Mate 70 users will get an early look at HarmonyOS Next, Huawei’s new Android-free operating system.

Huawei unveiled its Mate 70 series on November 26, sharpening its rivalry with Apple in China’s premium smartphone market. With prices starting at RMB 5,499 (USD 767), the Mate 70 undercuts the base model of Apple’s iPhone 16, which sells for RMB 5,999 (USD 840), as the two companies vie for dominance in the world’s largest smartphone market.

The Mate 70 follows last year’s Mate 60, which signaled Huawei’s return to high-end smartphones after US sanctions crippled its supply chain.

The device’s key features include a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a variable 1–120Hz refresh rate, 2,500 nits peak brightness, and durable Kunlun glass protection. Its camera system includes a 50-megapixel main sensor with variable aperture and OIS, a 40MP ultrawide lens, and advanced spectral imaging for natural color accuracy. It also offers a 5,300 mAh battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, and includes satellite paging capabilities for communication in remote areas without cellular coverage.

While Huawei did not disclose the chipset used in the Mate 70, previous models in the series were powered by processors from Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), produced using a 6-nanometer process.

The Mate 70 is the first major device to feature HarmonyOS Next, Huawei’s proprietary operating system that no longer relies on Android’s open-source code. Huawei claims the system boosts performance by 40% compared to its predecessor and plans to roll it out across all new smartphones and tablets starting in 2025.

Despite this, Huawei will maintain Android compatibility through HarmonyOS 4.3, suggesting a gradual transition. Richard Yu, head of Huawei’s consumer business group, told Reuters that Mate 70 users will have the option to choose between HarmonyOS 4.3 and the entirely Android-free HarmonyOS Next 5.0.

HarmonyOS Next represents Huawei’s attempt to build an ecosystem capable of competing with Android and iOS. However, analysts caution that it faces significant challenges. Although the OS currently supports over 15,000 applications, it lags behind its competitors in app availability and developer support, particularly outside China.

Analysts at Canalys project Mate 70 shipments to exceed 10 million units, driven by competitive pricing and advanced features.

Huawei has experienced a resurgence in China, supported by patriotic sentiment and a focus on domestic innovation. According to an October IDC report, the company shipped over 10 million units in the third quarter, making it the country’s second largest smartphone vendor, behind Vivo and Apple.

Internationally, Huawei’s prospects remain constrained by US sanctions, which continue to limit its access to advanced manufacturing equipment, complicating efforts to scale chip production. The limited app support for HarmonyOS Next further hampers its appeal in global markets, where Android and iOS dominate.

Domestically, Huawei faces the challenge of scaling HarmonyOS Next into a comprehensive ecosystem while maintaining its current momentum.

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