Image credit: The Byteline

Chinese tech giant Huawei has launched its new Mate 70 smartphone series, marking a major milestone in its return to the premium smartphone market while asserting its technological independence from U.S. suppliers.

The release comes just as the U.S. is expected to tighten export controls on Chinese semiconductor companies.

Billed as "the most powerful Mate phone ever," the Mate 70 was unveiled on Tuesday by Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, at an event in Shenzhen, the company’s headquarters. The Mate 70 introduces groundbreaking features, including:

Satellite Paging System: A first in mainstream smartphones, allowing messaging capabilities even in remote areas without cellular coverage.

Improved Processor: Enhances performance by 40% compared to previous models.

HarmonyOS NEXT: Powered by Huawei’s own operating system, marking a decisive break from Android and U.S. technology reliance.

The Mate 70 series is the first major commercial device to showcase HarmonyOS NEXT, reflecting Huawei's ongoing push for software independence. While earlier versions of HarmonyOS maintained compatibility with Android, HarmonyOS NEXT fully departs from Android's framework.

The Mate 70's launch comes as the U.S. is expected to announce additional export restrictions, which could blacklist up to 200 Chinese chip companies, further limiting their access to U.S. suppliers. Huawei has been steadily developing its hardware and software ecosystem in response to these trade curbs, which have severely impacted its business since 2019.

Huawei’s semiconductor advancements are typically revealed through teardown analyses rather than during product launch events. Earlier this year, analyses showed that Huawei's Mate 60 and Pura 70 series featured advanced chips manufactured domestically by China’s SMIC, showcasing China’s growing semiconductor capabilities despite U.S. restrictions.

The launch of HarmonyOS NEXT signals Huawei’s commitment to software autonomy. Last week, the company announced it had secured over 15,000 applications for its HarmonyOS ecosystem, with plans to expand to 100,000 apps in the coming months. This move aims to solidify Huawei’s position in the face of competitors like Apple in China, the world’s largest smartphone market.

A Strong Market Comeback

Huawei’s market recovery has been fueled by patriotic sentiment and growing demand for its innovative devices.

According to Canalys, Huawei was ranked as China’s second-largest smartphone vendor in the third quarter of 2024, shipping over 10 million units for four consecutive quarters.

This marks a remarkable rebound from its 4.1 million unit shipments in the second quarter of 2022.

Apple rival?

Huawei’s resurgence poses a challenge to competitors like Apple in the high-end smartphone segment. The Mate 70 series follows the success of the Mate 60, released in August last year, which signaled Huawei’s comeback in the premium market.

With the Mate 70, Huawei continues to assert its technological resilience despite ongoing U.S. sanctions. By combining cutting-edge hardware, innovative software, and expanding its ecosystem, Huawei is positioning itself as a leader in China’s smartphone market and a formidable competitor on the global stage. The launch also highlights China's growing semiconductor capabilities, underscoring the nation’s determination to counter Western restrictions and achieve technological independence.

‍