Huawei Mate 60 Pro: Re-energizing Resilience in the China Smartphone Market

In the fast-paced world of technology, Huawei has always been a name to reckon with, and the Mate 60 Pro, set to launch on September 12^th, is poised to make a significant impact. But what's intriguing is that Huawei decided to take a low-key approach, releasing the Mate 60 Pro in China on August 29^th without any advanced notices or flashy advertisements.

So, what's the buzz all about?

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A Refreshing Upgrade

The Mate 60 Pro is a rejuvenation of Huawei's flagship Mate series, packed with powerful hardware upgrades. From camera enhancements to improved display durability and dynamic island-like punched holes, it promises to be a game-changer. But what has really caught our attention is the talk about 5G capabilities.

Early reviews from China suggest that this device offers 5G-matched upload and download speeds, even though Huawei has remained cryptic about its 5G capabilities in their public introductions. Our TechInsights Reverse Engineering team is diving deep into the device this week to confirm whether the Mate 60 Pro is indeed 5G capable. Stay updated by checking out our Mate 60 Pro analysis.

A Resilient Journey

Huawei's smartphone journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Faced with US sanctions on 5G-related technology and chipsets since 2019, the company experienced a sharp decline in smartphone shipments. In 2022, Huawei shipped an estimated 26 million units worldwide, a stark drop from the peak of 241 million units in 2019 (including the Honor brand).

However, there's a glimmer of hope. In Q2 2023, Huawei showed resilience with a remarkable +28% YoY growth rate. This growth stems from loyal fans in China and 4G users in emerging markets who continue to embrace Huawei's 4G-capable smartphones in a 5G era.

What Lies Ahead

Whether the Mate 60 Pro is proven to be 5G capable or not, we anticipate Huawei's smartphone resurgence to continue. We forecast a volume of 35 million units in 2023, marking a significant +36% YoY increase. The Mate 60 Pro alone is expected to ship more than one million units in China by the end of 2023, surpassing its predecessor, the Mate 50 Pro. With the upcoming Mate 60 and other variants in the pipeline, we expect the Mate 60 family to ship between 5 to 6 million units during its lifespan of approximately two years.

If the Mate 60 Pro does turn out to be 5G capable, it could signify a monumental breakthrough for the Chinese semiconductor industry. It has the potential to reshape the global smartphone competitive landscape in 2024 and beyond, potentially putting other major Chinese brands in the shadows. As we eagerly await the Apple iPhone 15 launch, questions arise about whether Apple can defend its momentum in China amidst the increasing competition from Huawei's 5G-capable smartphones. Only time will reveal the answers.

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