Chinese technology powerhouse Huawei Technologies is poised to make a significant splash in the premium smartphone market with the announcement of its highly anticipated Mate 70 series launch this month. The news comes as the company continues its remarkable comeback in the global smartphone arena, riding on the success of its predecessor, the Mate 60 series.
Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, created buzz on Chinese social media platform Weibo by declaring the upcoming release as “the most powerful Mate in history.” This bold statement has sparked intense interest among industry observers and consumers alike, particularly given Huawei’s recent technological achievements.
The launch carries special significance as it follows the groundbreaking success of the Mate 60 series, which debuted in August 2023 with a breakthrough 7-nanometre processor manufactured entirely within China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC). That release not only demonstrated China’s advancing technological capabilities but also ignited a wave of patriotic support that helped revitalize Huawei’s smartphone business.
Industry insiders are particularly intrigued by the Mate 70’s expected integration of HarmonyOS 5.0, previously known as HarmonyOS Next. This latest version of Huawei’s proprietary operating system marks a decisive shift away from Android compatibility, showcasing the company’s confidence in its ecosystem development.
The ambitious nature of this launch is reflected in Huawei’s production planning. Supply chain sources indicate the company has increased component bookings by 50 percent compared to the Mate 60 series, with more than one million units prepared for the initial release. This aggressive manufacturing strategy suggests Huawei’s strong expectations for market demand and its readiness to reclaim its position in the premium smartphone segment.
Recent market performance data supports Huawei’s optimistic outlook. The company has shown impressive momentum in its home market, with third-quarter smartphone shipments in mainland China surging 42 percent year-on-year, securing a 15.3 percent market share. This places Huawei firmly among the top three smartphone vendors in China, trailing only Vivo and Apple, according to IDC’s latest report.
Perhaps most notably, August 2023 marked a significant milestone for Huawei when it outpaced Apple’s smartphone sales in mainland China for the first time in nearly four years. This achievement is particularly remarkable considering the company’s previous struggles under U.S. sanctions, which had severely impacted its global smartphone business.
The company’s overall performance reflects this resurgence, with reported revenue reaching 585.9 billion yuan (US$82.3 billion) in the first three quarters of 2024, representing a robust 29.5 percent increase from the previous year’s 452.3 billion yuan.
This upcoming launch arrives at a crucial time in the premium smartphone market, where competition has intensified, especially in China. The Mate 70 series is expected to build upon the technological advances of its predecessor while potentially introducing new innovations that could further strengthen Huawei’s position in the high-end segment.
The success of the Mate 60 and subsequent Pura 70 series has already helped restore Huawei’s standing among top Chinese Android brands. With the Mate 70 series, Huawei appears ready to not only consolidate its domestic market position but also signal its readiness to compete globally in the premium smartphone segment once again.
As the launch date approaches, all eyes are on Huawei to see how this latest flagship device will contribute to the company’s ongoing renaissance in the smartphone industry, and whether it can live up to its billing as the most powerful Mate device yet.
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