Counterpoint Research is attending MWC Las Vegas from 26th September to 28th September 2023
Our Research Director, Jeff Fieldhack and Associate Director, Gareth Owen, will be attending the MWC Las Vegas. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunication industry.
When: 26th to 28th September 2023
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
About the event:
MWC Las Vegas, in partnership with CTIA, is GSMA’s flagship event in North America, aimed at showcasing the hottest trends in connectivity and mobile innovation. The event is aimed towards driving innovation in technology as people meet in-person and use their collective knowledge to accelerate technology and drive human progress. From carriers and equipment manufacturers to mobile app developers and content creators, everyone will reconvene physically to explore this year’s theme, Velocity, and showcase the latest and the greatest in technology.
Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with them.
Our analysts Ethan Qi,Jene Park,Soumen Mandal, Ivan Lam, Shenghao Bai, Archie Zhang, Shaochen Wang and Alicia Gong are currently attending the MWC Shanghai 2023 event (June 28-June 30). In the following posts, you will experience the full force of our presence at MWC Shanghai as we provide unique insights from our analysts, unveiling the industry-shaping impact of this remarkable gathering.
Day 1 Highlights:
Consumer Electronics:
Meizu showcases capabilities in ‘device-vehicle integration’
During MWC Shanghai 2023, Meizu showcased a series of products and technologies, including the Flyme Auto intelligent system-enabled EV models, Meizu 20 flagship smartphone series, Titan glass and the EcarX Antares 1000 Pro computing platform. The Meizu 20 series, released in March 2023, sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 6.5-inch OLED display, 144Hz refresh rate and UFS4.0 and LPDDR5X memory combination. The Meizu 20 INFINITY Ultimate Edition features a dual-sided suspended Titan glass design, highlighting the emerging trend of flagship models in China competing to adopt more durable glass materials. Meizu also expects its Flyme Auto system to emerge as a guiding beacon for the deep integration of the smartphone and automotive ecosystems.
Huawei showcases Vision Glass
Huawei showcased its recently launched smart eyewear product Huawei Vision Glass alongside a range of smartphone models and consumer IoT products. Huawei Vision Glass, unveiled in December 2022, features a Micro OLED display that offers an immersive experience equivalent to a 120-inch virtual giant screen. It boasts 1080p full HD resolution and 480nit brightness and supports a wide color gamut of 90% DCI-P3. In addition, it comes equipped with ultra-thin smart speakers and offers adjustable diopters ranging from 0 to 500 degrees.
ZTE presents nubia Pad 3D, world’s first AI-based naked-eye 3D tablet computer
ZTE highlighted the nubia Pad 3D, which showcases the unique “3D light field” technology for superior naked-eye 3D display quality. It also incorporates AI eye-tracking to provide real-time matching of the most comfortable viewing field. Leveraging the AI neural network deep-learning algorithms, it enables instant conversion of 2D content into 3D. During MWC, ZTE announced collaborations with ecosystem partners such as China Mobile Migu, Jiangxi Kejun, China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation and Datang Xishi to provide a wealth of naked-eye 3D scene applications in areas including film and television, live streaming, gaming, education, healthcare, cultural tourism, online conferences, exhibition display, advertising, and more.
Telecom Operators’ Moves
Establishment of China Mobile Metaverse Industry Alliance
China Mobile has collaborated with metaverse ecosystem partners to establish the China Mobile Metaverse Industry Alliance. It unveiled the first group of 24 alliance members at the MWC. The alliance comprises content provider Mango TV, providers of content and software development tools such as Unity, AI technologies leader Iflytek, as well as hardware companies like Huawei, NOLO, HTC VIVE and Xiaomi. They will prioritize cooperation in four key areas – metaverse content creation, XR terminals, key technologies and computational networks.
China Mobile’s 5G Use Case
China Mobile showcased a remarkable 5G use case for automated quality inspection, eliminating the need for wired connections.
China Unicom’s 5G solutions
China Unicom unveiled a groundbreaking 5G-connected solution for traffic lights and cameras.
China Telecom reveals development strategy for 6G
During his keynote speech at MWC, China Telecom chairman revealed that the company was actively pursuing innovative advancements in the architecture of the simplified 6G network. The research primarily focuses on key core technologies, including near-field cellular integration (P-RAN) and air-space integration. China Telecom will maintain a close collaboration with standardization organizations and industry partners to drive the establishment of globally unified 6G international standards.
