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Honor's future rests in the hands of bickering US regulators
The smartphone maker was spun off by Huawei late last year
Last year, Huawei sold off its Honor brand of smartphones to a consortium primarily backed by government-back companies to bypass sanctions placed against the company by the US government. Those restrictions have remained in place for Huawei, even as a new administration came into power at the start of this year. Despite the sale, security agencies in the US are considering expanding those sanctions to include Honor.
Honor is back in the premium smartphone game with the Magic3 series
Launching to global markets in the near future
Former Huawei sub-brand Honor has just announced its new flagship smartphone lineup. The Magic3 series consists of three phones that can once again boast Google apps and services as well as a packed spec sheet. Each device in the series features a curved-edge display, a powerful Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset, and an impressive selection of cameras, front and back.
Huawei P50 and P50 Pro are official, and officially have the weirdest-looking cameras you've ever seen
No 5G, no Google apps, and probably no chance it will turn Huawei's future around
Huawei's repeatedly leaked P50 series has been formally announced. As you'd probably figure, these still don't come with Google apps or the Play Store, making them a total non-starter for most folks, but die-hard Huawei fans willing to get their apps elsewhere (I presume such people exist) can celebrate the release of the latest flagship lineup, gargantuan pair of camera bumps and all.
Honor dons novelty mustache, unveils first new phone with Google Apps
The super-sparkly Honor 50 and 50 Pro are the company's first new phones with Google Apps in almost two years
Thanks to the US and other countries' trade sanctions on China-based Huawei, one of the world's biggest phone manufacturers was effectively cut off from Google's proprietary Android software. With few choices remaining, Huawei sold off its Honor sub-brand to a consortium of new owners, effectively making it an entirely new corporate entity. With its B2B relationships restored, the Honor 50 and the 50 Pro are the company's first new Android phones to receive Google apps in almost two years.
Honor phones are getting the apps they need to matter in 2021
Good news for competition in the mid-range market
Huawei's unfortunate US sanctions cut the company down in its prime, and we missed out on some of the best Android camera phones ever made because of it. Its sub-brand Honor was putting out products almost as good for a fraction of the price, too. Thankfully, it looks like Honor's next flagship smartphone is going to mark the return of Google apps and services.
Huawei may not be selling its phones in the United States again anytime soon, but it has yet to throw in the towel on Android phones. Over the last several months, we've seen several leaks from the company that put its next flagship phone on full display. Although we still don't know when the successor to last year's P40 series might arrive, a new leak gives us some hints about what we can expect from the device — and its enormous camera bump.
Huawei's folding phone survived a torture test that'll make you squirm
The Mate X2 handled it like a champ
Durability usually isn't the first thing that comes to mind when we think of folding phones — at least, not in a positive context. The bleeding edge form factor makes use of moving parts like hinges, with non-IP-rated gaps between parts and fragile plastic or "polymer" display components. So it's pretty surprising to see the nearly $3,000 Huawei Mate X2 survive JerryRigEverything's backward bend test seemingly without any damage at all.
While Huawei remains shut out of the US smartphone industry, the company is seeking to bring in revenue through new methods. On Tuesday, Huawei announced its intention to begin charging companies like Samsung and Apple royalties for access and use of its 5G-related patents.
You may soon be waiting longer and paying more for Snapdragon-powered phones
Market watchers worried the chip drought has invaded mobile
Qualcomm is struggling to meet a demand surge for its Snapdragon chipsets with multiple supply challenges affecting its production strategy. The ripple effects could bring more priority to the premium tier at the expense of more affordable devices and longer waits for orders.
Huawei P50 leak shows the same massive camera bump as its Pro bro
The phone is allegedly using a huge 1-inch Sony sensor
Yesterday we had our first look at the Huawei P50 Pro. Following close behind is the P50, sans Pro modifier, with a very similar set of leaks. According to the images, this presumably cheaper variant ditches the curved screen panel and has slightly thicker screen bezels. The distinctive giant camera module, with two bulbous lenses, remains in place.
