In the era of pure HarmonyOS, Huawei faces both opportunities and challenges.

At the recently held Huawei Autumn Full-Scenario New Product Launch, Yu Chengdong, Huawei's Executive Director and Chairman of the Terminal BG, announced that the pure HarmonyOS NEXT would enter public beta on October 8, with the Mate X5 series, MatePad Pro 13.2 series, and Mate 60 series being the first batch of devices for public beta testing.

(Image source: Leitech production)

At the previous developer conference, Yu Chengdong indicated that the Mate 70 series would be the first to launch with HarmonyOS NEXT. Now that the pure HarmonyOS is about to enter public beta, it also marks the impending arrival of the Mate 70 series.

Indeed, a recent report by Caixin Media claimed that the Huawei Mate 70 series has entered mass production and is tentatively scheduled for release in November. Supply chain sources said that parts are already being supplied, and the launch could occur as early as the end of October, with many devices already produced.

Canalys data shows that in China's over-USD 600 (approximately RMB 4,200) smartphone market in the second quarter of this year, Apple had a 52% share, ranking first, while Huawei had a 30% share, ranking second. Other brands had shares of 4% or less. It can be said that Huawei is the only domestic phone manufacturer that can compete with Apple.

(Image source: Canalys)

Recently, the iPhone 16 series was released, eliciting cheers from countless Apple fans but also scorn from some who believed there was little innovation in the new devices. Now, Huawei's top-tier flagship Mate 70 series is also about to be released. Will Huawei have the upper hand in this clash between two flagship phones released around the same time?

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Judging from the rendered images, the Mate 70 series maintains the classic design of the Mate series, similar to the Mate 60 series. The front features a triple punch-hole design for 3D facial recognition, while the back sports the classic "Star Ring" camera module.

(Image source: Internet)

In terms of hardware, according to @DigitalChatStation, the Mate 70 series will feature a 1.5K LTPO display, a self-developed processor, and OmniVision's OV50K super-large variable aperture CMOS. The battery capacity will not exceed 6000mAh.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

The blogger also revealed that the Mate 70 series will have a screen size of 6.7 to 6.8 inches, larger than the Pura 70 series. Unfortunately, while Huawei's self-developed ultrasonic screen fingerprint unlocking technology boasts fast speeds and energy efficiency, it may not be ready for this year's devices, and the Mate 70 series may still rely on TOF 3D facial recognition and short-focus screen fingerprint unlocking.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

Regarding the chip, while some rumors circulate online, their reliability is uncertain, and Huawei maintains a high level of secrecy. What is known is that the chip may be named "Kirin 9100" with upgraded process technology and surprising performance for consumers.

Lastly, the camera module: As early as 2020, Xiaomi's Mi 10 Ultra Edition used OmniVision's OV48C sensor, but subsequent flagship models from domestic manufacturers did not continue with OmniVision CMOS as the main camera, leading to its brief popularity in the flagship market. Fortunately, Huawei, which has long supported domestic supply chains, came to its aid.

The Mate 50/60 series both used OmniVision CMOS, and the Pura 70/70 Pro/70 Pro+ released in April featured the OV50H as the main camera. The Mate 70 series will carry the OV50K main camera, with a 1/1.3-inch sensor size, support for LOFIC technology, and a super-large variable aperture. Based on this sensor, the Mate 70 series is likely to retain its top position on the DxOMark camera ranking.

(Image source: Leitech production)

Overall, the Mate 70 series boasts significant upgrades, particularly in imaging. If priced similarly to the Mate 60 series, it is likely to compete fiercely with the iPhone 16 series in domestic sales.

However, both Huawei and Apple face a common issue: due to high demand, initial shortages often occur upon release, with scalpers taking advantage to drive up prices. For example, both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 required extra payment upon initial sales.

To combat scalpers, Huawei and Apple's countermeasures are simple: increase inventory. In early September, the iPhone 16 series's inventory exceeded 88 million units, leading to price drops shortly after release for some versions, while only a few still required extra payment. The Mate XT initially required tens of thousands of extra yuan, but now only thousands.

(Image source: Xianyu screenshot)

According to supply chain sources, a considerable number of Mate 70 series devices have already been produced, making it easier to purchase on the first day of sales compared to previous generations. However, consumers should think carefully before purchasing the Mate 70 series, as Huawei enters a new era with this lineup.

In the era of pure HarmonyOS, Huawei faces both opportunities and challenges

Regarding pure HarmonyOS HarmonyOS NEXT, I am both excited and nervous. I am excited because HarmonyOS NEXT will abandon support for Android apps, becoming a truly authentic domestic system. However, I am nervous about whether the native HarmonyOS app ecosystem can meet user needs and impact Mate 70 series sales.

Taking PC products as an example, there are already many domestic systems like Deepin, UKUI, and UOS, but none can compete with Windows or macOS. The core reason is not that these systems are unusable but that their app ecosystems are too limited to meet users' diverse needs.

