Huawei's upcoming Mate 70 series flagship smartphone, which was previously rumored to be released in September, could be delayed until November or later. This potential delay could affect the company's performance in the Chinese smartphone market.
Huawei typically launches its Mate series devices in September, leading to widespread anticipation of a September launch for the Mate 70, particularly after the Mate 60, released in 2023, garnered significant attention due to its advanced Kirin 9000s processor amid US sanctions.
However, recent rumors indicate that Huawei is expected to release the HarmonyOS Next, which ditches Android apps entirely, in the fourth quarter. To ensure full compatibility of the Mate 70 series with the in-house OS, Huawei may delay the launch of the flagship smartphone until the second half of the fourth quarter.
While there is considerable attention that the Mate 70 may feature a processor manufactured with advanced technology, ongoing US sanctions make it unlikely that the chip will see a significant leap in semiconductor process technology.
Instead, Huawei is expected to concentrate on improving chip performance through software and AI enhancements in the short term. Huawei has previously stated that through continuous optimization of hardware, software, chips, and the cloud, the performance of HarmonyOS NEXT can be continuously improved, equivalent to upgrading the chip process by two generations.
Industry analysts believe that as the focus on AI smartphones grows and the costs of chips and components rise, companies are increasingly turning to software and AI to maintain their competitiveness and differentiation. In this context, Huawei may use its data, services, and ecosystem to offset the limitations of its chips, which may not match the performance of flagship products equipped with Qualcomm chips.
If Huawei's Mate 70 is delayed, it is expected to affect the company's smartphone shipments for the year. Additionally, the delay could boost iPhone sales in the Chinese market during the initial launch period due to the absence of the Mate 70 series.
Article translated by Jingyue Hsiao
