A new series of smartphones launched by China’s Huawei Technologies has drawn global attention for containing technology that indicates the company has managed to overcome US sanctions and could come back as a rival to Apple.
In late August, the company unveiled the Mate 60 and Mate 60 Pro, and on September 9 launched two more smartphones, the Mate X5 which is a new version of its foldable phones, and the Mate 60 Pro+.
The Mate 60 is priced from 5,999 yuan ($817.70), the same as Apple’s iPhone 14 in China.
Here are some key things to know about Huawei’s new phones, their suppliers, and what they could mean for the world’s largest smartphone market:
What is the Mate 60 series capable of?
Huawei has mainly advertised the smartphones’ ability to support satellite communications which allows users to place calls or send messages even in areas where there are no mobile signals or internet, such as in the mountains or at sea.
It has not disclosed details of the chips used, but analysis firm TechInsights has found that the phone is powered by a new Kirin 9000s chip that was made in China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC).
Speed tests shared by buyers on Chinese social media have suggested that the Mate 60 Pro is capable of download speeds exceeding those of top-of-the-line 5G phones.
Chinese buyers comparing the phones to Apple’s latest iPhone 14 have posted reviews online saying they have comparable specifications like storage and memory.
Huawei’s launch also comes days before Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone 15 on September 12.