March 28 marked the official launch of Xiaomi's SU7, a day that saw Xiaomi's online traffic hitting its peak. Tech circles were flooded with various updates about Xiaomi's new venture into the automotive industry (you can follow "Electric Car News" for live professional coverage).
While many brands were steering clear of Xiaomi's SU7 limelight, Huawei took a different approach. On March 29, a topic regarding the Huawei P70 series appeared on the Weibo hot search list. Considering the earlier rumors about Huawei P70 joining the vanguard program, could it be that Huawei chose to make a splash on Xiaomi's big day?
Everyone grabbed their seats and prepared for the show, but unfortunately, the Huawei P70 didn't hit the shelves as anticipated. According to reports from Guandian.com, when interviewed about the "P70 phone release date," Huawei's customer service stated that they had not received any relevant notifications yet.
Image Source: Weibo
But everyone doesn't need to be impatient because the official release of the Huawei P70 is not far away. According to related media, after contacting a store in Beijing, news came that pre-orders will be accepted in early April. However, there is no more information available about the product for now. In other words, if everything goes smoothly, the Huawei P70 series will be officially unveiled to everyone in early April.
Both the P series and the Mate series are Huawei's flagship models. In recent years, due to various reasons, the release schedule has been disrupted, but now it seems to have returned to the normal release rhythm of "P series in the first half of the year, Mate series in the second half of the year."
Currently, rumors about the Huawei P70 series are flying everywhere, and I believe everyone is very curious about the specific configurations of this series. Below, let Leitech (ID: leitech) take you to see Huawei's new generation imaging flagship series.
The P70 has a high degree of recognition, and its imaging configuration is a highlight.
Appearance is one of the important factors for most users to choose a mobile phone. Only when it is visually appealing enough will there be patience for further exploration. As the product is about to be launched, the appearance of the Huawei P70 series is gradually becoming clear, which is the highly distinctive triangular imaging module.
Image Source: Weibo
Actually, daring to change the camera module has always been a tradition of the P series. From the rectangle of the P40 series to the dual-ring of the P50 series, and now to the dual-shape of the P60 series, the design of the P series camera module has been continuously iterating. So, even if, as shown in the leaked image, a triangular camera module is used, I personally think it's perfectly normal. After all, all exterior designs are ultimately in service of the core configuration, and while being aesthetically pleasing, highlighting the IP design language of the P series will bring higher recognition to the P70 series.
Image source: Weibo
As for the imaging module of the P70 Art, it adopts a futuristic design, resembling somewhat of a half-mushroom as seen in the renderings circulating online. However, compared to the island design of the P60 Art, I still believe that the P70 Art would be more appealing to the majority of users aesthetically.
But it's the imaging configuration under the hood that constitutes the core competitiveness of the Huawei P70 series. In terms of the main camera, both the standard P70 and the P70 Pro are equipped with the 1/1.3-inch Huawei OV50H sensor, with a single pixel size of 1.2μm. Under the four-in-one pixel combination, it provides an equivalent large pixel size of 2.4μm, boasting considerable strength in terms of specifications. In recent years, the domestic manufacturer Huawei has become a mainstream choice for many domestic smartphone brands, and using Huawei sensors is considered a relatively reliable approach.
Source: Guo Mingji / X
The P70 Art is equipped with a large one-inch sensor, the IMX989, which is a familiar component from Sony. It has been used in flagship imaging devices by Chinese brands last year, delivering impressive imaging results. However, it might be more appropriate to call it a "double-edged sword" as factors such as the protrusion of the imaging module and its heavy weight significantly compromise the user experience.
Nevertheless, Huawei and Sony have collaborated before, creating the IMX700 sensor a few years ago. Therefore, how Huawei utilizes the IMX989 sensor and whether it can minimize the negative impact of the large module on the P70 Art will be a major point of interest for the Huawei P70 series.
Additionally, the P70 series features a periscope telephoto lens with a 50-megapixel sensor, as well as a variable aperture design across the entire lineup. The impressive features such as 10x optical zoom from the P40 series, SuperSensing Night Vision telephoto lens from the P60 series, large aperture, telephoto macro, stabilization, among others, leave a lasting impression. Considering the consistent theme of the P series, it is believed that the telephoto lens will be one of the killer features of the P70 series.
Image Source: Lei Technology
In terms of the screen, the Huawei P70 series will feature a 1.5K centrally aligned single-hole curved screen. While it doesn't upgrade to a 2K screen, its performance in eye protection, energy consumption, and color reproduction should still be quite decent. The standard version of the P70 is positioned as a flagship with a smaller screen, while the Pro and Art versions will have larger screens. A high-quality screen will better showcase the anticipated imaging capabilities of the P70 series.
