The Huawei Mate70 Series is Imminent: A Feast of "Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery"

The Huawei Mate70 Series is Imminent: A Feast of "Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery"On November 26th, at 2:30 PM, Huawei's consumer business group will host a Mate brand launch event, officially unveiling the Huawei Mate70 series. Pre-orders are currently open

The Huawei Mate70 Series is Imminent: A Feast of "Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery"

On November 26th, at 2:30 PM, Huawei's consumer business group will host a Mate brand launch event, officially unveiling the Huawei Mate70 series. Pre-orders are currently open. Recently, Huawei released a video showcasing sample images, presumably from the new Mate70 flagship, displaying unprecedented levels of color saturation, clarity, and detail. This video has generated immense anticipation for the Mate70 series' imaging capabilities, particularly its color reproduction a hallmark of the Mate series' legacy of photographic innovation.

The Huawei Mate series, a pioneer and innovator in mobile imaging, has continually pushed boundaries since the launch of the first model, the Huawei Ascend Mate, in 2013. The Ascend Mate featured cutting-edge technology for its time: a Sony backside-illuminated sensor and an 8-megapixel rear camera, enabling leading photographic capabilities and 1080p video recording.

In 2015, the Huawei Mate8 incorporated the IMX298 sensor, combined with PDAF technology and an RGBW arrangement, along with innovative "deep trench isolation" technology. This resulted in significant improvements in color, detail, and capturing speed, and supported 720p 120fps slow-motion video.

2016 saw the Huawei Mate9 series' collaboration with Leica, featuring a combination of the color IMX286 and monochrome IMX350 sensors. Dual-lens OIS (optical image stabilization) was introduced for the first time, and Leica's involvement brought industry-leading advancements in optics and color, with standard, vivid, and soft color modes perfectly embodying Leica's signature "German" color style.

The Huawei Mate10 series in 2017 integrated an independent Neural Processing Unit (NPU), pioneering the trend of AI-powered scene recognition and optimization. Its 20-megapixel + 12-megapixel Leica dual-camera system supported 4K video recording and AI-powered beauty features.

The Huawei Mate20 series achieved leading super macro capabilities, with its ultra-wide-angle camera enabling focus at distances as close as 2.5cm. The Kirin 980 chip and dual-core NPU provided powerful AI computing, enabling AI stabilization, AI portrait color retention, and more.

Even amidst significant challenges, the Huawei Mate30 series launched with a quad-camera system, supporting 7680fps super slow-motion, 4K HDR video recording, and night mode.

The Huawei Mate40 series, with its large-sensor, optical zoom capabilities, cinematic camera, and unique Leica imaging, reclaimed the top spot on DxOMark's global rankings.

In 2022, the Huawei Mate50 series incorporated the Ultra-optical Variable XMAGE imaging system, featuring a ten-level adjustable physical aperture, super night mode, and super macro video capabilities, intelligently selecting aperture size based on the scene.

The Huawei Mate60 series boasts a 50-megapixel ultra-optical variable main camera with an F1.4 ultra-large variable aperture, supporting ten-level physical aperture adjustment. The Mate60 Pro and Mate60 Pro+ also offer telephoto macro functionality, achieving clear shots in all scenarios ("bright or dark, near or far"). They also feature "Windchasing Flash Capture" to capture fleeting moments.

Furthermore, the Huawei Mate60 series recently received an OTA update that enhanced imaging performance, optimizing color reproduction. The updated color management engine delivers richer, more realistic colors, accurately capturing details in both portraits and landscapes, with particularly improved clarity and color transparency in telephoto and macro shots.

Huawei's continuous exploration and innovation in color reproduction technology foreshadows the Mate70 series' promise of an even more exceptional "color feast."

"Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery": A Breakthrough in Mate70 Color

In Huawei's November 20th video, the crimson maple leaves are particularly striking. The colors are vibrant and richly layered, with each leaf rendered lifelike. Given that the complex and subtle shades of crimson maple leaves are a rigorous test of color reproduction, the Mate70's ability to flawlessly capture these nuances demonstrates a new level of mastery in color management.

How has Huawei achieved such advanced color reproduction? Several factors can be inferred: more accurate color accuracy, wider color gamut coverage, and more refined color management. This requires systematic innovation across the entire imaging chain, from the optical module, sensor, and processor ISP to the imaging algorithm and screen display.

Huawei's extensive history of imaging innovation provides a solid foundation for this breakthrough. The collaboration with Leica introduced exceptional color and tonality to mobile imaging, elevating image quality and laying the groundwork for future color reproduction advancements.

Huawei has continuously increased camera megapixels and incorporated larger sensors such as the IMX700 in the Mate40 series significantly improving image quality. Larger sensors capture more light information, providing a richer data basis for color reproduction.

Additionally, Huawei has explored and implemented core optical technologies such as multi-camera systems, periscope telephoto lenses, and freeform lenses, gradually improving image clarity and color reproduction at the optical level.

On the software side, Huawei pioneered computational photography and led the trend of "AI + optical sensor" upgrades. AI enhancement contributes to more natural and realistic color reproduction.

Starting with the P50 series, Huawei further enhanced dynamic range and detail with real-time HDR fusion technology, XD Fusion Pro computational photography, and XD Optics computational optics. XD Optics uses a "global" image information restoration system to correct optical errors during optical imaging, restoring the original image information and achieving more accurate color reproduction while preserving highlight and shadow detail.

Subsequently, Huawei, based on the theoretical foundation of "color science," created an original color engine and color science system, refining a unique XMAGE style characterized by realism, richness, transparency, and breathability. The development of these styles relies on Huawei's continued investment and innovation in software algorithms.

Building on these hardware and software innovations, the Huawei Mate70 series is poised for a new revolution in color reproduction. It might not just be about more accurate colors and a wider color gamut, but a capability to reproduce the most realistic and captivating colors in various complex scenes much like the crimson maple leaves in the teaser video, which we may call "Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery."

This "Crimson Maple Original Color Imagery" likely involves new software algorithms or hardware technologies. Achieving color reproduction that surpasses existing industry standards is challenging, but Huawei may have developed a dedicated imaging chip and accompanying algorithm engine. All will be revealed in due course.

Conclusion

As William Albert Allard, a National Geographic photographer, famously said, "In my photography, color and composition are inseparable. I see in color." Color is a fundamental element of photography and key to image quality. The anticipated breakthrough in color reproduction in the new Huawei Mate70 series is incredibly exciting.

In May, Huawei announced "Ten Imaging Trends" at the "Huawei XMAGE Brand Night," including miniaturized imaging systems and breakthroughs in low-light and telephoto performance. The Huawei Mate70 flagship aims to be the culmination of these future imaging trends.

If so, this new flagship, with its leading breakthroughs in color and other areas, will truly transform our mobile photography habits, bringing a qualitative leap in our shooting experience and driving another revolution in mobile imaging, showcasing new possibilities for phone photography.