Chinese tech giant Huawei just unveiled its latest Mate 70 smartphone series, the successor to the Mate 60 series which caused the U.S government quiet significant chest pains. The Mate 60 was the first device that truly demonstrated Huawei’s advanced chipset capabilities and push for self- reliance amidst continued sanctions. The Mate 70 continues on the same note – A 5G powerhouse that runs on a made-in-China operating system (HarmonyOS Next) – a bold move that signals a more permanent shift away from the U.S.-based Google Android platform. It’s a direct response to the U.S. restrictions that have hampered Huawei’s access to high-end chips and software.
A Chip Off the Old Block
Previous Mate series phones have showcased China’s rising semiconductor capabilities, featuring advanced chips manufactured by SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp). While Huawei doesn’t specifically comment on its chipsets, it is expected that Mate 70 will utilize the SMIC manufactured Kirin 9100 chipset, however production challenges might limit its availability to higher-end models according to some sources.
HarmonyOS Next: A New Dawn for Huawei
Richard Yu, the Chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, proudly announced that the Mate 70 runs on the HarmonyOS Next operating system, a significant departure from Android. Previous versions of Harmony OS still maintained Android compatibility – However HarmonyOS Next which promises a 40% performance boost compared to previous versions marks a complete break from Android. How successful a move this will prove to be, will depend heavily on Huawei’s ability to port major apps to its platform. This currently sits at 15 000 with Huawei targeting a 100 000 apps by next year.
Taking on Apple in the High-End Market
Huawei is also aiming to reclaim its leadership position in China’s high-end smartphone market, challenging Apple’s dominance by offering a mobile ecosystem free from U.S technology. This is certainly going to play to the patriotic sentiments of Chinese consumers as we witnessed with last generations Mate 60 and more recently with the World’s first triple foldable smartphone, Huawei’s MATE XT.
The timing of the Mate 70 launch comes ahead of potential new export control measures by the U.S., which could further restrict Chinese chip companies’ access to U.S. suppliers. Huawei is clearly making a statement, demonstrating its resilience and determination to innovate despite the challenges.
There’s no news as of yet on the global release of the Mate 70 series, however considering this is a flagship without Android compatibility and an APP ecosystem that’s currently limited – Don’t expect it to reach our shores anytime soon!
