BEIJING: Struggling under U.S. sanctions, Huawei unveiled a folded smartphone with an 8-inch (20-centimeter) screen nationwide on Monday to demonstrate its technical capability but said it will only be sold in China.
The Mate X2 highlights the challenges for Huawei Technologies Ltd. after Washington cut access to U.S. processor chips and Google services. Last year, Huawei fell from the best-selling global smartphone brand to sixth place.
Huawei claims that the Mate X2, its third folding phone, has crisper images and better sound for movies and games. It runs on Huawei’s most advanced processor chip, the Kirin 9000.
The phone offers a “true immersive experience,” Huawei’s consumer unit president Richard Yu said at a launch event that was broadcast online.
Huawei, China’s first global tech brand, was hit by being blacklisted by the then-export blacklist – President Donald Trump in 2019 as a security threat, an accusation that the company to deny. Huawei sold its Honor smartphone brand at a budget price in November to focus resources on higher-end models.
The Mate X2 will start at 17,999 Yuan ($ 2,785), according to Yu.
Monday ‘s launch “says a lot about how it still wants to keep up with the advancement in technology, even if it speaks commercially, the shipments will be severely hampered,” Bryan Ma said. of IDC in an email.
Earlier executives said stock of Huawei stock and other components in preparation for a possible U.S. cut. It is not clear how long these sources would last.
Huawei designed the Kirin line that powers its most advanced smartphones but relies on outside manufacturers including Taiwanese TSMC to make them.
The Trump administration lifted sanctions last year by preventing TSMC and other global manufacturers from using U.S. technology to make chips for Huawei, including those that designed the company.
Mate 2 will be sold exclusively in China.
Chinese officials accuse Washington of scrapping national security protests to eliminate tech rivals. Huawei is denying allegations that it may help Chinese spin.
Excluding Google music and other pre-installed services, Huawei’s smartphone sales, including Honor, fell 22% last year to 188.5 million, according to Canalys.
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said on Feb. 9 that he did not expect new U.S. President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Trump but expressed confidence that the company can survive. Huawei, headquartered in Shenzhen in southern China, is also the largest global manufacturer of switching equipment for telephone networks.
Huawei’s smartphone unit relies more and more on its home market in China, which accounts for more than 70% of sales, up from 50% in 2019. The loss of services had no effect Google in China, where they are not allowed and Huawei already used locally alternatives.
The ruling Communist Party of China has spent billions of dollars trying to build their own chip business. But domestic manufacturers don’t have the technology to make chips for Huawei’s most advanced products.
“The bigger question is more about how long their current stock collection lasts,” Ma IDC said.
Huawei has not yet accounted for 2020 sales and profits, but founder Ren said they were better than the previous year. Huawei reported that revenue for the first nine months of 2020 rose 9.9% to 671.3 billion Yuan ($ 100.4 billion).
CES 2021: Rollable Phones & 5G Devices will change the way you use smartphones
Future Tech
This year started on a futuristic note, thanks to the Consumer Electronics Show 2021 (CES 2021).
Driven by the Covid-19 pandemic going digital, the show that started Monday ended today. The iconic tech show, which usually greets a large gathering of spectators in Las Vegas each year, showcased some of the greatest creations in artificial intelligence, concept cars, luxury homes , along with an impressive array of smartphones.
The smartphone segment at CES 2021 was a perfect combination of budget-friendly and premium devices, full of the latest features.
Many of the smartphones launched at the show are expected to hit the shelves this year. Here is a list of the best smartphones released at CES 2021.
TCL’s 20 5G and 20 SE
TCL Technology, a Chinese state-owned multinational company, on Monday launched two budget-friendly phones, the TCL 20 5G and the TCL 20 SE at CES 2021 on Monday. TCL 20 5G, a high-end model, is priced at EUR 299 (Rs 26,600 approx.) And is available in two color options – Mist Gray and Placid Blue. While it is already available in Italy, reports suggest it will be rolled out worldwide in February.
The TCL 20 SE is tagged at EUR 149 (Rs 13,300.) And comes in two different colors – Aurora Green and Nuit Black. It is expected to launch worldwide sometime in January.
TCL 20 5G: What’s in the box
Exhibition: 6.70-inch Processors: Snapdragon 690 5G Battery: 4,500mAh Camera: Primary 48MP, extra 8MP wide camera, 2MP macro camera Front Camera: 8MP RAM: 6GB Storage: Up to 256GB, expandable with microSD card Link: Type-C USB port, 3.5mm audio jack
TCL 20 SE: What’s in the box
Exhibition: 6.82-inch Processors: Snapdragon 460 Battery: 5,000mAh Camera: 48MP primary, additional 5MP wide angle, 2MP depth camera and 2MP macro. Front Camera: 8-megapixel RAM: 4GB Storage: up to256GB, expandable with microSD card Link: Type-C USB port, 3.5mm audio jack
Motorola’s G Stylus and One 5G Ace
Motorola unveiled their new smartphones from the G-series Moto G Stylus 2021 and the Motorola One 5G Ace.
Both devices are in the range of Rs 30,000 with Moto G Stylus 2020 at $ 299 (Rs 22,000 approx.), And the Motorola One 5G Ace is available at $ 399.99 (Rs 29,500 approx). The G Stylus 2020 comes in two color variants – Aurora White and Aurora Black, and One 5G Ace comes in Frosted White only color.
Motorola G Stylus: What’s in the box?
Exhibition: 6.80-inch Processors: Snapdragon 678 Battery: 4,000mAh Camera: 48MP primary camera, extra 8MP, 2MP depth and 2MP macro Front Camera: 16-megapixel OS: Android 10 RAM: 4BG Storage: Up to 128GB inbuilt, up to 512GB expandable via microSD card Link: Type-C USB port, 3.5mm audio jack
Motorola One 5G Ace: What’s in the box?
Exhibition: 6.70-inch Processors: Snapdragon 750G 5G Battery: 5,000mAh Camera: Primary 48MP, extra 8MP and 2MP Front Camera: 16MP OS: Android 10 RAM: 4GB Storage: Up to 64GB internal, up to 1TB can cost via microSD card Link: Type-C USB port, 3.5mm audio jack
Alcatel 1S
Produced under license from TCL Technology, Nokia-owned company Alcatel on January 13 released 1S – the most affordable and pocket-friendly model with impressive features. Priced at EUR 109 (Rs. 9,700 approx.), 1S 2021 comes in two color options – Twilight Blue and Elegant Black. The phone is expected to hit the markets in February.
One of the key features of the phone in this amazing budget is its split screen mode that allows you to run through multiple apps at the same time.
What’s in the box?
Exhibition: 6.52-inch Processors: Octa- heart Battery: 3060mAh Camera: 13MP primary with 2MP depth, 2MP macro Front Camera: 5MP OS: Android 11 RAM: 3GB Storage: Up to 32GB of built-in storage, expandable to 128GB via microSD card. Link: Type-C USB port, 3.5mm audio jack
Coming soon: Rollables
South Korean tech company LG has surprised the CES digital crowd with their all-new rollable device. The company took a look at the upcoming smartphone, confirming its dominance over foldable phones. The company will launch their rollable smartphones before the end of this year.
In addition to LG, TCL also came up with the same concept, which does not yet have a name or release date. TCL said its device will expand from a 6.7-inch tablet to a 7.8-inch tablet at finger touch.