Huawei launches sales of its latest Pura 70 smartphone amidst increased scrutiny over chip supply

Huawei commenced the sale of two models from its highly anticipated Pura 70 smartphone series on Thursday, featuring an advanced China-made chip akin to its Mate 60 handset, amidst growing scrutiny over chip supplies. The Pura series, renowned for its sophisticated cameras and sleek design, contrasts with the performance and business-focused Mate series. Last year's launch of Huawei's Mate 60 series, celebrated as a victory over U.S. sanctions, boasted an advanced China-made chip, rivaling those used by Western tech giants like Apple and Google.

Eric Xu, Huawei's acting chairman, announced plans for a Mate 70 smartphone this year. While the Pro and Ultra versions of the Pura 70 were made available on Thursday, the Plus and base models will follow suit on April 22. Demand surged, with the phones quickly selling out online and drawing crowds at Huawei stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

Customer feedback, like Lucas Zhuang's observation of 5G-level network speed, highlights the anticipation surrounding the Pura 70 series. Despite uncertainties about the chip inside, customers like Zhuang express confidence in its performance.

Analysts foresee the Pura 70 series driving Huawei's smartphone shipments to around 60 million units this year, a significant increase from last year's 32 million. Ivan Lam of Counterpoint expects improved supply compared to the Mate 60 launch, easing potential shortages.

Featuring four variants, the Pura 70 series starts at 5,499 yuan ($760.06). The launch of Mate 60 Pro last August boosted Huawei's sales, contrasting with a decline in iPhone sales in China during the same period.

Huawei's Kirin 9000S chip, manufactured by China's SMIC despite U.S. export restrictions, symbolizes China's technological resilience amid challenges. The Biden administration's ongoing review of SMIC underscores the geopolitical tension surrounding chip manufacturing.

With an eye on the upcoming Mate 70 smartphones, Xu elaborated on Huawei's ambition to establish HarmonyOS as an independent operating system, detached from Android, aiming to rival iOS and Android ecosystems.

(1 USD = 7.2350 CNY)