Regarding the processor, following convention, the P series processors are expected to remain consistent with the previous Mate series, namely the Kirin 9000S. Of course, it's only probable at this point, as it's uncertain whether Huawei might spontaneously introduce a new performance-upgraded version of the Kirin 9000S.
In terms of pricing, considering that the P70 series is likely to have satellite call functionality across the board, and given the precedent of other brands increasing prices by 500 CNY for similar features, the P70 series may see a price increase compared to the P60 series. Lei Technology predicts that the starting price could reach 5,000 CNY, with the top-tier Art version surpassing 11,000 CNY.
Is the "Pioneer Plan" the new standard for flagship Huawei phones?
After the surprise release of the Huawei Mate 60 series last year, the outside world has become familiar with Huawei's Pioneer Plan. If the rumors are true, the Huawei P70 series will be the fifth smartphone to enter Huawei's Pioneer Plan, following the Mate 60 series, X5, nova 12 series, and Pocket 2. The implications behind this move are quite significant.
The "Pioneer Plan" refers to Huawei's limited release of new products on its online store and offline stores, essentially bypassing traditional product launch events and directly offering products for sale. Compared to traditional product launch events, this new approach emphasizes efficiency and confidence, allowing consumers and digital media to independently evaluate and experience the products.
Source: Huawei
Looking at the release pattern of several flagship products, it's almost become customary for Huawei to kick off with its Pioneer Plan when launching flagship products. Thanks to Huawei's robust product performance and strong brand influence, the results of the previous four products under the Pioneer Plan have been outstanding, proving that this release strategy is entirely feasible.
According to Lei Technology, "flexibility" is the essence of the Pioneer Plan. In the rapidly iterating smartphone market, it's common for different phone brands to clash with new product releases. Except for brands that have absolute confidence in their own products, few can ignore the impact of these clashes, which almost inevitably lead to diluted attention and traffic. Although Huawei's brand influence is already top-tier, who wouldn't want to enjoy exclusive attention? By joining the Pioneer Plan, the new product launch timing is no longer tied to the announcement event, significantly enhancing maneuverability.
Furthermore, it serves as a way to test market reactions. By limiting the quantity of spot goods on a small scale, it's possible to gauge user feedback and market reactions. The results obtained from these tests can then assist in adjusting subsequent large-scale shipment plans, minimizing decision-making errors as much as possible.
P70 Elevates Huawei's High-End Offerings
Recently, market research firm Counterpoint Research released its 2024 global smartphone forecast report, estimating that global smartphone shipments will reach 1.2 billion units in 2024, a slight increase of 3%. The high-end smartphone market (4332-5769 CNY) will maintain stable growth, with a year-on-year increase of 17%. Huawei, along with Apple, will lead the growth of the high-end market, and demand for Huawei in the domestic market will continue to remain strong.
Referring to the current popularity of the P70 series, it's easy to predict that once the Huawei P70 series is launched, sales will skyrocket. Some analysts predict that shipments of the Huawei P70 series are expected to surge by 230% in 2024, reaching a scale of 13-15 million units. It's worth noting that in 2023, the iPhone 15 series had shipments of only around 10 million units in the domestic market, a figure that is hard for any other manufacturer to match.
Source: Huawei
It's worth noting that the Huawei P70 series is highly likely to be among the first batch of devices to experience HarmonyOS native applications. Huawei officially kicked off the development of HarmonyOS native applications about six months ago. Currently, over a dozen mainstream apps such as CRI Online, WPS Office, and Xiaohongshu (Beta version) have completed the development of HarmonyOS native applications, with dozens more apps working tirelessly in development.
Previously, Huawei announced during its launch event that it had initiated testing for HarmonyOS NEXT, the Milky Way version. If the Huawei P70 series can feature a more complete HarmonyOS ecosystem, it will undoubtedly increase its attractiveness to users.
Huawei's strong brand appeal brings inherent traffic. Although the drama of overshadowing Xiaomi did not unfold yesterday, it indirectly proves the high expectations the public holds for the Huawei P70 series. High expectations often come with high pressure. In the high-end smartphone market, domestic brands such as Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo have already launched attacks on Huawei through flagship models. Whether the Huawei P70 series can maintain the consistently high standard of the P series and attract more Android users to switch to HarmonyOS will play a crucial role in Huawei's smartphone market share in 2024.
