Huawei Mate80 Series Embraces Straight Screens: The End of the Curved Screen Era?

Huawei Mate80 Series Embraces Straight Screens: The End of the Curved Screen Era?For the past decade, curved screens have been a hallmark of high-end smartphones. Samsung's Galaxy Edge ignited the trend, quickly followed by Huawei's Mate series, Xiaomi's flagship models, and others

Huawei Mate80 Series Embraces Straight Screens: The End of the Curved Screen Era?

For the past decade, curved screens have been a hallmark of high-end smartphones. Samsung's Galaxy Edge ignited the trend, quickly followed by Huawei's Mate series, Xiaomi's flagship models, and others. Their immersive visuals and sleek curved designs captivated the market, significantly elevating the perceived value of many phones. However, frequent accidental touches, difficult screen protection application, and edge display distortion plagued consumers, gradually overshadowing the advantages of curved screens. Simultaneously, advancements in screen encapsulation technology allowed for the minimization of bezels on straight screens, quietly sparking a "straight screen revival."

Currently, the number of new phones adopting straight screens is significantly increasing, with even Huawei returning to this design. According to online leaks, the upcoming Huawei Pura80 series will adopt a "dual-track" strategy: a standard version with a 6.74-inch, 1.5K resolution 2.5D straight screen, and a Pro version featuring a 1.5K resolution slightly curved screen. The standard version's straight screen directly addresses the long-standing demands of gamers and heavy users. The 2.5D glass offers a smooth edge feel while mitigating the accidental touch issues associated with curved screens. The 1.5K resolution (approximately 12202712 pixels) strikes a balance between power consumption and display accuracy, particularly appealing to users prioritizing battery life and operational efficiency.

The Pro series' slightly curved screen can be seen as a "technological swan song" for the curved screen era. Compared to traditional highly curved screens, its curvature is smaller, retaining a premium visual appeal while reducing power consumption through LTPO dynamic refresh rate technology (1-120Hz). However, supply chain sources suggest this might be the last time Huawei uses a curved screen on its flagship models, paving the way for a complete shift to straight screens. The strong momentum of the "straight screen trend" is undeniable.

While screen type is a key focus, the Pura80 Pro series boasts impressive camera capabilities. A custom RY YB triple-camera setup includes a 1-inch IMX989 main sensor with a variable aperture, coupled with a periscope telephoto macro lens. The Ultra version utilizes a domestically produced 1-inch large sensor and a Hongfeng imaging lens, resulting in a powerful overall camera system.

If the Pura80 series is a tentative exploration of the market, the Mate80 series, slated for release in Q4, signifies Huawei's complete embrace of the straight screen era. Leaks suggest the Mate80 series will feature a 1.5K straight screen and 3D facial recognition across all models, marking the official retirement of curved screens from the Mate product line. The core objective of the Mate80 series is to challenge the perception that straight screens equate to mid-range devices. Its narrow-bezel design utilizes a four-narrow-edge encapsulation process, potentially achieving bezel widths approaching the 1.25mm record set by the OPPO Find X8s. Critically, the 3D structured light module will be integrated under the straight screen, solving the previous challenge of integrating high-security facial recognition with straight screen phones.

The Mate80 series will continue the four-model strategy of the Mate70 series (Standard, Pro, Pro+, and RS Porsche Design), covering a wide price range from business professionals to tech enthusiasts. This implies fewer curved screen options for consumers in the future. The cycle from straight screens to curved screens and back to straight screens, spanning many years, speaks volumes.

The Huawei Mate80 series is also expected to feature Huawei's self-developed ultrasonic fingerprint unlocking technology, further enhancing user experience. Straight screen flagships need to strengthen their irreplaceable features, with superior performance, professional camera modules, and the unique ecosystem of the HarmonyOS serving as Huawei's competitive advantages. The 2.5D straight screen is merely a transitional solution; future developments will include 3D nano-microcrystalline glass and shatter-resistant composite materials to address the fragility concerns of straight screen edges. Upgrades to the Kirin 9030 processor, along with improvements in imaging, battery life, and other aspects, will further boost the Mate80 series' appeal.

The shift from the fervor surrounding curved screens to the rational return to straight screens represents a transition in the smartphone industry from "show-off innovation" to a "user experience first" approach. Any technological advancement that fails to meet actual user needs will ultimately be rejected by the market.

Huawei's "dual-track" strategy with the Pura80 series and the all-straight-screen Mate80 series signal a renewed focus on user experience in the industry. This is not only evident in screen choice but also in the overall enhancement of performance, imaging, and system experiences. The launch of the Huawei Mate80 series will have a profound impact on the entire smartphone market. We eagerly anticipate its arrival. More manufacturers may follow suit, further promoting the adoption of straight screen phones.

The launch of the Huawei Mate80 series also prompts us to consider: what should technological innovation serve? Is it the pursuit of extreme visual effects, or the satisfaction of users' actual needs? The answer is clear. From this perspective, Huawei's return to straight screens might be the best interpretation of this question. It is not simply a change in screen type but a transformation in the industry's values.

The once glorious era of curved screens now seems to be a thing of the past. The return of straight screens signifies a greater emphasis on practicality and user experience in the smartphone industry. This is likely a significant trend in the future development of mobile phones. The success or failure of the Huawei Mate80 series will significantly influence the future trajectory of the smartphone market.

Of course, we also need to observe the performance of the Huawei Mate80 series in other areas, such as battery life, charging speed, software optimization, and pricing. These factors will directly affect consumers' final purchasing decisions. Therefore, Huawei needs to excel in all aspects to truly gain market recognition.

In summary, the launch of the Huawei Mate80 series is not just a contest of hardware specifications but a discussion about user experience and technological direction. It represents the industry's reflection and exploration of future developments and heralds the arrival of the next era of smartphones. Let's eagerly await the official launch of the Huawei Mate80 series and see if it can stand out in the fiercely competitive smartphone market. What are your expectations for this new phone? Share your thoughts in the comments.