Innovations from network, software and component providers
Huawei drives 5G ToB advancement with ‘5G Inside’ technology
Huawei not only perseveres in the development of 5G devices but also drives the advancement of 5G ToB. With 5G Inside, Huawei is collaborating with enterprise customers to deliver customized 5G devices that cater to diverse scenarios and applications.
Huawei’s ‘cloud phone’ solution
Huawei offers a cloud phone solution where users can access separate or multiple virtual phones through a dedicated app. This innovative B2B solution is ideal for companies seeking to secure their digital assets and provide virtual phone solutions for their sales staff. Government entities also show interest in this virtual phone solution, while cloud mobile gaming presents another exciting use case.
Huawei’s 5GC Intelligent Traffic Express Solution
Huawei’s 5Gc Intelligent Traffic Express Solution enables the detection and monitoring of user live-streaming activities. In cases where user experience worsens, extra resources are allocated to VVIP users, providing operators with the opportunity to monetize on individuals requiring fast and prioritized connections, such as live-streaming bloggers.
H3C’s Wi-Fi7 Announcements
H3C showcased a compelling use case of Wi-Fi7 enabling remote schooling. The enterprise gateway has the capability to support hundreds of terminals, including tablets and PCs, simultaneously.
China Broadnet’s Naked-eye Display
China Broadnet presents a rejuvenated concept of naked-eye displays.
STMicroelectronics Announcements
STMicroelectronics’ integrated wearable sensing unit, with accelerometers and gyroscopes integrated, can efficiently process signals and directly translate movements into actionable data for smart wearable devices.
AMD’s RFFE Solutions
AMD has introduced an advanced RF front-end solution designed specifically for small cell systems.
AAC Expands its Optical R&D Strength
AAC is significantly enhancing its optical R&D capabilities, particularly in the field of waveguide technologies.
Tongxin Microelectronics Announcements
Tongxin Micro’s NFC chips find wide applications in wearables and smartphones, having already been integrated into various commercial models. Besides, the company serves as a provider of eSIM chips. A solution combining both technologies is currently in the works.
ams OSRAM Mira050 with Wafer Level Optics (WLO) Demo Kit
Smallest lens solution with leading-edge NIR-imaging performance – images are sharp from center to edge of image circle. ams OSRAM designed and produced WLO lens mounted on Mira050 EVK sensor board, actively aligned to optimize image quality. Configurable NIR-designs for wavelengths bands around 850nm or 940nm
Kigen and TMC collaborate to drive eSIM innovation
Kigen and Tongxin Microelectronics Co (TMC) have delivered the first-ever simple, global, secure, commercial and GSMA-certified consumer eSIM solution to empower OEM innovation to meet 5G FWA demand for affordable CPE devices. Lead customers are already developing commercial products based on this offering. The companies are now extending it to general availability.
“Global 5G FWA CPE cumulative revenues are expected to reach over $100 billion during 2020-2030. Bringing down the total cost of 5G FWA CPE is integral to 5G broadband adoption, scale and return on investment for all stakeholders in this price-sensitive segment.” Neil Shah, VP of Research, Counterpoint Research
During the launch event, HONOR CEO George Zhao shared thoughts on innovation in future smartphone products:
Inclusion of AI: George thinks that having AI on the device is vital because it would allow users to have multiple-modal interactions and offers better privacy protection in the future digitalized life.
Screen size matters but so does the smartphone weight: Future smartphones should be easier to carry around as they need to be.
Display technology with eye-care features would become popular: In China, more than 30% of smartphone users use their devices for more than five years. Eye-care display technology addresses the consumer’s concerns.
Longer battery life: Customers want devices with longer battery life since they are using them more and more every day.
At the end of his address, Zhao announced that HONOR’s third foldable phone Magic V2 would be launched on July 12 and the product may bring improvements in the abovementioned areas.
Meizu’s announcements
Meizu’s CEO Shen Ziyu made a keynote speech today, describing his vision of interconnection between the automotive and smartphone segments. Meizu is now owned by Chinese auto giant Geely. Ziyu said the synergy between the two segments would be brought by the sharing of computing power, data and hardware. Automobile operating systems should also become accessible to the huge application ecosystem of smartphones. The company is also working on an infotainment system called Flyme Auto, which will offer the same smooth user experience as seen in the Flyme OS for smartphones. Flyme Auto will be installed on the upcoming Lynkco 08 and Volvo Polestar for the global market.
