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Huawei Launches Mate 70 with Own OS, Advanced AI, as US Chip Curbs Loom

Nov 26, 2024, 09:15 AM

Huawei has officially launched its Mate 70 smartphone series, marking a significant step in the company's efforts to achieve technological self-sufficiency amid ongoing US-China tensions. The new devices are powered by Huawei's own operating system, HarmonyOS Next, fully developed in-house and stripped of Google's open-source Android technology, making them the first Chinese smartphones to operate independently of Android and to compete directly with Apple's iOS. Unveiled at the Huawei Mate Brand Festival on November 26th, the Mate 70 series features advanced AI capabilities, including an 'AI air transfer' feature, and is described by Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, as the most powerful and 'smartest' Mate yet. Pre-orders, which began on November 18th, have already reached 3.34 million. The launch comes as the US considers new chip curbs, further restricting Huawei's access to American technology, and underscores China's push for technological independence in the face of escalating trade tensions. Priced starting at over $760, the Mate 70 series aims to compete with leading smartphones from Apple and other global manufacturers.