Huawei may be in trouble due to the trade restrictions imposed by the US, but the company is still doing its best to create enticing new products. After we got a first glimpse at the upcoming P50 Pro flagship on New Year's Eve 2020, renowned leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (better known as @OnLeaks) is back with more renders that give us a way better idea of what the device will look like — prepare for an absolute unit of a camera bump.
Huawei's new folding phone costs as much as a used car and still doesn't have a real app store
Still no Google apps on-board
Huawei announced its next-gen foldable, the Mate X2, in China today. The phone features an inward-folding design, in stark contrast to the original Mate X, whose display wrapped around it. In other words, it finally adopts the design approach that Samsung has stuck with since the original Galaxy Fold — a wise decision given how fragile flexible panels are. What may prove to be quite a bit less wise, though, is how much Huawei wants you to pay for its phone.
Huawei may have realized it's doing folding screens backwards, could switch to inward fold for the Mate X2
The leaked renders show an impediment-free inward folding screen
Flexible screens are probably among the most delicate pieces of tech out in the real world, and Huawei’s decision to put one on the outside of its first foldable was surely a risky venture. With the follow-up Mate X2, the company will allegedly make an about-face and settle on an inward folding design, and the resulting device looks a lot like the Galaxy Z Fold2 in these leaked renders.
Huawei is set to launch its next foldable, the Mate X2, on February 22
You still won't be able to get your hands on it, mate
Huawei created a furor among visitors at CES 2019 when it showcased its upcoming foldable phone that admittedly looked more futuristic than the prototype Samsung had shown. A lot has changed, however, between then and now. While the South Korean giant is now making the finest foldables on the market, its Chinese rival has been crippled by the US trade ban. Huawei isn't giving up, though, and is set to launch its next folding phone — the Mate X2 — later this month.
Honor says it's no longer affected by Huawei's trade sanctions
The company plans to produce more high-end phones and expand overseas sales
Huawei was one of the world's top smartphone manufacturers only a few short years ago, but ever-increasing trade sanctions by the United States took a toll on the company. Huawei sold off its Honor sub-division late last year to save the budget brand from the same sanctions, and according to a recent interview with Honor's CEO, the move seems to be working.
Honor View40 announced as brand's first phone since Huawei split
Powerful Kirin chips make way for MediaTek's Dimensity 1000+
In a bid to save its sub-brand from the supply chain woes that have imperiled its phone business in the wake of the US trade ban, Huawei sold Honor to a Chinese government-backed consortium in November of last year. Honor is now launching its first phone as an independent company in the form of the View40 along with a new brand strategy encapsulated by the slogan "Go Beyond."
Trump administration issues one more middle finger to Huawei and its US suppliers
Reuters: $120 billion in US trade with Huawei held up
One of the President Donald Trump's choicest adversaries during his term has been China. He considers the country to be a trade scofflaw while politicians in intelligence circles have pegged it as a digital security threat. Huawei has been targeted to be the biggest casualty from multiple sanctions that have blocked it from acquiring American goods and services. Now, as the current administration makes way for another, we're learning of one of its final moves symbolizing a door slam.
UK government to ban installation of Huawei 5G equipment from September 2021
As part of plan to remove all Huawei 5G tech by 2027
After recent rumors about further sanctions, the UK government has outlined its plans to remove Huawei completely from its 5G network by the end of 2027. The purchase of new equipment made by the Chinese company will also be banned from December 31, 2020. Existing 2G, 3G, and 5G network equipment made by Huawei will remain until it is no longer needed, however, as it's deemed too difficult and costly to replace any sooner.
Huawei is selling Honor to government-backed consortium
The deal will create a new parent company for Honor, with Huawei holding zero ownership
Earlier this month, it was reported that Huawei was looking to sell its budget sub-brand Honor to a consortium, potentially saving Honor from the various trade embargoes placed on its parent company. The deal has now gone through, ceding control of Honor to a government-backed group of companies.
Qualcomm can now sell chips to Huawei again, but not any with 5G
Huawei is also asking the UK to reconsider its ban
The trade ban on Huawei by the United States finally took full effect in September, forcing Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, LG, and other hardware suppliers to stop selling to Huawei. Qualcomm has been pushing for an exemption to sell chips to Huawei, and now the company has been granted a limited license to do just that.