Smartphone maker Huawei’s Honor has unveiled its first-ever smartphone, packed with Google software access and Qualcomm chips since it became an independent firm.
The move becomes a significant step of the ex-Huawei brand as it targets to boost its market shares worldwide. The Honor 50, costing 529 euros ($614), will be unveiled in 40 markets globally.
The said smartphone brand is Huawei’s budget-friendly product. A group of buyers patronized it in December, as well as the funds supported by Shenzhen, its home city government.
In 2019 and 2020, the smartphone brand was targeted by U.S. sanctions which blocked its access to crucial technology like the Android operating system of Google and important chips. These sanctions had pulled down the smartphone business of the Chinese company.
Huawei sold off its Honor brand to be spared. Currently, the brand is not covered with U.S. sanctions and its recent device operates Android that runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chip and is packed with Google apps. In addition, the brand has a 6.57-inch display and contains 4-camera setup on the back.
Huawei is seeking to transfer more into the top market segment while Honor was perceived as the company’s budget brand.
Honor, which was unveiled in China earlier this 2021, has amassed some market share in the country. It became the third-largest smartphone player in China last August with 15 percent market share. Counterpoint Research said it marked the first for the brand to gain the position in a year.
Honor’s share in the global market reached 3.7 percent in August. It increased from February’s 1.5 but the major attribute goes to its improvement in China, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, in the international scene, the brand will go against other competitors from China including Xiaomi.
