The Huawei Mate70 Series is About to Launch: Can Huawei Achieve a New Era of Glory in the Pure-Blood HarmonyOS Era?

The Huawei Mate70 Series is About to Launch: Can Huawei Achieve a New Era of Glory in the Pure-Blood HarmonyOS Era?At the recent Huawei Autumn Full-Scenario New Product Launch Conference, Yu Chengdong, Executive Director and Chairman of Huaweis Terminal BG, announced that the pure-blood version of HarmonyOS NEXT will begin public beta testing on October 8th, with the MateX5 series, MatePad Pro 13.2 series, and Mate60 series as the first batch of public beta devices

The Huawei Mate70 Series is About to Launch: Can Huawei Achieve a New Era of Glory in the Pure-Blood HarmonyOS Era?

At the recent Huawei Autumn Full-Scenario New Product Launch Conference, Yu Chengdong, Executive Director and Chairman of Huaweis Terminal BG, announced that the pure-blood version of HarmonyOS NEXT will begin public beta testing on October 8th, with the MateX5 series, MatePad Pro 13.2 series, and Mate60 series as the first batch of public beta devices. At the previous developer conference, Yu Chengdong had stated that the Mate70 series would be the first to launch with HarmonyOS NEXT. Now, the public beta of pure-blood HarmonyOS is about to begin, signaling the imminent arrival of the Mate70 series. Sure enough, Cailian Press recently reported that the Huawei Mate70 series has entered the stage of mass production, with a tentative release date in November. Supply chain insiders have confirmed that components are already being supplied, and the launch is expected as early as the end of October. Production of the complete device has already begun.

Data from Canalys shows that in the second quarter of this year, Apple held a dominant 52% share in the domestic smartphone market above $600 (approximately 4,200 yuan), ranking first. Huawei came in second with a 30% share, while other brands fell below 4%. It's safe to say that Huawei is the only domestic smartphone manufacturer that can compete head-to-head with Apple. The recent release of the iPhone 16 series sparked excitement among numerous Apple fans, but also drew criticism from some who felt it lacked innovation. Now, Huawei's top flagship Mate70 series is nearing its own launch. These two flagship phones, released close together, are poised for an intense showdown. Can Huawei gain the upper hand this time?

Configuration Upgrades: A "Decisive Battle Between Huawei and Apple

Rendering images suggest that the Mate70 series will maintain the familiar design elements of the Mate series, closely resembling the Mate60 series. The front features a triple-hole design to accommodate 3D face recognition, while the back retains the classic "Star Ring" camera module.

Regarding hardware configuration, @DigitalChatStation has revealed that the Mate70 series will feature a 1.5K LTPO screen, a self-developed processor, and OV50K ultra-large variable aperture CMOS from OmniVision Technologies. The battery capacity will be under 6,000mAh. This Weibo user further indicated that the Mate70 series will have screen sizes ranging from 6.7 inches to 6.8 inches, slightly larger than the Pura70 series. Unfortunately, Huawei's self-developed ultrasonic screen fingerprint unlocking technology, although fast and energy-efficient, won't be implemented in this year's models. It is likely that the Mate70 series will still rely on a TOF 3D face unlock + short-focal length screen fingerprint unlock combination.

While there have been rumors regarding the chipset, their reliability remains uncertain, as Huawei maintains strict secrecy. Currently, the only confirmed information is that the chip will likely be named "Kirin 9100," with a process upgrade that promises to deliver impressive performance to consumers.

Finally, we come to the camera module. Back in 2020, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Commemorative Edition already incorporated the OV48C sensor developed by OmniVision Technologies. Yet, in the following years, flagship models from other domestic smartphone manufacturers failed to adopt OV CMOS as their main camera sensor, leading to their fleeting presence in the flagship market. Thankfully, Huawei, long dedicated to supporting the domestic supply chain, extended a helping hand. Both the Mate50/60 series utilized OmniVision CMOS, and the Pura70/70 Pro/70 Pro+ released this April even featured the OV50H as their main camera sensor. The Mate70 series will be equipped with the OV50K main camera sensor, boasting a 1/1.3-inch sensor size, LOFIC technology, and a massive variable aperture. Based on this sensor, the Mate70 series is likely to reclaim the top spot on the DxOMark image ranking.

