Undoubtedly, the most noteworthy new product from Huawei in the second half of this year is the Mate 70 series.

According to a Weibo post by @Dianhe Principal, Huawei will hold the Hengjie S9 extended-range launch event in November, and it is widely predicted in the industry that the Mate 70 series will also make its debut. Following the great success of the Mate 60 series in the market, can the Mate 70 series further consolidate its position in the high-end smartphone market with the help of the HarmonyOS NEXT system and powerful hardware configuration?

(Image source: Weibo)

In addition, HarmonyOS NEXT, known as "Pure HarmonyOS," has entered its first round of public beta testing on October 8. Although currently, only the Mate 60 series, Mate X5, and MatePad Pro 13.2-inch models are initially supported, the arrival of the public beta version also implies that Huawei is ready to officially introduce HarmonyOS NEXT to ordinary consumers, thereby completely separating from the Android camp.

Today, the iPhone 16 series has gone on sale, and new devices from the four major Android giants of Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and Honor will be released in October (spoiler alert: Lei Tech has received invitations to cover these launches live and will provide reviews of the new devices as soon as possible, so stay tuned). So, as the "finale flagship," how will the Mate 70 series, scheduled for release in November, outshine the competition?

Last year's pre-release strategy for the Mate 60 series attracted significant market attention. According to public data, the number of pre-orders received by stores during the initial public sale of the Mate 60 series far exceeded expectations, with most consumers waiting two to three weeks for delivery, and some configurations and color options even requiring over a month's wait. In today's smartphone market, where manufacturers often need to offer discounts and upgrades to please consumers, such a situation is indeed rare.

Of course, the Mate 60 series still left some regrets for ordinary users, such as the absence of the true HarmonyOS NEXT, slightly inferior maximum performance compared to top-tier flagships of the time, and difficulties in competing head-to-head with the first-tier camera phones. However, Huawei also informed the market through the Pura 70 series, released six months later, that it was fully prepared to return to its peak.

(Image source: Huawei)

According to sources, the Mate 70 series will continue to comprise three models: Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, and Mate 70 Pro+. This time, Huawei offers two screen specifications: a 1.5K straight screen and a 2K curved screen, ranging in size from 6.7 to 6.8 inches. Both adopt BOE's panel technology, featuring a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3000 nits.

In fact, Huawei's collaboration with BOE began with the Mate 20 series, and in recent years, the panels jointly developed by the two parties have performed quite well. For example, the recently popular triple-folding Mate XT Extraordinary Master smartphone chose BOE's flexible OLED panel. However, it is still uncertain which panel model the Mate 70 series will adopt.

In terms of photography, the Mate 70 series is highly likely to continue with the camera solution of the Pura 70 series, featuring a 1-inch primary camera and telescopic lens design on the Mate 70 Pro+. As for the Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro, current rumors point more towards the OV50K ultra-large variable aperture sensor from OmniVision, measuring 1/1.3 inches and supporting LOFIC technology.

(Image source: Huawei)

This sensor first debuted on the Honor Magic 6 Ultimate Edition, and its first-introduced LOFIC technology is essentially a way to optimize light capture, enabling the image sensor to perform better in various complex scenes, enhancing shooting latitude and stability. Lei Tech's review of the Mate 60 Pro's camera last year noted that Huawei's current imaging style tends towards realism and authenticity, with reduced stylized imaging. If the Mate 70 series does indeed adopt the OV50K, it would align well with Huawei's current imaging approach.

In fact, the Mate series has often been perceived by consumers as the epitome of advanced hardware. However, with changes in brand direction, while the Mate series may not offer users the most powerful hardware today, it is the most "stable" flagship smartphone in the current market. This stability is naturally inseparable from HarmonyOS NEXT.

With the boost of Pure HarmonyOS, is it difficult for the Mate 70 not to sell like hotcakes?

According to Canalys data, in the second quarter of 2024, Huawei accounted for 30% of the high-end market above $600, ranking second domestically, just behind Apple. This market data indicates that Huawei's performance in the high-end market remains robust. The outstanding performance of the Mate 60 series has laid a solid foundation for the Mate 70 series.

As early as when HarmonyOS NEXT opened for closed beta testing in the middle of this year, many Mate 60 series users expressed concerns: while Pure HarmonyOS is indeed smoother, the lack of application ecosystem is frustrating. Notably, one of the issues mentioned was the slow pace of adaptation between HarmonyOS and Tencent apps.

