Baker Street Detective

Author

Lu Zhenxi

Light boat has passed countless mountains

When I woke up, Apple's iPhone 16, with its unoriginal innovation, once again flooded the screen. Unlike in the past, this time even the "awkward praise" couldn't be sustained, as the new AI features of the iPhone 16 won't be available until next year. The A18 chip boasts improved energy efficiency and a 3% to 4% increase in battery life, but as we all know, this slight increase in battery life has negligible impact on the actual user experience.

Ironically, after Apple's conference dominated the headlines, the first trending topic was "Apple's color scheme is ugly."

The only visible innovation that Apple's conference brought to domestic consumers this year is the addition of a camera control button, which allows for control over shooting and zooming. Strangely, it gives a sense of paying tribute to the disappeared veteran of the mobile phone industry, Apple's old rival, BlackBerry.

After Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone in 2007, the design philosophy of "less is more" instantly ignited the world. Over the following 17 years, under the leadership of Tim Cook, who succeeded Jobs after his passing, Apple was criticized by Jobs' daughter for lacking innovation. However, at least it didn't regress, adding buttons to its iconic frame that had once redefined the mobile phone industry.

Starting with the iPhone 16, Apple, which once believed that "consumers don't know what they want," has surrendered in the field of mobile phone design innovation. It no longer attempts to tell consumers what they need but instead follows the market, producing what consumers demand.

In contrast, Huawei, which began emerging from sanctions in 2023, has continued to innovate. Following Yu Chengdong's emphasis on "the latest standard is when it's not displayed," and the realization of bidirectional satellite communication, Huawei has once again extended its dual-folding screen technology to the triple-folding domain. Currently, pre-orders for the HUAWEI Mate XT Extraordinary Master have surpassed 5 million, with an additional million pre-orders in less than a day after the conference.

Regardless of the current social media sentiment towards Apple and Huawei, the gap in innovation between the two is evident. Many people are concerned about hardware, optimization, and even imaging. When Apple uses Sony's camera module but prohibits Sony from supplying Huawei, forcing Huawei to develop independently, it exposes the insecurity of Apple and its backers.

After all, in the second quarter of 2020, Huawei still held a 20.2% global market share and a 45.2% Chinese market share, ranking first in both categories. After supply restrictions, it fell into the "others" category but has since returned to the top 5 with the Mate 60. Apple's "camera control button" and currently unusable AI features seem to be desperate moves in the face of Huawei's relentless innovation.

01

Innovation effectiveness of Apple's camera control button and usage scenarios of triple-folding screens

After the introduction of the camera control button on the iPhone 16, some netizens hailed it as "Apple's strongest button ever," claiming it could redefine mobile photography. Paired with the upgraded 6.9-inch screen, the iPhone 16 could become Apple's most powerful photography device to date.

However, those familiar with the mobile phone industry know that both BlackBerry and Samsung, as well as some domestic manufacturers, have introduced shooting buttons or multi-function custom buttons. After market validation, many have introduced accessories to enhance shooting stability, such as handheld gimbals or phone cages, which can accommodate more expansion components.

Currently, fewer and fewer video bloggers of high concern shoot footage exclusively with their phones without any accessories. Some accessory factories have even developed "Steadicam kits" specifically for this group of users.

Image source: Bilibili blogger Storm Media

Apple's camera advanced features, particularly the inconvenience of focus control, have been criticized by most advanced users, including Storm Media in their video content.

Apple's native camera focus control only supports touch-to-focus. Without touch capabilities, this function becomes unusable during device shooting, relying solely on post-processing, which increases workload.

After multiple attempts, a cumbersome operation process was summarized. Enabling accessibility settings, selecting mouse cursor, and connecting a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad within iPhone settings allows focus control without touch, which may be more convenient for Apple's camera advanced users compared to the currently exposed camera control button features.

A similar dilemma arises with Huawei's newly released Mate XT. Upon the announcement of the triple-folding design, numerous netizens criticized its uselessness. It's reminiscent of the early days when flexible screen concepts were first introduced at electronics exhibitions, with many envisioning pocket-sized tablets. Now that it's a reality, some question its significance.

When fully unfolded, the Mate XT's screen reaches 10 inches, yet it weighs only 307 grams, lighter than many tablets of similar size. Despite supply chain restrictions, Huawei continues to innovate within its capabilities. Regarding the often-criticized high price, purchasing a Mate XT indeed costs as much as a high-end phone and tablet combined. However, Mate XT owners simultaneously acquire both, making the investment worthwhile. Moreover, the target audience for this phone likely doesn't consider value for money.

With the Mate XT's multi-angle hover function, usage scenarios become more diverse. Huawei has even introduced a foldable keyboard compatible with the Mate XT, partially serving as a productivity tool. Paired with Huawei's unhindered AI capabilities in the domestic market, the Mate XT excels in tasks like writing and document approval. While its price may deter some, it's an ideal choice for media professionals seeking to enhance productivity, particularly those with deeper pockets.

The comparison between Apple and Huawei extends beyond mobile phones and tablets.

02

The difference between Apple's decision not to make cars and Huawei's commitment to automotive innovation

For a long time, rumors of Apple's foray into automobile manufacturing dominated the internet, with tech bloggers even rendering "Apple concept cars." The buzz subsided slightly only after Apple officially announced its decision to abandon car manufacturing plans.

