On Thursday, Chinese tech titan Huawei commenced sales of two models from its eagerly awaited Pura 70 smartphone series. Analysts speculate that these models may feature an advanced China-made chip akin to the Mate 60 handset. Renowned for its cutting-edge cameras and elegant design, the Pura series is developed by the Shenzhen-based company, while the Mate series prioritizes performance and business functionalities.
Chinese state media hailed the release of Huawei's Mate 60 series last year as a triumph over U.S. sanctions, with the devices boasting an advanced China-made chip. Eric Xu, Huawei's acting chairman, announced plans for a Mate 70 smartphone this year at a forum in Shenzhen.
The Pro and Ultra versions of the Pura 70 were available on Thursday, with the Plus and base versions launching on April 22. Demand was high, with phones selling out within minutes on Huawei's official online store, and crowds gathering at Huawei stores in major cities.
One customer, Lucas Zhuang, praised the Pura 70's network speed, comparing it to 5G levels. Despite Washington's ban on licensing 5G chips to China, Huawei's Mate 60 phones already achieved 5G speeds in many cases.
Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint, predicted Huawei would ship about 60 million units this year, with the Pura 70 series driving sales. Last year, Huawei sold approximately 32 million smartphones.
The Pura 70 series comprises four variants: the 70, 70 Plus, 70 Pro, and 70 Ultra, with prices starting at 5,499 yuan ($760.06).
The launch of the Mate 60 Pro last August boosted Huawei's smartphone sales, with unit sales rising by 64% year-on-year in the first six weeks of 2024, according to Counterpoint. Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone sales in China declined by 24% during the same period.
Huawei's Kirin 9000S chip, reportedly manufactured by China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), faced U.S. export restrictions aimed at curbing Beijing's chip-making capabilities.
Following the Pura 70 launch, numerous online reviewers livestreamed tear-downs of the phone, revealing the Kirin 9010 chip, a slight upgrade from the Kirin 9000s in the Mate 60 Pro. Reviewers also noted improved heat management compared to the Mate 60.
Huawei's new chips symbolize China's technological advancement despite U.S. efforts to hinder its semiconductor production capabilities.
The Biden administration initiated a review of the chip earlier this year, suggesting SMIC may have violated U.S. export rules. It continues to assess the situation.
Apart from targeting China's chip manufacturers, the U.S. has imposed trade restrictions on Huawei since 2018, citing national security concerns, which Huawei denies.
Xu outlined plans for the upcoming Mate 70 smartphones to operate on a "pure" version of HarmonyOS, developed in response to U.S. sanctions. HarmonyOS aims to be independent and compete with iOS and Android.
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