Day 3 Highlights
Lenovo updates
Lenovo showcased its consumer electronics products such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, including its recently launched foldable Motorola Razr 40 Ultra.
Lenovo also had some ToB solutions at its booths, such as AI server, edge computing products, park patrol robot, smart transportation systems and logistics.
Lenovo also supports many of the firms in its ecosystem which have stepped into XR optical solutions, live-streaming supporting platforms, network equipment and smart logistic management system.
For its smart city business, Lenovo showcased its solutions like smart transportation solutions and city emergency management platform.
China Broadnet showcases new 5G calling features
Making calls interesting: Users can make calls more fun by using all kinds of emojis with gestures or voice commands.
Cartoon video call: Users can create their own digital images that can be displayed when making calls without turning on the camera.
Real-time translation: Multilingual real-time translation into text.
Smart customer service: Available online 24 hours to answer questions.
AI/GPT intelligent call: Using AI/GPT to answer questions.
Keynote: Next frontier for AI
In healthcare, AI can help the doctor detect lesions at an early stage.
AI can help cars enable intelligent electrification, networking and information sharing.
Note: Please note that the posts above are still under development and are meant for providing general information only. They should not be considered professional advice. The authors and this website are not liable for any errors or damages resulting from the use of this information.
The hype surrounding digital twins is undoubtedly real, with many IoT players actively seeking to leverage the unique benefits of digital twin technology to gain a competitive edge in the market.
Connectivity, a key component of digital transformation, was at center stage with a significant focus on satellite and 5G.
Partnerships, collaborations, and API will fight the fragmentation in IoT and digital transformation.
San Diego, Buenos Aires, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – May 15, 2023
Counterpoint Research analysts recently attended three of the most prominent tech events of 2023 – Consumer Electronics Show, Mobile World Congress, and Industrial Transformation at Hannover Messe. After a hiatus of three years, these events saw a remarkable return of in-person attendance, indicating a promising comeback of the tech industry. During their visits, Counterpoint analysts delved deep into the latest trends and advancements in IoT and digital transformation, and have now identified seven key takeaways or focus areas. The findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for businesses and organizations looking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Commenting on the key takeaways, Associate Director Mohit Agrawal said, “As we attended the tech events of 2023, it became increasingly clear that the rise of digital twins was the single biggest takeaway, particularly in Hannover. We saw how digital twins have energized the industrial IoT players, and are likely to become a critical component of digital transformation in the coming years. Connectivity plays a crucial role in enabling digital transformation and the events had a significant focus on satellite, private networks, eSIM, 5G, and connectivity management platforms. Finally, we were impressed with the companies’ incorporation of AI in various processes, especially in analytics, visual inspection, and robotics. It is exciting to see how these technological advancements will shape the future of industries, and we are eager to keep a close watch on these developments.”
Source: Counterpoint Research
Each of the events was attended by over 100,000 visitors and had exhibitors across the long value chain of IoT and digital transformation. Many of the takeaways amplified Counterpoint Research’s top trends prediction for 2023 released earlier this year, noted ResearchVice President Neil Shah. “IoT is an incredibly vast and fragmented value chain, and it is becoming increasingly clear that industry consolidation is necessary. Efforts like the Qualcomm Aware platform are a step in the right direction to reduce fragmentation and improve the overall IoT landscape. It is essential to see more of these kinds of partnerships between players in the industry to reduce adoption friction points and fully realize the potential of IoT. APIs are increasingly becoming important in seamless collaborations. As we move forward, we remain optimistic about the future of IoT and the role that industry collaboration will play in driving innovation and growth,” Shah added.
Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
Counterpoint at Mobile World Congress 2023 – Complete Insights
APRIL 3, 2023
Discover the latest trends and insights from Mobile World Congress (MWC)! Explore our collection of blogs, reports, videos, podcasts, and interviews from the event, and get a comprehensive view of the mobile industry’s future. From expert analysis to exclusive interviews, we’ve got you covered. Dive in and stay ahead of the curve!
Blogging the Future: Insights and Analysis from MWC23
Discover the key insights and takeaways with our comprehensive wrap-up report
MWC was back to almost full strength in 2023, with nearly 90,000 visitors creating excitement and buzz that belied the ongoing macro challenges blighting the tech industry.
