On Thursday, Huawei, the Chinese technology giant, commenced the sale of two models from its highly anticipated Pura 70 smartphone series, marking another significant milestone in the tech market. Analysts have been eagerly awaiting the release, speculating that these models might feature an advanced chip developed in China, similar to the one found in Huawei's Mate 60 handset.
Distinguished by its advanced cameras and elegant design, the Pura series, crafted by the Shenzhen-based company, stands out for its sleekness, while the Mate series prioritizes performance and business functionalities.
Last year's launch of Huawei's Mate 60 series was hailed as a triumph over U.S. sanctions by Chinese state media. These devices boasted an advanced China-made chip, which, according to analysts, trailed only a few generations behind the chips used by tech giants such as Apple and Google.
Eric Xu, the acting chairman of Huawei, revealed plans to introduce the Mate 70 smartphone later this year during a forum held in Shenzhen.
The Pro and Ultra versions of the Pura 70 were made available for purchase on Thursday, with the Plus and base versions slated to hit the shelves on April 22. Demand surged rapidly, with Huawei's official online store reporting stock depletion within a minute of sales launch. Meanwhile, hundreds of enthusiasts queued up outside Huawei stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
Lucas Zhuang, one of the customers at the flagship store in Shanghai, tested the network speed of the Pura 70 and remarked that it rivaled 5G connectivity. Despite Washington's ban on licensing 5G chips to China, Huawei's Mate 60 phones were already delivering 5G-like speeds in many instances, even though it wasn't explicitly marketed as 5G.
"We didn't know what chip the Pura 70 has inside. We'll only find out after buying it," said Zhuang, who already owns the Mate 60. "But we believe ... the chip it has will certainly meet people's needs."
Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint, anticipates Huawei's shipments to reach around 60 million units this year, with the Pura 70 series playing a crucial role. Last year, Huawei managed to sell approximately 32 million smartphones.
"We may experience some shortages across various channels, but the supply will be much better compared to the Mate 60 launch. We don't expect any prolonged scarcity," Lam commented.
The Pura 70 series comprises four variants: the 70, the 70 Plus, the 70 Pro, and the 70 Ultra. The starting price for this series is 5,499 yuan ($760.06).