The Huawei Mate 70 series has experienced a strong start following its official debut last week. This new flagship lineup consists of four models: the Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, Mate 70 Pro+, and Mate 70 RS Ultimate. A few days after the launch, the company began accepting pre-orders, and the demand has been impressive. Huawei’s CEO, He Gang, disclosed that the series has accumulated over 6.7 million reservations in China. These figures stem from non-binding sign-ups, as customers do not need to pay to reserve a unit. While the excitement is not as intense as last year’s Mate 60, the level of interest remains significant.
Supply Chain Pressures Build
However, while the surging demand is a good thing for the company, it is facing mounting supply chain strain due to the high demand. Reports suggest the firm is pushing its limits to meet initial orders, yet a shortfall in early stock seems likely. The Kirin 9020 chipset at the core of the Mate 70 series may pose the largest hurdle. The Huawei Mate 70 series uses a domestic chip, designed to work without US parts and it has eight CPU cores and 12 threads. Its clock speed peaks at 2.5 GHz for one core, 2.15 GHz for three others, and 1.6 GHz for four more while the GPU works at 840 MHz. Though not on par with top-tier 3nm chips from global firms, it is a step up from the Kirin 9010, offering a 30% boost.
Huawei’s pricing covers a broad spectrum, beginning at CNY5,499 for the Mate 70. The Pro model is priced at CNY 6,499 ($892), while the Pro+ starts at CNY 8,499 ($1,169). At the premium end, the RS Ultimate commands a remarkable starting price of CNY 11,999 ($1,650).
The initial buzz surrounding the Mate 70 could significantly influence Huawei’s performance throughout the year. However, the company’s supply chain will need to rapidly expand to meet the growing demand. The Kirin 9020 represents a significant technological advancement for Huawei but might also present potential challenges in production. Ultimately, the success of the Mate 70 series will depend on Huawei’s ability to fulfil demand efficiently. The company’s response to this challenge could determine its future success in an increasingly competitive market.
