light camera performance could be better.
How Huawei P Smart 2021 Compares to Competitors
Against similarly priced rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A21s or Motorola Moto G Power, the Huawei P Smart 2021 excels in battery capacity and screen size. The Galaxy A21s offers better software compatibility with Google services, but its display and camera specs fall short. The Moto G Power can last longer on a single charge, yet its processor and camera system lag behind. For those prioritizing balanced features—battery, display, and camera versatility—the Huawei P Smart 2021 emerges as a strong contender.
Conclusion
The Huawei P Smart 2021 occupies a sweet spot in the budget smartphone segment, delivering a robust feature set without a hefty price tag. Its large IPS display, long-lasting battery, and practical camera array will satisfy average users who need a dependable daily driver. While the absence of Google services and the decade-old chipset may deter power users, the overall package remains compelling. If you’re searching for an affordable, well-rounded smartphone with solid endurance and modern design, the Huawei P Smart 2021 deserves a close look.
FAQ
- Does the Huawei P Smart 2021 have Google apps?
No, it ships without Google Mobile Services. You can download many applications through the Huawei AppGallery or use Petal Search to find APKs.
- Is the battery life good on the P Smart 2021?
Yes, the 5000 mAh battery can last up to two days under moderate use and supports 22.5 W fast charging.
- Can the P Smart 2021 handle gaming?
It handles casual games smoothly but may struggle with high-end titles unless graphic settings are lowered.
- How is the camera quality?
The 48 MP main sensor captures detailed daytime shots, while the ultrawide, macro, and depth sensors add versatility. Low-light performance is decent but not class-leading.
- Does it support expandable storage?
Yes, there’s a microSD slot that supports cards up to 512 GB, alongside dual SIM capabilities.
- What Android version does it run?
The phone runs Android 10 with Huawei’s EMUI 10.1 skin on top.
- Is there a high refresh rate screen?
No, the display refreshes at 60 Hz, which is standard for budget devices.
Last updated: August 2023
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