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Huawei has officially unveiled its Mate 70 series, the latest flagship smartphone for the Chinese market, following the success of last year’s Mate 60 lineup. The announcement was made during a keynote event in Shenzhen, China, which was also streamed online. Richard Yu, Huawei’s CEO, highlighted the series’ new features and the company’s strategic direction in smartphone innovation.
Four models with advanced features
The Mate 70 series comprises four models: the standard Mate 70, the enhanced Mate 70 Pro, the premium Mate 70 Pro+, and the ultra-luxurious Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design. Each variant caters to a specific audience and offers different levels of performance, design, and functionality.
The Mate 70 and Mate 70 Pro serve as the series’ baseline models, with the Pro version featuring upgraded capabilities such as 3D facial recognition for unlocking and digital payments, compared to the standard Mate 70’s more straightforward facial recognition. Meanwhile, the Mate 70 Pro+ and Mate 70 RS Ultimate Design stand out with superior materials, such as basalt titanium construction and “basalt-tempered Kunlun glass,” alongside larger battery capacities of 5,700mAh.
Display-wise, the Mate 70 boasts a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen with a refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, while the Mate 70 Pro increases the size to 6.9 inches with similar specifications. Both models feature Full HD+ resolution, a peak brightness of 2,500 nits, and support for the P3 colour gamut. The Pro+ and RS Ultimate Design share the Pro’s display specifications but come with tougher glass for enhanced durability.
Improved imaging and HarmonyOS software
Huawei’s Mate 70 series showcases significant advancements in photography, powered by its XMAGE imaging system. The Pro and Pro+ models feature a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 40MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens. An additional spectral imaging sensor enhances colour accuracy and detail, making it ideal for capturing vivid greenery and flawless skin tones. The base Mate 70 retains most of these features but replaces the telephoto camera with a 12MP lens.
Video recording also benefits from AI-powered enhancements, including 100% improved noise reduction, 146% greater dynamic range for HDR, and 120% better colour accuracy.
The Mate 70 series runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.3 out of the box. Huawei has also confirmed that the devices will be eligible for an upgrade to HarmonyOS Next, a proprietary operating system developed independently from Android.
Although Huawei has not disclosed the exact processor in these devices, industry speculation points to the Kirin 9020 chipset, which is expected to deliver top-notch performance.
Pricing and availability
The Huawei Mate 70 series is available for pre-order in China, with deliveries starting on December 4, 2024. Pricing for each model is as follows:
- 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 models also offer a 1TB storage option for users who need additional space.