On October 8, HarmonyOS NEXT pushed an update to public beta users of the Mate 60 series, Mate X5, and MatePad Pro 13.2-inch models. With this version, compatibility with Android apps will no longer be supported. Subsequently, Tencent also announced via its official platform that the native HarmonyOS version of WeChat would immediately enter closed beta testing.

(Image source: Huawei)

First and foremost, the arrival of the native HarmonyOS version of WeChat addresses the biggest concern of HarmonyOS NEXT users in China. This version of WeChat already supports basic social functions such as one-on-one chats, group chats, audio and video calls, Moments, QR code payments, and other core features. For most Chinese users, WeChat is virtually indispensable in daily life, from socializing to payments and everyday communication. The adaptation of WeChat to HarmonyOS NEXT eliminates significant adaptation costs for users switching systems.

(Image source: Weibo)

Furthermore, Tencent's other applications are gradually adapting to HarmonyOS NEXT, including QQ, Tencent Meeting, WeCom, and iQIYI. The support of these mainstream applications ensures that users switching to the Mate 70 series will not be hindered by a lack of apps in their daily use. Among younger users, gaming is also an essential need. Through cooperation with Tencent, Honor of Kings and Game for Peace have now launched limited-time, delete-on-exit beta tests on HarmonyOS NEXT.

Apart from Tencent, the native HarmonyOS app plan has also reached a crucial juncture. According to Huawei's official data, the number of native HarmonyOS app developments will reach 5,000 by the end of 2024. Currently, apps covering various aspects of life, such as Xiaohongshu, JD.com, Weibo, 12306, and Meituan Waimai, are already prepared.

It can be said that after addressing the pain point of a lack of apps, HarmonyOS NEXT will become Huawei's strongest moat. A smoother, more user-friendly HarmonyOS NEXT with AI coverage across the entire system will also become one of the biggest selling points of the Mate 70 series.

However, considering that a host of Android flagships are also set to debut in October and November, the pressure on the Mate 70 series is considerable.

For example, the Xiaomi 15 series will feature 1.5K and 2K screens, 90W fast charging, and OmniVision's custom 50MP sensor, making it comparable to the Mate 70 in hardware. Vivo's X200 series will be the first to launch with the Dimensity 9400 chip and is expected to enhance its imaging capabilities, aiming to compete for the flagship imaging status by incorporating Sony's latest high-end sensor.

(Image source: MediaTek)

Moreover, the release timing of Android flagship phones is increasingly converging with that of Apple, aiming to boost product exposure and seize market opportunities during the year-end Singles' Day shopping festival. This competitive landscape will directly impact the market performance of Huawei Mate 70, especially in terms of hardware specifications and user experience. If Android vendors can offer more competitive configurations or attractive prices, they may put pressure on the Mate 70.

Against this backdrop, whether the Huawei Mate 70 series can stand out amidst fierce competition depends on its ability to continue leveraging the advantages of the HarmonyOS NEXT system and achieve breakthroughs in imaging, battery life, and overall ecosystem experience. Huawei has long accumulated a strong brand influence in the domestic high-end market, especially with a loyal user base in China. With the support of more domestic supply chains and the empowerment of cutting-edge technologies, the Mate 70 series still holds significant competitiveness in the domestic market.

Certainly, based on the latest market data and analysis, the Huawei Mate 60 series has performed exceptionally well since its launch, selling 1.6 million units in just six weeks. Its shipment target was even increased by 20% mid-year, with annual sales expected to exceed 12 million units. The robust performance of the Mate 60 series indicates that Huawei enjoys high consumer recognition in the high-end market, providing a solid foundation for the upcoming Mate 70 series.

Heavyweight Products Follow One After Another, Huawei Mobile Phones Keep Fighting Bravely

In the first half of the year, Huawei reinvented the new Pura series, which not only inherits the fashion and design of the P series but also introduces a brand-new imaging solution. Not long ago, the world's first triple-folding smartphone, the Mate XT Extraordinary Master , made its debut, further consolidating Huawei's position in the high-end mobile phone market.

The upcoming launch of the Mate 70 series marks Huawei's renewed efforts in the high-end market. With powerful hardware configuration, the support of Pure HarmonyOS NEXT, and a comprehensive ecosystem, the Mate 70 series will undoubtedly attract the attention of a large number of loyal users.

(Image source: Huawei)

However, in the pursuit of innovation, the ecosystem development of HarmonyOS NEXT still faces challenges. To achieve comprehensive coverage of mainstream applications, Huawei needs not only time but also continuous developer support. For a new system, user acceptance and the completeness of application adaptation will directly determine the market performance of the Mate 70 series.

Source: Lei Tech