Huawei Mate 70 series launches in China
The new Mate series phones by Huawei can be updated to HarmonyOS Next, moving away from its reliance on the Android operating system. #huawei #smartphone #mate70series
Note: This article was first published on 27 November 2024.
Huawei Mate 70 series. Image: Huawei.
Huawei has announced the Mate 70 series flagship-grade smartphone for its home market, following up on last year’s Mate 60 series.
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei, holding up two Mate 70 series devices for the audience. Image: Huawei.
In a physical Shenzhen (China) keynote that was also streamed online, Huawei’s CEO, Richard Yu, presented the new Mate series with a host of critical updates on its smartphone approach.
Huawei Mate 70 series
Huawei Mate 70 Pro+. Image: Huawei.
Huawei's new Mate series smartphones feature four variants: the regular Mate 70, the advanced Mate 70 Pro, a premium Mate 70 Pro+, and the Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design.
The Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro represent Huawei’s conventional standard and advanced Mate 70 series lineup products. The Pro+ and RS Ultimate Design variants go all out on materials (basalt titanium-based build, better glass type) and battery capacities (5,700mAh for both, 200mAh more than Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro) to elevate its standing as the premium option for the well-heeled.
Huawei Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro display specifications. Image: Huawei.
On paper, the differences are minor but calculated. For example, the Mate 70 offers facial recognition unlocking, but the Mate 70 Pro uses 3D facial recognition for unlocking and digital payments.
Mate 70 is also more compact, with a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED panel capable of a 1-120Hz refresh rate, while its Pro variant goes up to 6.9-inch but is otherwise similar (same refresh rate, PWM dimming rate, 2,500-nits peak brightness, and P3 colour gamut). Both are also FHD+ resolution, although the Pro variant has a slightly higher pixel density (454 PPI).
Huawei Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design is the only one among the four models that comes in its signature Maple Red colourway. Image: Huawei.
Similarly, Mate 70 Pro+ and Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design have the same display specs as the Pro variant. However, they have a “basalt-tempered Kunlun glass” cover instead of the standard second-generation Kunlun Glass on its Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro siblings.
While Huawei did not disclose the processor used for its latest phones, speculation is rife, with several publications suspecting that Mate 70 series devices contain the Arm-based Kirin 9020 chipset.
Huawei Mate 70 Pro and Pro+ rear camera specifications. Image: Huawei.
The brand has further improved its XMAGE imaging capabilities as with previous Huawei devices. Both Pro and Pro+ variants have the same rear camera configuration (50MP, f/1.4 aperture main camera, 40MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and 48MP f/2.1 telephoto camera). The rear camera’s RYYB sensors are bolstered by an additional spectral imaging sensor that can pick up 1.5 million multi-spectral channels for extra imaging data and colour accuracy.
Huawei Mate 70 series, summary slide of imaging features. Image: Huawei.
While the base version Mate 70 has the same spectral imaging sensor and all the cool camera perks of its advanced siblings, it doesn’t have the same telephoto camera (offering 12MP, f/3.4 aperture instead).
Huawei's XMAGE tuning and algorithms for its Mate 70 series is designed to give you true-to-life, yet beautified photos. Image: Huawei.
Of its XMAGE image tuning, Huawei’s approach is to appeal to East Asian standards of beauty — the algorithms give it a colour science that makes greenery look lush and skin tones as clear as porcelain.
Either Huawei has managed to revolutionise its videography abilities or the previous generation must have been very underwhelming, since these numbers seem a little too crazy to be true. Image: Huawei.
There’s also AI tuning in its video recording prowess, with Huawei claiming 100% improved noise reduction, 146% higher dynamic range for real-time HDR, and 120% better colourisation for its AI colour engine.
For the China market, all four variants use Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.3 right out of the box. A Reuters report indicated that these Mate 70 series devices can be later updated to HarmonyOS Next, a Huawei-made operating system that is not an Android fork.
Pricing and availability
Huawei Mate 70 series product listing on VMall. Screenshot: HWZ.
Huawei Mate 70 series starts at the following RAM, storage, and retail prices in China, as seen on its VMall retail page:
- Huawei Mate 70 (12GB RAM, 512GB storage): CNY5,999 (~S$1,111)
- Huawei Mate 70 Pro (12GB RAM, 512GB storage): CNY6,999 (~S$1,296)
- Huawei Mate 70 Pro+ (16GB RAM, 512GB storage): CNY8,499 (~S$1,574)
- Huawei Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design (16GB RAM, 512GB storage): CNY11,999 (~S$2,222)
All of them have 1TB options in China as well. Pre-orders are open, while delivery begins on 4 December 2024 onwards.
Huawei Mate 70 series. Image: Huawei.
Huawei’s keynote for Chinese consumers did not hint at a global launch for the Mate 70 series, so that will remain a mystery until the company’s next update.
Source: Huawei (via YouTube), Reuters, GSMArena
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