Can Huawei Mate 70 Series Duplicate the Success of Mate 60 Pro?
The Huawei Mate 70 series, launched on November 26, 2024, includes the Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, Mate 70 Pro+, and Mate 70 RS, featuring the Kirin 9010/9020 CPUs and Harmony OS Next. Despite boasting hardware upgrades and new AI-powered features in the operating system, the delayed release—14-15 months after the Mate 60 series—and the underwhelming performance of its chipsets may hinder its sales potential. The Mate 70 series is set to launch in China on December 4, 2024, but no overseas release plans were disclosed.
Huawei's decision to stick with the Kirin 9010 and 9020 chips, which underperform compared to competitors like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ and MediaTek's Dimensity 9200, could affect the Mate 70's competitiveness in the high-end market. Additionally, the exclusion of Android app support with Harmony OS Next, while positioning Huawei’s ecosystem for self-sufficiency, may limit its appeal outside of China.
The delayed launch has also meant missing major sales opportunities, like China's 11.11 shopping festival, and intensified competition from rivals such as Xiaomi and Oppo. Although pre-orders have been strong, TechInsights predicts that the Mate 70 series will underperform compared to the Mate 60 series, projecting 3 million units for the Mate 70, or 22% of Huawei's total smartphone shipments for Q4 2024. Despite Huawei’s strategic push for higher-end models and its reliance on China’s support, global growth remains uncertain due to geopolitical tensions and semiconductor supply constraints.
