Huawei has introduced its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 70, showcasing fully homegrown technology aimed at offering a fresh alternative to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. This bold step marks another milestone for the Chinese tech giant as it seeks to strengthen its independence amidst ongoing U.S. sanctions.
Priced at 5,499 yuan ($760), the Mate 70 runs on the new HarmonyOS Next operating system, which no longer supports Android-based apps. Huawei proudly calls it a “pure-blooded” innovation, developed entirely by its own engineers.
“This is the most powerful phone in our Mate series,” said Richard Yu, Huawei’s consumer business chairman, at the launch event on Tuesday. “We have always been imitated but never surpassed.”
From 2024 onwards, all new Huawei phones and tablets will adopt the HarmonyOS platform, further distancing the company from Android.
A Big Leap for Huawei
The Mate 70 builds on the surprise success of last year’s Mate 60 series, which left experts wondering how Huawei managed to develop advanced chip technology despite stringent U.S. restrictions. According to Lucas Zhong, a research analyst at Canalys, this new release is a “critical step” for Huawei in establishing its own software ecosystem.
“This move is key for maintaining its momentum in the premium segment, earning customer loyalty, and attracting new users,” Zhong explained.
The Mate 60 Pro, launched in August 2023, reignited interest in Huawei’s premium smartphones and became a symbol of the growing tech rivalry between the U.S. and China. This momentum has propelled Huawei’s market share for high-end smartphones in China (priced over $600) from 11% in 2022 to 33% this year, according to Canalys. In contrast, Apple’s share of the same market dropped from 72% to 52% during this period.
A Journey Toward Independence
Huawei’s journey hasn’t been easy. Once the world’s second-largest smartphone maker, the company faced major setbacks after the U.S. imposed export restrictions in 2019. This forced Huawei to sell off its budget smartphone brand, Honor, and adapt to life without access to Google’s Android OS. The first version of HarmonyOS, which still supported Android apps, debuted shortly after the sanctions.
Over time, Huawei has invested heavily in creating a truly independent platform. Major Chinese tech companies have joined in by developing apps compatible with HarmonyOS. The company now aims to establish HarmonyOS as a global alternative to Android and iOS.
Building a New Ecosystem
Eric Xu, Huawei’s rotating chairman, has big plans for HarmonyOS. “As we migrate tens of thousands of apps from Android to HarmonyOS, it will truly become the world’s third mobile operating system,” he said earlier this year. Starting with the Chinese market, Huawei plans to expand its platform globally, one country at a time.
Huawei is targeting 100,000 apps for HarmonyOS by next year. “No matter how advanced an operating system is, it’s useless if no one uses it,” Xu noted.
Experts like Mengmeng Zhang from Counterpoint Research believe the Mate 70 series could achieve over 10 million shipments in its lifetime. However, Zhang acknowledges it will take time for Huawei to build a strong developer community and a competitive app ecosystem.
Huawei’s journey with HarmonyOS reflects its determination to compete with global giants and redefine the future of mobile technology on its own terms.