MWC23: The Future of Mobile, Straight to Your Ears
Listen to our exclusive podcast for Key Takeaways from MWC 2023
This year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona proved to be a great success. At the event, which was held in earnest for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies introduced new products and technologies. (Podcast in Korean language)
MWC23: Youtube Spotlight
MWC23: LinkedIn Live
Stay ahead of the game with our bite-sized insights and highlights
MWC was back to almost full strength in 2023, with nearly 90,000 visitors creating excitement and buzz that belied the ongoing macro challenges blighting the tech industry. The event theme of “Velocity” brought forth discussions across multiple areas including 5G, AI, private networks, digital transformation, eSIM, sustainability and, again, fair share.
Network and infrastructure announcements dominated the show, although there was also a major undercurrent of ways to finally monetise 5G effectively. AI seemed to be moving from concept to reality, featuring in some of the most intriguing and impressive demos, but augmented and extended reality devices, while present on many stands, showed how far the technology still needs to progress before reaching mass adoption.
And, of course, there was the usual slew of smartphone announcements, mostly from Chinese OEMs, although this once key side of MWC was somewhat muted given the decision by some vendors to separate their flagship launches from the show.
Lastly, and a theme that underpinned almost every aspect of MWC, was sustainability, indicating that the industry seems to have finally accepted the critical need to act now to reduce its environmental impact.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Infographic: Mobile Market Monitor (Q1 and Q2 2023)
Global Smartphone Shipments Market Data (Q3 2021 – Q2 2023)
China Smartphone Shipments Market Data (Q1 2022 – Q2 2023)
US Smartphone Shipments Market Data (Q1 2022 – Q2 2023)
India Smartphone Shipments Market Data (Q1 2022 – Q2 2023)
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 kicked off in Barcelona, Spain. Some of the biggest names in the tech industry will be showcasing their new launches and innovations during the four-day event. Counterpoint Research analysts are on the ground covering all the major announcements, so stay tuned! Ahead of the show, major tech companies like Xiaomi, Nokia HMD and Motorola made some announcements. Here is our quick analysis and summary of the same:
Xiaomi 13 Series, Watch S2 Pro, Buds 4 Pro, and Electric Scooter 4 Ultra
Xiaomi took the stage to announce three new smartphones, a smartwatch, a TWS and an electric scooter. The Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro smartphones were the stars of the show, featuring a Leica co-engineered camera system, which converges both the hardware and software tuning for a professional photography experience. Both smartphones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which brings performance and efficiency gains, among other features.
The more premium among the two, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, comes with a Sony IMX989 50MP primary 1-inch camera sensor, a 50MP floating telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide camera as well. Both the regular 13 and 13 Pro smartphones feature the Leica Vivid and Authentic modes, along with a bunch of filters, which enables the Leica camera experience on smartphones. The 75mm equivalent telephoto lens on the Xiaomi 13 Pro also offers professional-style portrait effects.
Apart from still photography, Xiaomi has also strongly focused on the videography aspect of its smartphones. The two new devices can capture crisp 8K 24fps videos and 4K night videos, and a 10-bit Log mode. They also feature Dolby Vision video recording, similar to what Apple iPhones offer. The Xiaomi 13 offers 67W fast wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is powered with 120W fast wired charging, which can charge the phone’s battery to full capacity in just about 19 minutes.
WATCH: Xiaomi 13 Pro First Impressions
Xiaomi unveiled a third smartphone during the event called the 13 Lite which boasts dual front cameras with a 32MP sensor and an 8MP depth sensor. The smartphone’s features include dynamic framing to keep everyone in the frame in focus, and dual LEDs to help capture better selfies in low-light settings. The 13 Lite also has a vlog mode for content creators to record and edit on the go. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC.
Xiaomi also announced the Watch S1 Pro smartwatch with a 1.47-inch AMOLED display, advanced health tracking, over 100 fitness modes and more. The smartwatch has built-in GPS, wireless charging and includes Bluetooth phone calling as well. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro TWS headphones come with 11mm drivers, Hi-res audio support, six ANC modes and three transparency modes among other features. It also comes with multi-device connectivity, which allows it to connect with two devices at a time.
Xiaomi’s final announcement was the Electric Scooter 4 Ultra with an enhanced 70 kms range, IP55 water resistance, dual suspensions and more. In terms of pricing, the Xiaomi 13 Lite will be available for €499, the 13 starts at €999 and the 13 Pro starts at €1,299. Although the pricing is a little steep, almost close to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Leica brand value and camera innovation should help justify the price tag. The Watch S1 Pro starts at €299, the Buds 4 Pro will be available for €249 and the Electric Scooter 4 Ultra has a €999 price tag.
