Huawei P70 Series Set to Launch, Poised to Shake Up Premium Smartphone Market

April Release Date, Standout Camera Features The highly anticipated Huawei P70 series is set to make its official debut, with an expected release date in early April. This flagship smartphone is expected to be a key player in Huawei's push to capture a larger share of the premium smartphone market

April Release Date, Standout Camera Features

The highly anticipated Huawei P70 series is set to make its official debut, with an expected release date in early April. This flagship smartphone is expected to be a key player in Huawei's push to capture a larger share of the premium smartphone market.

According to the latest leaks, the Huawei P70 series will feature a distinctive triangular camera module and significant upgrades to its camera system. The P70 standard edition and P70 Pro are expected to be equipped with a 1/1.3-inch Sony IMX888 main sensor, while the P70 Art will reportedly house a one-inch Sony IMX989 sensor. Additionally, the P70 series will feature an ultra-wide-angle lens, a periscope telephoto lens, and a variable aperture design.

Impressive Display, Familiar Processor

In terms of display, the Huawei P70 series is likely to adopt a 1.5K centered single-hole micro-curved screen, offering excellent screen quality. For processing power, the P70 series may retain the Kirin 9000S chip from the previous-generation Mate series.

Price Hike Expected, Satellite Connectivity Standard

With the P70 series expected to feature satellite communication capabilities across the board, its price is likely to increase. Lei Technology predicts that the starting price of the P70 series could rise to 5,000 yuan, while the top-of-the-line Art edition could exceed 11,000 yuan.

"Pioneer Project" Becomes the Norm for Huawei Flagship Releases

The Huawei P70 series is expected to be the fifth Huawei smartphone to join the "Pioneer Project" initiative, following the Mate 60 series, X5, nova 12 series, and Pocket 2. The Pioneer Project is a new release model where Huawei sells limited quantities of new products directly through its online store and offline retail channels, allowing consumers and tech media to evaluate and experience the devices before an official launch event. This approach emphasizes efficiency and confidence, allowing potential customers to form their own opinions without the influence of a traditional product launch.

P70 Series Poised to Lead Premium Smartphone Growth

Market research firm Counterpoint Research forecasts that the global premium smartphone market (priced between $4332 and $5769) will maintain steady growth in 2024, with an increase of 17% year-over-year. Huawei is expected to lead this growth alongside Apple, and its demand in the domestic Chinese market will remain strong.

Analyst predictions estimate that the Huawei P70 series could see a significant 230% increase in shipments in 2024, reaching volumes between 13-15 million units. For reference, the iPhone 15 series shipped approximately 10 million units in the domestic Chinese market in 2023, indicating the potential scale of the P70 series' success.

HarmonyOS Native Apps to Enhance User Appeal

The Huawei P70 series is likely to be among the first devices to offer native HarmonyOS applications. Huawei's HarmonyOS native application initiative has been in full swing for the past six months, with popular apps like China Radio International, WPS Office, and Xiaohongshu (Beta version) completing their native HarmonyOS development, while dozens more apps are actively under development.

Huawei announced at a previous launch event that testing for HarmonyOS NEXT had commenced. If the Huawei P70 series can incorporate a more complete HarmonyOS ecosystem, its appeal to users will undoubtedly increase.

Huawei's Strong Brand Recognition Drives Anticipation

Huawei's strong brand presence ensures significant attention for its products. While it did not overshadow Xiaomi's launch event, the anticipation for the Huawei P70 series highlights the high expectations surrounding the device. Such expectations often come with pressure, and in the premium smartphone market, domestic brands like Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo are challenging Huawei's dominance with their flagship devices. The Huawei P70 series must maintain the high standards set by previous P series devices to retain its position and attract more Android users to switch to HarmonyOS, which will significantly impact Huawei's market share in 2024.