The Huawei P40 lite arrived in early 2020 as one of the more capable mid-range phones in Huawei’s lineup, pairing a modern 6.4-inch display with the surprisingly powerful 7 nm Kirin 810 chipset. It sat below the flagship P40 series but borrowed several premium touches, including fast 40W wired charging and a 48 MP quad-camera setup, all at an accessible launch price of around 170 EUR.
What makes this model unusual compared to earlier Huawei mid-rangers such as the P30 lite is its software situation: it ships with EMUI 10 on top of Android 10 but without Google Play Services. That single detail shapes who this phone is really for, so this article looks past the raw numbers to explain how the P40 lite fits into the mid-range market and where its strengths and compromises lie.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 – JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 – JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B | |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/75 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced | 2020, February 27. Released 2020, March 02 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.34 in) |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
Display
| Type | IPS LCD |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) |
Platform
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play Services |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 |
Memory
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 |
Main Camera
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
Selfie camera
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Features | HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
Comms
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent): JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B |
| Radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Features
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
Battery
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min |
Misc
| Colors | Black, Emerald Green, Light Pink/Blue, Skyline Gray |
| Models | JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B, JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B, JNY-LX1 |
| Price | About 170 EUR |
Our Tests
| Performance | AnTuTu: 325777 (v8) GeekBench: 7846 (v4.4), 1862 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| Display | 1085:1 contrast ratio, 515 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Camera | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | -27.0 LUFS (Good) |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 121h |
Price and Availability
The Huawei P40 lite offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €170, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Huawei P40 lite converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of July 13, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $194
- Japan: ¥31,386
- United Kingdom: £145
- Australia: A$279
- Canada: C$275
- Taiwan: NT$6,230
- Denmark: kr1.268
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼727
- South Korea: ₩291,648
- Germany: €170
- Brazil: R$993
- Vietnam: ₫5.080.121
- Kenya: KSh 25,091
- India: ₹18,497
- Indonesia: Rp 3.512.997
- Nigeria: ₦266,542
- Pakistan: ₨53,928
- Philippines: ₱11,946
- Bangladesh: ৳২৩,৯০৭
Why the Huawei P40 lite Still Represents Value
At roughly 170 EUR, the P40 lite undercut many rivals while offering hardware that punched above its price bracket. The Kirin 810, 40W charging, and a 48 MP main sensor were features you would normally expect on more expensive devices in 2020. For buyers focused purely on performance-per-euro, it remains an interesting proposition on the used market, provided they understand the software trade-off discussed later. Compared with the older Huawei P30 lite, it delivers a meaningfully faster chip and much quicker charging.
Design and Build
Measuring 159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm and weighing 183 g, the P40 lite is a comfortably sized phone that never feels bulky. Huawei used a glass front with a plastic back and plastic frame, a sensible choice at this price that keeps weight down while still looking clean. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and well placed for right- and left-handed use. Color options included Black, Emerald Green, a Light Pink/Blue finish, and Skyline Gray, giving the phone a bit of personality without straying into gaudy territory.
Display Quality
The 6.4-inch IPS LCD panel runs at 1080 x 2310 pixels for a sharp density of about 398 ppi. It is not an OLED, so blacks are not as deep as on some competitors, but measured brightness of around 515 nits and a contrast ratio near 1085:1 make it perfectly usable indoors and in most daylight conditions. The roughly 83.5% screen-to-body ratio keeps bezels modest, and the punch-hole selfie camera avoids a distracting notch. For streaming, browsing, and everyday reading it is a dependable, if unremarkable, screen.
Performance: The Kirin 810 Advantage
The standout component is the Kirin 810, built on an efficient 7 nm process with two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.27 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.88 GHz, paired with a Mali-G52 MP6 GPU. In our tests it returned an AnTuTu score of 325,777 (v8) and strong GeekBench figures, comfortably ahead of many Snapdragon 600-series rivals of the era. With either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage, day-to-day multitasking is smooth, and lighter gaming runs well, though the GPU is the weaker link for the most demanding titles.
Camera System
The rear array is led by a 48 MP f/1.8 wide sensor with PDAF, supported by an 8 MP ultrawide, a 2 MP macro, and an auxiliary depth lens. In good light the main camera captures detailed, pleasing shots, and the ultrawide adds useful flexibility for landscapes and group scenes. Video tops out at 1080p at 30fps, which is the phone’s clearest limitation, as there is no 4K recording. The 16 MP f/2.0 front camera handles selfies and video calls capably with HDR support.
Battery Life and 40W Charging
A 4200 mAh Li-Po battery delivers solid endurance, earning a 121-hour rating in older testing. The real highlight is the bundled 40W wired charging, which Huawei rates at about 70% in 30 minutes. That kind of top-up speed was rare in the mid-range in 2020 and remains genuinely convenient, letting you recover a large chunk of battery during a short break. There is no wireless charging, but at this price the fast wired solution is a fair trade.
Software: Android 10 Without Google Play Services
This is the most important thing to understand before buying. The P40 lite runs EMUI 10 over Android 10 but ships without Google Play Services, relying on Huawei Mobile Services and the AppGallery instead. Many popular apps are available, but some Google-dependent apps and services can be difficult or impossible to run normally. For users comfortable with alternative app stores this is manageable; for those who depend on the full Google ecosystem, it is a significant hurdle worth weighing carefully.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity is well rounded, with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and a comprehensive positioning suite covering GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS. USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG, an FM radio, and, welcome at this tier, a 3.5mm headphone jack are all present. NFC availability depends on the specific model and region, so buyers who rely on contactless payments should confirm the exact variant. Dual Nano-SIM support is available, though the second slot is shared with Huawei’s Nano Memory card.
Who Should Buy the Huawei P40 lite
The P40 lite makes the most sense for value-focused buyers who want strong raw performance, fast charging, and a versatile camera without paying flagship money. It is best suited to people who either do not depend on Google apps or are willing to work within Huawei’s app ecosystem. Shoppers who need 4K video, an OLED screen, or seamless access to every Google service will likely be happier looking elsewhere in the mid-range market.
Conclusion
The Huawei P40 lite is a well-engineered mid-ranger held back by one major caveat. Its Kirin 810 chip, 40W fast charging, sharp 6.4-inch display, and flexible 48 MP quad camera deliver excellent hardware value, especially at its roughly 170 EUR launch price. The absence of Google Play Services, however, means it only fully makes sense for buyers comfortable with Huawei Mobile Services. If that trade-off works for you, it is a capable and affordable phone; if you need Google apps, choose a rival instead.
References
- Huawei Consumer Support – HUAWEI P40 lite – Official Huawei support page for the model; useful as the primary source for model identity, official documents, and manufacturer support information.
- GSMArena – Huawei P40 lite – Established mobile device reference with a structured specification sheet covering display, chipset, memory, cameras, battery, network bands, and launch details.
- GSMchoice – Huawei P40 Lite – Detailed phone catalogue entry listing model variants and technical specifications, useful for cross-checking hardware details against other references.