Nokia G22: A durable and sustainable smartphone
Nokia HMD, which usually positions its smartphones around durability and longevity, announced a global partnership with iFixit to focus on the repairability of devices, particularly the Nokia G22. This fits nicely with Nokia HMD’s efforts toward sustainability. All of Nokia’s new devices – G22, C22 and C32 – focus on improved imaging, durability and at the same time improved CMF (Color, Material and Finish).
Additionally, Nokia HMD has announced that these devices will be locally manufactured, making Nokia HMD one of the very few device OEMs looking to localize their European smartphone manufacturing. However, it will be easier said than done and Nokia will likely start with assembly initially. The new C and G Series are likely to help Nokia HMD gain share in some of the Western and Central Eastern European markets where the entry-tier segment has been hurt due to muted upgrades in the previous years.
Nokia has packed some firsts in the C Series. The C32 has the highest image quality in the C Series yet while the C22 promises a better build quality than its competitors. The G Series has solid specs as well, though Nokia HMD might need to pivot from the existing notch design as soon as possible while competing with pricing with its Chinese rivals like realme and Xiaomi in similar price segments.
Nokia unveils new logo and identity
Nokia has announced a major strategy shift that will see the company move into a new stage of its three-phase strategy announced in 2021, which was aimed at delivering sustainable and profitable growth. Nokia has announced that it is now moving away from the reset phase and working towards focusing on six key pillars of growth that aim to boost the company’s market share and consolidate its leadership in key business areas. They will also leverage Nokia’s brand for more product categories and launch new service-based business models.
We have already seen some of this strategy at work. During MWC 2022, Nokia launched software-as-a-service for CSPs and enterprises while also launching Network-as-a-service and iSIM secure connect as a SaaS. Nokia’s smartphone licensee, Nokia HMD has been talking about sustainability at the centre of their vision for some time now.
Lastly, Nokia also refreshed its visual identity to mark its shift in strategy by changing its iconic (and almost nostalgic) logo. Nostalgia could be one reason behind this decision because most consumers still remember the company for its early smartphone leadership, a perception which according to the company has been holding the brand back as it seeks to grow in the enterprise market and outpace competitors.
(Written with inputs from Tarun Pathak, Ankit Malhotra)
This is a developing post…
Counterpoint will be attending MWC Barcelona from February 27 – March 2
Our analysts will be attending MWC Barcelona, 2023. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.
Here is the list of analysts attending the event:
Tom Kang– All topics – Semi, Devices, Emerging Tech
Counterpoint will be attending MWC Las Vegas from September 28 – 30
Our research analysts Neil Shah, Gareth Owen and Matthew Orf will be attending MWC Las Vegas, 2022. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.
Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with them.
Understand how mmWave is unlocking the full potential of 5G, and hear about deployment best practice from some of the industry’s leading experts.
Between now and 2025, a staggering $5 trillion will be contributed to the global economy by mobile technologies and services – with 1 billion 5G connections forecast by the end of 2022 alone (source GSMA Intelligence).
5G mmWave is a key element of the 5G technology mix, providing maximum data capacity at very high speeds and very low latency –thereby facilitating reliable and high-quality connectivity in busy areas and for high-traffic scenarios, such as densely populated residential areas, public transport hubs, large entertainment venues and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in homes.
Counterpoint will be attending MWC Barcelona from February 28 – March 3
Our analysts Neil Shah, Peter Richardson, Jan Stryjak, Yang Wang and Ritesh Bendre will be attending MWC Barcelona, 2022. You can schedule a meeting with them to discuss the latest trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and understand how our leading research and services can help your business.
Click here (or send us an email at contact@counterpointresearch.com) to schedule a meeting with them.
Had MWC not been cancelled Huawei would have held its launch event in front of a packed auditorium. However, instead, it is having to use a webcast to launch its latest set of consumer products. This state of isolation is becoming more and more familiar for Huawei. In China, the COVID-19 outbreak has isolated entire cities and caused disruption to sales and supply chains. Given Huawei’s reliance on the China market, thanks to the US’s attempt to isolate the company from many of its traditional suppliers, it is now suffering from a sharp decline in demand.
Nevertheless, the company is still launching new products… or at least revised versions of existing products.
Huawei is continuing with its 1+8+N product strategy. The ‘1’ refers to the smartphone, which it sees as the pivotal device. The ‘8’ refers to adjacent devices such as PCs, wearables, tablet devices, audio devices and even cars. The ‘N’ refers to the innumerable IoT devices that will increasingly form a background hum of low-power connected devices.
