Mate 70 Launch: Huawei’s Latest Smartphone with Own OS

SHENZHEN: Huawei Technologies has officially launched its Mate 70 smartphone series, marking a significant step in the company’s premium smartphone revival. The new series showcases Huawei’s proprietary HarmonyOS NEXT operating system, emphasizing its break from reliance on U.S. technology.

The Mate 70 series follows the Mate 60 lineup introduced in August last year, a milestone that signaled Huawei’s resurgence in the high-end smartphone market, directly competing with Apple after years of setbacks due to U.S. export restrictions.

Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, described the Mate 70 as “the most powerful Mate phone ever” during the launch event held in Shenzhen. He added that the Mate 70 series offers users a choice between HarmonyOS 4.3, which retains Android compatibility, and the entirely Android-free HarmonyOS NEXT 5.0. Moving forward, all Huawei smartphones and tablets set for release next year will feature HarmonyOS NEXT.

HarmonyOS NEXT, first tested earlier this year, represents a complete departure from Android, with Huawei targeting over 100,000 apps for its ecosystem within the coming months. The company currently has more than 15,000 apps onboard and continues to allow Android compatibility as a backup option while its developer ecosystem grows.

Reports indicate the Mate 70 series features advanced Kirin 9100 chipsets manufactured by SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp), underscoring China’s progress in semiconductor technology despite Western trade restrictions. Huawei has yet to confirm these details, as it typically refrains from discussing its chip advancements during launch events.

The patriotic sentiment surrounding Huawei’s technological advancements has spurred its recovery in China, where it ranks as the second-largest smartphone vendor. Research firm Canalys reports Huawei shipped over 10 million units in the third quarter of 2024, a sharp recovery compared to the 4.1 million units shipped in the second quarter of 2022.

Counterpoint Research estimates that the Mate 70 series will surpass 10 million shipments, further consolidating Huawei’s position in the global smartphone market.

The launch of the Mate 70 series coincides with anticipated U.S. export controls targeting up to 200 Chinese chip companies, adding a strategic dimension to Huawei’s technological advancements and market strategy.

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