(Image source: UOS)

At the June developer conference, Huawei stated that HarmonyOS NEXT had 5,000 native apps, with 1,500 already available for download. By September's HUAWEI CONNECT 2024, Huawei announced over 10,000 apps and services available on the HarmonyOS NEXT app store, covering 18 vertical fields and meeting 99.9% of user usage time.

Mainstream social communication, business office software, and multimedia entertainment are immediately compatible with HarmonyOS NEXT, ensuring seamless daily use. However, some niche apps or games may not be immediately supported. The progress of the HarmonyOS NEXT app ecosystem exceeds my expectations but pales in comparison to the millions of apps on Android and iOS platforms.

Crucially, adapting native apps for HarmonyOS NEXT requires resources, and smaller software development companies and individual developers may be hesitant to create HarmonyOS NEXT versions for their apps.

However, the opportunity for developers to adapt native apps for HarmonyOS NEXT also presents risks. The limited native app ecosystem of HarmonyOS NEXT means less competition, creating a blue ocean market where early entry can secure a competitive advantage.

(Image source: Huawei)

Furthermore, in addition to abandoning Android app compatibility, HarmonyOS NEXT boasts the unique feature of "once developed, deployed everywhere." Currently, developers must adapt their apps for various platforms like phones, PCs, cars, tablets, and smartwatches, which requires resources. HarmonyOS NEXT enhances development efficiency and saves resources by supporting multi-platform deployment.

To date, over 900 million devices run on HarmonyOS, ensuring a vast market for developer profitability. While HarmonyOS NEXT has not yet entered public beta, developers can still earn from Huawei users through Android apps. However, in the future, only native HarmonyOS apps will generate revenue from Huawei users.

This vast and relatively uncompetitive market is bound to attract more developers. With the public beta of HarmonyOS NEXT and the release of the Mate 70 series, more developers are expected to join the HarmonyOS NEXT ecosystem.

(Image source: Leitech production)

Regarding purchasing advice, if you seldom play games and primarily use your phone for daily multimedia entertainment, office work, and communication, the Mate 70 series is worth considering. If you play games frequently and don't have a dedicated gaming device, check if your favorite games have native HarmonyOS versions before deciding.

After the Mate 40 series, the Mate line was temporarily discontinued, but Huawei demonstrated its resilience. From the Mate 50 series onward, the line has resumed an annual update schedule, with each generation bringing surprises. IDC data shows that based on the popularity of the Mate, Pura (P), nova, and other series, Huawei regained the top spot in China's smartphone market with a 17.5% share in the first half of this year.

As the era of pure HarmonyOS dawns, Huawei users may experience a transition period, but in the long run, it will benefit Huawei's mobile phone business more than it harms. As Huawei's latest flagship, the excellent performance of the Mate 70 series gives confidence to Huawei users, and the domestic high-end smartphone market in 2025 is likely to return to the state of 2019 or 2020, with Huawei and Apple sharing the spotlight or even outperforming each other.

Huawei Mate's return to glory: the supply chain's unsung hero

During the Mate series' hiatus, Huawei faced extreme difficulties, even in hardware procurement. Yet, these challenges did not defeat Huawei. With the stable release of the Mate 50/60/70 series, Huawei's smartphone sales have returned to the top in China. Behind this success lies not only Huawei's efforts but also the progress of upstream supply chain manufacturers.

At a time when other flagship phones commonly used Samsung displays or even shunned domestic screens, Huawei firmly supported domestic display manufacturers, equipping multiple flagship models with BOE displays. While Sony and Samsung CMOS sensors were preferred for domestic flagship phones, Huawei persisted in collaborating with OmniVision, equipping several flagship models with OmniVision CMOS, including using it as the main camera. Huawei's long-term support for domestic supply chains has gradually borne fruit, helping the company weather the storm.

(Image source: Leitech production)

Pure HarmonyOS HarmonyOS NEXT poses another challenge for Huawei, but this time it's not hardware but software ecosystem. The Mate 70 series, launching with HarmonyOS NEXT, demonstrates Huawei's courage and confidence. While the current HarmonyOS ecosystem is still imperfect, Huawei has laid a solid foundation for entering the HarmonyOS NEXT era and the upcoming Mate 70 series.

In addition to phones, tablets, and cars, rumors of HarmonyOS-powered PCs have also emerged. Yu Chengdong recently stated that existing Huawei PCs may be the last batch to run Windows, with HarmonyOS-powered PCs to follow.

With HarmonyOS across all devices, Huawei's "1+8+N" strategy will reach a milestone of maturity, making it the second company after Apple to have full-device coverage based on an exclusive system and ecosystem. Moreover, HarmonyOS NEXT's "once developed, deployed everywhere" feature will give Huawei devices a competitive edge over Apple products.

Of course, all of this still relies on the support of domestic hardware and software manufacturers. Only when hardware manufacturers can continuously supply Huawei to enable mass production of its devices, and software developers keep developing apps for HarmonyOS NEXT to improve the ecosystem, can Huawei have a chance to become the next Apple. Huawei has never sought to win alone but has always worked with all partners to achieve mutual success.

Source: Leitech