Huawei's Pura 70 series, with its sophisticated camera technology and stylish designs, made a big splash in the smartphone market on Thursday.
The Shenzhen-based company's Pura series highlight sophisticated cameras and stylish look, different from the Huwawei Mate series' focus on business use.
Huawei's Mate 60 series, heralded by Chinese state media as a success against US sanctions last year, competed with Western tech titans with an advanced Chinese processor.
According to CNA, the Huawei Pura 70 series, rebranded as simply "P," includes the 70, 70 Plus, 70 Pro, and 70 Ultra, beginning at 5,499 yuan (US$760). Pro and Ultra were released on launch day; however, Plus and basic models will be released on April 22.
Huawei's latest Pura 70 series phone is displayed at a store in Shanghai on April 18, 2024.
Selling Like Hotcake
In the first minute of sales, Huawei's online shop sold out of Pro and Ultra models. Hundreds of enthusiastic buyers lined up at Huawei flagship stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, exhibiting high demand.
Huawei officials warned customers in line that heavy demand might delay device purchases. Customers in a flagship store in Shanghai were compelled to unbox and register their gadgets in-store, possibly to prevent resale at high rates.
After the Huawei Mate 60 Pro launched in August, Huawei saw a 64% year-on-year rise in smartphone sales in the first six weeks of 2024, according to Counterpoint. In contrast, Apple's iPhone sales in China fell 24%.
Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam anticipates 60 million Huawei P70 series shipments this year, boosting Huawei's smartphone sales. He predicts strong first sales and channel supply issues, but less than the Mate 60 launch.
Huawei's Kirin 9000S processor, apparently made by SMIC, shows China's technical growth despite US export prohibitions on chip-making. The chip's appearance shows China's resiliency despite semiconductor manufacturing cuts.
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Huawei Beats Apple in China Amid US Sanctions
Huawei's newest phones rival Apple, China's strongest foreign smartphone brand. Counterpoint Research said that Apple iPhone sales fell 24% in the first six weeks of 2024, while Huawei smartphone shipments in China surged 64%, per CNBC.
Huawei Technologies earned more last year, despite US fines, per a previous TechTimes report. The Chinese IT giant attributes its success to its cloud and digital businesses.
People try Huawei's latest Pura 70 series phone at a store in Shanghai on April 18, 2024.
Huawei's recent Shenzhen financial report showed a net profit of 87 billion yuan ($12 billion). Strong sales and product improvements fueled this rise. The Chinese tech giant's sales rose nearly 10% to 704.2 billion yuan ($97.4 billion).
Huawei's rotating chairman, Ken Hu, said the company's financial results met expectations and "managed to grow." Huawei made money by selling other businesses in addition to its main activity.
Huawei's earnings rise coincides with rising US-China technology and security worries since US firms are barred from doing business with Huawei because of punitive penalties. Semiconductors, software, and Google services have limited Huawei's device options.
Notably, Huawei has shifted its focus to cloud computing and digital transformation solutions for numerous industries to address these issues. Its cloud computing segment generated 55.3 billion yuan ($7.7 billion) in 2023, up 22%.
Despite US restrictions on Huawei's consumer segment, smartphone sales climbed 17.3% in 2023. Advanced CPUs from Chinese semiconductor maker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation powered the Huawei Mate 60 smartphone series.
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