Chinese language smartphone model Honor on Friday unveiled its first mannequin since Huawei bought the unit in November, below strain from US sanctions.
Why it issues: Huawei bought Honor to maintain the model free from US know-how export restrictions. Friday’s launch exhibits that the technique has achieved preliminary success, as Honor’s new telephone incorporates know-how that Huawei nonetheless finds tough to accumulate.
- The processor which powers the brand new mannequin, the Honor V40, is made by Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek, which is topic to a US export regulation imposed final yr. It requires chip distributors world wide to accumulate a particular license from Washington to promote merchandise with American know-how to Huawei.
- V40 customers in abroad markets will reportedly be capable of Google apps and providers. Huawei continues to be blocked from utilizing these providers due to a 2019 US ban.
Particulars: The 6.7-inch V40 smartphone lineup begins at RMB 3,599 (round $556), that includes a 50 million-pixel digital camera.
- The V40 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000 Plus system-on-a-chip (SoC), which is suitable with next-generation 5G wi-fi know-how.
- It additionally makes use of Samsung’s charging know-how, based on Honor CEO Zhao Ming.
- Zhao mentioned in a live-streamed press convention on Friday that the corporate now has 5 analysis facilities and greater than half of its employees work on analysis and improvement.
- It’s unclear whether or not Honor purchased MediaTek’s processors earlier than or after its cut up from Huawei. MediaTek advised reporters (in Chinese language) on Wednesday that it’s nonetheless “assessing its cooperation” with the corporate because it launches a brand new collection of 7-nanometer Dimensity 1000 chips.
- The mannequin is accessible to order on-line for home customers beginning Friday. The corporate didn’t announce a world launch plan throughout the press convention. It isn’t but listed on its worldwide web site.
Context: Huawei in November bought Honor to a government-backed consortium. Honor is a funds smartphone model that Huawei established in 2013. It competes with different funds manufacturers akin to Xiaomi and Oppo whereas the Huawei model sells to the high-end handset market.
- A report launched by analysis agency Trendforce this month mentioned Honor will turn out to be a direct Huawei competitor.