While Apple abandoned its automotive ambitions, Huawei, heavily restricted in supplies, diversified into smart homes and new energy vehicles, aiming to compensate for lost revenue from its mobile phone product line due to sanctions.

At Huawei's conference, its leading intelligent driving system officially upgraded to "ADS 3.0," and will be rolled out to all HarmonyOS-powered vehicles on September 11, 2024.

From a consumer perspective, Huawei's intelligent driving system has gained initial recognition. For example, the AITO Askey M9, priced between 460,000 and 520,000 yuan and equipped with Huawei's intelligent driving system, surpassed the combined sales of the top 20 vehicles priced above 500,000 yuan in July 2024.

Aside from the comfortable ride experience offered by the AITO Askey M9's smart cockpit, Huawei's intelligent driving system, particularly after upgrading to ADS 3.0, eliminates the need for human intervention in various driving scenarios that previously required it.

Take the ADS 3.0-equipped Enjoy S9 as an example. When faced with narrow, sharply curved garage exits, the S9 can navigate them with ease, almost like an experienced driver. Although the system still requires manual input for the first parking spot, unlike previous systems reliant on "memory," ADS 3.0 supports all previously visited parking spots without route restrictions.

In handling roundabouts, ADS 2.0 required manual intervention upon exiting, while ADS 3.0 seamlessly navigates entry and exit, even adeptly avoiding obstacles.

The Enjoy S9's rearview mirror system also differs from existing models. In extreme weather conditions like heavy rain or snow, electronic rearview mirrors are often clearer than traditional optical ones due to windshield and glass lens obstructions. Night driving with bright headlights from trailing vehicles can also impair traditional rearview mirror visibility, which electronic mirrors effectively mitigate. Huawei's premium intelligent driving models may adopt such mirrors in the future.

Architecturally, ADS 3.0 upgrades from BEV to GOD (General Obstacle Detection), a leap from simply "recognizing obstacles" to deeply "understanding driving scenarios," enhancing driving safety and experience. Furthermore, ADS 3.0's new architecture employs a PDP (Prediction, Decision-making, Planning, and Control) network for pre-decision-making and planning, facilitating human-like decision-making and planning, with a complex intersection pass rate exceeding 96%.

ADS 3.0 is not limited to ordinary roads but realizes full-scenario navigation from parking spot to parking spot. From public roads to parking garages, this feature offers unprecedented convenience to users.

Looking back at Huawei's automotive BU development, in November 2023, Huawei signed a memorandum of investment cooperation with Changan Automobile, deciding to integrate its automotive BU into a newly established joint venture, Shenzhen Yingwang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. This marked the independent operation of Huawei's automotive BU, with Guang Product Line Leader Jin Yuzhi appointed CEO, succeeding Yu Chengdong, who became Chairman.

Regarding Shenzhen Yingwang's profitability, according to the simulated financial statements for 2022 to the first half of 2024 issued by Daxin Certified Public Accountants (Special General Partnership), Shenzhen Yingwang's operating revenue was 2.098 billion yuan in 2022, 4.7 billion yuan in 2023, and 10.435 billion yuan in the first half of 2024. Its main business gross margins were 17.73%, 32.13%, and 55.36%, respectively. Its net profits attributable to shareholders for 2022, 2023, and the first half of 2024 were -7.587 billion yuan, -5.597 billion yuan, and 2.231 billion yuan, respectively, transitioning from losses to profits.

According to Huawei, its automotive BU currently offers five major solutions, including intelligent driving solutions, smart cockpits, digital platforms for smart cars, smart car clouds, AR-HUD, and intelligent headlights. Huawei's intelligent driving customers include Arcfox, AITO, HI, NIO, Changan, Dongfeng, and GAC Motor, among others.

In July 2024, HarmonyOS delivered 44,100 new vehicles, with cumulative deliveries reaching 238,300 from January to July. AITO remained the sales leader, with nearly 400,000 cumulative deliveries over 2 years and 5 months. The AITO M5 delivered over 20,000 units, the AITO M7 became the top-selling SUV above 300,000 yuan with cumulative orders exceeding 240,000, and the AITO M9 led luxury vehicle sales above 500,000 yuan with over 120,000 deliveries. According to Gaishi Automotive Research Institute, AITO's sales in 2024 are projected to reach 470,000 units.

At Huawei's automotive BU conference in April 2024, CEO Jin Yuzhi unveiled Kunlun, a new intelligent automobile solution brand centered on intelligent driving. Kunlun introduced upgraded solutions such as Kunlun ADS, Kunlun Vehicle Control, and Kunlun Vehicle Cloud, including ADS 3.0. Other new products like 4D millimeter-wave radar, iDVP 2.0, XMOTION 2.0, and the Cloud Magpie large model were also unveiled.

If Apple had been grounded in automotive development since its initial disclosure in 2014, it might not have ended its automotive ambitions prematurely and lost a lucrative product line. Currently, Huawei offers product lines that Apple does not, and its anti-risk capabilities, especially in mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, have surpassed those before sanctions. Quoting Yu Chengdong from Huawei's conference, "Light boat has passed countless mountains." Huawei's future may continue to bring innovative experiences to consumers.

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This article is originally created by Baker Street Detective Agency. Please do not reproduce without permission.