Huawei has introduced two new flagship smartphones, the Mate 60 Pro Plus and the Mate Fold X5, following the recent launch of the Huawei Mate 60 and Mate 60 Pro. Despite restrictions on purchasing 5G-capable chips from U.S. companies like Qualcomm, Huawei’s new phones have showcased their ability to achieve 5G speeds.
The Huawei Mate 60 Pro Plus stands out as a more potent variant of the Mate 60 and 60 Pro. It features a spacious 6.82-inch OLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. The front camera comprises a 13MP sensor and a 3D facial recognition sensor, embedded within three holes in the display. On the rear, a versatile trio of cameras includes a 48MP main camera, a 40MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens. The device offers configurations of up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage and is available in black and white colors.
The Mate Fold X5, although similar to the Mate X3, sports some distinct features such as a modified camera design, a new Phantom Purple color option, and support for up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Notably, Huawei skipped the “4” in the series naming, similar to Oppo’s Find X series.
While Huawei has not officially disclosed the processors powering these phones, they are rumored to feature the same 5G-capable Kirin 9000 series chips found in the Mate 60 and 60 Pro models.
Huawei’s development of its own 5G-capable modem reflects its response to restrictions on using components from U.S. companies. Despite prior use of Qualcomm chips in some of its phones, Huawei was limited to 4G variants due to restrictions. Achieving 5G speeds is a significant milestone for Huawei as it strives to overcome its challenges. Although hindered by the absence of the Google Play Store, Huawei’s determination to compete in the global market remains evident.
Furthermore, there are reports that Apple is considering producing its modem chips, following its trend of designing various iPhone components in-house, including the A-series chips. If Apple follows in Huawei’s footsteps and ditches Qualcomm’s modems, it could impact the dynamics of the mobile industry, especially as competitors like MediaTek and Samsung strengthen their offerings.