Customers experience the new Mate 60 Pro smartphone at a Huawei-branded store in Shanghai, China, September 5, 2023.
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BEIJING — Chinese telecommunications and smartphone giant Huawei kept the details of its new phone and reported advanced chip breakthrough under wraps during a highly anticipated launch event on Monday. Instead, the company surprised audiences by unveiling two new electric cars, including its first sedan and a high-end SUV, along with the launch of new wireless earbuds and other products. It’s worth noting that Huawei partnered with an auto manufacturer to sell cars under the Aito brand.
Among the unveiled products were the wireless earbuds, priced around 1,499 yuan ($205), which include Huawei’s Kirin A2 chip. This chip, developed by Huawei, ensures an exceptional audio experience for users.
The launch event, livestreamed on Monday afternoon in Mandarin, showcased Huawei’s wide range of products for the fall season.
Despite the absence of the new phone, which left many internet fans disappointed, Richard Yu, the executive director and CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, hinted at the beginning of the event that no further details about the phone would be disclosed. It’s important to note that Richard Yu also heads car-related operations at Huawei.
Despite the absence of the new phone, viewers, especially those on the Bilibili video platform, were eager for any information about it, flooding the comments section with their inquiries.
Huawei’s extravagant product launch, which at times ignited nationalist fervor among the online and in-person audience, commenced with a captivating orchestral and choral performance of a song titled “My Dream” in Chinese. The event also included a brief speech by Hong Kong celebrity Andy Lau, who spoke about Huawei’s luxury watch design.
During the launch event, Huawei unveiled several other products, including a new version of its smartwatch, a tablet that claims to be lighter and thinner than the iPad, and a stylus that connects seamlessly with the tablet using Huawei’s bluetooth-like NearLink technology.
Interestingly, Huawei’s decision to remain silent about its new phone coincided with the release of Apple’s iPhone 15 in China on Friday, creating a buzz among tech enthusiasts.
A chip production breakthrough?
About a month ago, Huawei quietly released its latest smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, which reviews indicate offers lightning-fast download speeds associated with 5G, thanks to an advanced semiconductor chip that sets it apart from the competition.
The phone’s debut highlights Huawei’s ability to utilize cutting-edge technology despite facing restrictions imposed by the United States. This has long been a concern for the brand.
An analysis conducted by TechInsights revealed that the Kirin 9000s chip inside Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro was manufactured by China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) using an advanced 7 nanometer process, a key factor contributing to the phone’s exceptional performance.
Previous iterations of this 7nm process required an EUV lithography machine from Dutch company ASML, which recently imposed restrictions on sales to China. The exact details regarding Huawei’s latest chip production and procurement processes remain unknown.
When approached for comment on TechInsights’ findings, Huawei was unavailable to respond.
Huawei’s consumer business revenue has been significantly impacted by U.S. sanctions, which severed its access to critical smartphone technology, such as semiconductors and Google software. These restrictions were imposed by the Trump administration in 2019.
The United States has consistently expressed concerns about Huawei, citing potential national security risks due to alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party and the country’s military. Huawei has vehemently denied the existence of any such risk.
This year, Huawei expressed its intention to launch its flagship consumer products on a “normal” schedule once again, reflecting its determination to rebound from the challenges it has faced.
— CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report.
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