This round of product launches features one smartphone and a few from the ‘8’.
Huawei Mate Xs
A revision of the Mate X launched a year ago, the Mate Xs, which now includes the HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G chipset. The hinge and display have undergone a redesign claimed to make them more robust. The design is amazing – the outwardly folding display allows for both sides of the device to be active (in certain states) when the device is closed, but the user interface seamlessly resizes when opened.
That same UI allows for some apps to be run side-by-side in resizable windows for multi-tasking.
However, the outwardly folding screen means the screen is vulnerable to damage unless placed inside a case. We noted that one of the demo devices already had scratches on the surface of the display, despite Huawei adding additional layers to the screen.
Cameras are now the same as the Mate 30 Pro’s, which are excellent. But the lack of GMS is also like the Mate 30 Pro, which is far from excellent. This means the product is likely more or less unsalable outside of China.
Samsung is already iterating the folding form factor towards a clam shell design, in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. While it is continuing with the Galaxy Fold for now, we are likely to see further, necessary, iteration in the folding form factor before this style of device settles into something mainstream. The original Mate X was, arguably, a far better design than Samsung’s Galaxy Fold. However the clam shell design of the Z Flip has a lot of positives – inherent screen protection and buyer familiarity for two. That Huawei is still refining the outwardly folding, and vulnerable, Mate X design suggests that it sees a future in this form factor – we’re less certain.
Huawei MatePad Pro 5G
Huawei has had a notable series of tablet devices that have done well in a lackluster market. It is introducing the ‘Mate’ nomenclature to the tablet line-up (instead of MediaPad) and is equipping its new tablet device with the same Kirin 990 chipset for 5G connectivity. The display to body ratio is around 90%, which means the bezels are narrow. To avoid the misinterpretation of touching the display by merely holding the device, Huawei has developed the UI so that it disregards these ‘false positives’. In a brief hands-on trial, it worked well, though wasn’t completely foolproof.
Huawei is using the same UI capability as on the Mate Xs, called App Multiplier, to allow apps to be run side-by-side, resized, stretched etc. It claims there are thousands of apps currently capable of supporting App Multiplier with more in the works. It was notable that many, but not all, the apps shown in the demos were Chinese, which suggests that Huawei has Chinese developers on-side, likely through the Huawei AppGallery program, but far fewer non-Chinese developers.
The MatePad Pro has an attachable keyboard and a pen that recharges when attached, magnetically, to the top of the device. Incidentally, the MatePad Pro can also wirelessly reverse charge other devices from its capacious 7250mAH battery.
Huawei Sound X
Huawei’s rise to prominence in smartphones was coincident with its partnership with Leica. We think the Leica deal was a significant factor in Huawei’s success. As the company is now pushing beyond the smartphone it is trying to find the key to unlock other high potential markets. It has achieved modest success with a smartwatch and has several true wireless audible products on the market. The next sector in Huawei’s sights is the home audio market. In its attempt here, it has partnered with a French hi-end audio company called Devialet that counts Jay-Z among its shareholders. Devialet has co-engineered the new product with Huawei. The speaker itself is a squat device, weighing in at 3.5kg yet packs a tremendous audio punch, thanks to dual woofers and six tweeters. The synchronized, back-to-back or so-called, push-push, woofer design means that the speaker can generate high sound pressure levels with little vibration. The product is likely to be priced around the same as the Apple HomePod.
In China, we understand the Sound X is equipped with Huawei’s own Xiaoyi voice assistant, Huawei HiLink smart home control, and support for Huawei music. Outside of China these are less likely to be of interest. Nevertheless, the audio quality alone makes the Sound X a compelling proposition. But in a market awash with strong competitors, it would be surprising if Huawei was to make much of an impact.
Huawei Matebook X Pro and Matebook D
The other Huawei products being announced are refreshed versions of its laptop PCs. These again are well-designed products, but ones undermined by the ongoing trade embargo with the US. But again, weirdly and inexplicably, they don’t have cellular connectivity. For a company that sees logic in equipping a tablet device with a 5G modem, to entirely forego cellular connectivity in its PC line-up continues to strike us as odd.
Huawei’s isolation by the US will likely continue indefinitely. The isolation caused by COVID-19 is showing some positive signs, but it’s too early to call an end to the outbreak within the next few weeks. Should either type of isolation come to an end, Huawei will regain ground, but at a very much reduced level to where it otherwise would have been.
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