Overall, the Mate70 series represents a substantial upgrade, particularly in the imaging department. If Huawei can maintain the same price range as the Mate60 series, it's highly likely that domestic sales will rival those of the iPhone 16 series. However, both Huawei and Apple share a common issue: their products are so popular that they often face shortages upon launch, leading to scalpers taking advantage and inflating prices. For example, the recently released Mate XT and iPhone 16 both required additional payments to purchase on their first day of sales. Both Huawei and Apple have a straightforward response to these market disruptors: increase stock. By early September, the iPhone 16 series had a stock of over 88 million units, resulting in price drops for some versions shortly after launch, with only a few versions requiring extra payment. The Mate XT initially required tens of thousands of yuan in extra cost to secure, and now requires a few thousand yuan above the original price.

According to reports from the supply chain, the Mate70 series has already been produced in significant quantities, suggesting that it might be easier to purchase on launch day compared to previous generations. However, consumers should carefully consider whether the Mate70 series is right for them. After all, the Mate70 series marks the beginning of a new era for Huawei.

The Pure-Blood HarmonyOS Era: Opportunities and Challenges for Huawei

The arrival of pure-blood HarmonyOS NEXT evokes both anticipation and apprehension. We're excited because HarmonyOS NEXT will abandon support for Android apps, becoming a truly native Chinese operating system. Yet, there's also a sense of unease, as we worry that the native HarmonyOS app ecosystem may not meet user needs, potentially affecting Mate70 series sales. Take PC products as an example. Currently, there are numerous domestic operating systems such as Deepin, UOS, and Tsinghua Tongxin UOS, but none have managed to match the likes of Windows or macOS. This isn't due to shortcomings in these systems; rather, it's the limited app ecosystem that fails to satisfy users' diverse needs.

At the June developer conference, Huawei stated that it had over 5,000 native HarmonyOS apps, with 1,500 already listed. In September at Huawei Connect 2024, Huawei announced that over 10,000 apps and meta-services have been listed on the HarmonyOS NEXT app market, covering 18 vertical sectors and catering to 99.9% of user usage time. HarmonyOS NEXT offers immediate compatibility with mainstream social networking, communication, business office, and audio-visual entertainment software, ensuring a seamless daily experience for users. However, some niche apps or games may not be compatible for now.

While the development progress of the HarmonyOS NEXT app ecosystem has surpassed expectations, it still pales in comparison to the two to three million apps on the Android and iOS platforms. More importantly, adapting native apps for HarmonyOS NEXT requires substantial human and material resources. Smaller software development companies and individual developers might be reluctant to release HarmonyOS NEXT versions of their apps.

However, for developers, adapting native apps for HarmonyOS NEXT carries both risks and opportunities. The smaller app ecosystem on the HarmonyOS NEXT platform means fewer similar products, leading to less competition and a blue ocean market. Entering early will offer a competitive advantage and market dominance.

Furthermore, beyond its abandonment of Android app compatibility, HarmonyOS NEXT boasts another key feature: "Once Developed, Multiple Platforms Deployed." Currently, developers need to adapt their apps for various platforms including phones, PCs, cars, tablets, and smartwatches. This multi-platform adaptation requires human and material resources. HarmonyOS NEXT streamlines development efficiency and saves resources required for adapting to multiple platforms.

Today, there are over 900 million devices equipped with the HarmonyOS ecosystem, providing a vast market that guarantees developer profitability. Before the public beta launch of HarmonyOS NEXT, developers could still earn from Huawei users through Android apps. However, in the future, only native HarmonyOS app development will bring profits from Huawei users. A vast market with relatively peaceful competition is sure to attract more developers. With the public beta of HarmonyOS NEXT and the launch of the Mate70 series, we expect to see a surge in developers joining the HarmonyOS NEXT ecosystem.

Purchase Recommendations

If you rarely play games and primarily use your phone for daily media entertainment, work, communication, then the Mate70 series is a good choice. However, if you play many games and lack a dedicated gaming phone or tablet, it's recommended to check if your frequently played games have native HarmonyOS versions before making a decision.

Huawei Mate Returns to the Peak: Supply Chain is the Unsung Hero

During the period when the Mate series was discontinued, Huawei faced immense challenges, even procuring hardware became a struggle. However, these obstacles did not break Huawei's spirit. The stable updates of the Mate50/60/70 series and the return of Huawei smartphones to the top of domestic sales demonstrate not only Huawei's efforts, but also the vital role played by upstream supply chain manufacturers.

In an era when other brands predominantly utilized Samsung screens and even viewed domestic screens as inferior, Huawei steadfastly supported local screen manufacturers, equipping numerous flagship models with BOE screens. When Sony