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Huawei could say goodbye to Android apps for good next year
HarmonyOS Next will not include Android app libraries
The US sanctions knocked the wind out of Huawei's smartphone business. Due to the ban, the Chinese company could not use US technology in its phones, which also cut off its access to Android. To ensure its survival and as a part of its strategy to diversify away from US tech, Huawei announced HarmonyOS in August 2019, its cross-platform Android replacement. Despite the company claiming otherwise, the OS was based on Android and supported Android apps. Four years later, Huawei appears ready to ditch Android app support in its OS.
The Watch GT 4 is here to prove Huawei is serious about smartwatches
This is the most accomplished smartwatch from Huawei so far
Huawei has a new gadget to reveal, and it isn’t a smartphone. This time, it’s the culmination of a few generations of smartwatches from the brand and what Huawei says is over eight years of research. The next big product from Huawei is the Watch GT 4, and it’s the company’s most accomplished smartwatch yet with a fashion-focused design ethos, and an impressive feature set to rival the best Android smartwatches.
New Huawei Watch GT 4 design options leak ahead of launch
Renderings suggest black gunmetal and polished steel finishes are possibilities
There are lots of great smartwatch options on the market, meaning it’s possible to be picky while shopping. Whether you want one in a specific color or operating system, there’s something out there for everyone. If you happen to live in a country where Huawei products are available, you can select from the company’s smartwatch lineup as well. The Huawei Watch GT 4 is slated to launch on September 14, and new renderings suggest that it will come in two colors.
Huawei might soon sell 5G smartphones again, overcoming US sanctions
Huawei reportedly partnered with SMIC to produce 5G chips in China
Back in May 2019, Huawei was banned from the US, being put on a list that prohibits American companies from selling products or services to Huawei without a license. These restrictions have made things very hard for the company, and for the last three years, it's been in crisis mode, trying to stop a downturn in profits as well as get past the sanctions. As it turns out, Huawei may have found a way to raise profits despite sanctions.
After a tumultuous few years for Huawei, the company has put an even bigger focus on the camera with its latest flagship smartphone, which is almighty impressive. I’ve had the opportunity to try out the Huawei P60 Pro before its European launch, and I think this will be one of the best camera phones on the market. It may not be the most useful phone for everyone, but there are some remarkable camera features here worth highlighting.
Huawei’s lightweight foldable will make its international debut on May 9
The P60 Pro is also launching outside of China alongside some other Huawei accessories
Huawei is no longer the same company that it was a few years ago. US trade sanctions crippled its smartphone business, leading the Chinese giant to make some tough decisions. But the smartphone maker has not given up. After laying low for the last couple of years, Huawei made a splash with its recently announced P60 Pro and Mate X3, the latter being among the world's lightest foldable phones. These devices have made their debut in China so far, but Huawei intends to bring them to the international market later this year.
The new Huawei Mate X3 is one of the world’s lightest foldable phones
Featherweight foldable without Google apps
Foldable phones have found their way into the mainstream, and while brands like Samsung have dominated the product category with their early offerings, the landscape is gradually beginning to shift with recent entries like the Honor Magic Vs and the new Huawei Mate X3. Foldables are all about maximizing pocketable screen real estate, and now Huawei's latest for China focuses on another critical aspect — bringing you all that space while still keeping the weight down.
The next Huawei flagship camera phone could be official by the end of the month
The company might also announce its next foldable at the event
Thanks to some impressive products, Huawei was once a major smartphone player in the smartphone market. But things have only worsened for the company since the US trade ban, as it has lost access to Google's suite of apps and services as well as the latest and greatest smartphone chips. Despite the ban, Huawei announced the P50 series in China in July 2021 with an impressive camera setup, though it lacked 5G support. Nearly two years since the P50 series launch, Huawei is gearing up to announce the P60 series alongside a new foldable later this month.
Huawei could return to the CPU game with new 12 to 14nm chips
Wearables using these chips could be in the cards
US government sanctions took a toll on Huawei's business, preventing companies reliant on American technologies from supplying the consumer electronics brand with its products. These decisions even impacted Huawei's choice of chips for smartphones. However, a report claims the company has made headway in preparing to produce its own chips, albeit using the older 14nm process node.
There's actually some good news for Huawei coming out of the US
Not that it'll get rid of its import ban
A major figurehead the US government has been targeting in its legal salvo against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is officially coming off the hook. This latest move by prosecutors ends a years-long saga that saw the firm's CFO detained in Canada under threat of extradition to its southern neighbor to face charges of fraud over the breaching of financial sanctions.
Huawei’s in-house Kirin phone chips aren’t coming back anytime soon
The US sanctions have hit the Chinese giant hard
Huawei has long been using its in-house chips for its entire lineup of phones. While these Kirin processors stood neck and neck with some of the top-selling Android flagships back in the day, the US clampdown on Huawei has left Kirin processors in limbo. Now, it looks like Huawei won’t be bringing back its Kirin phone processors, at least in the near future.
The FCC is snuffing out Huawei and ZTE's American comeback hopes
More Chinese firms join the commission's 'naughty list'
In June of 2020, the United States officially declared Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE as national security threats because of the amount of data they handle and their close proximity to the Chinese government. In the time since, American wireless carriers have been busy using public funds appropriated by Congress to "rip and replace" Huawei and ZTE equipment from their respective grids. Then, just last week, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent out a proposal to ban approvals for telecommunications equipment made by companies deemed to be a national security risk, including Huawei and ZTE. The proposal was also sent to the three FCC commissioners and it now seems like a complete ban on equipment approvals is imminent.
Huawei unveils camera-centric Nova 10 smartphone lineup and Watch D at IFA 2022
New MateBooks and MatePads are also here
Huawei has seen its fortunes diminish over the past few years as a consequence of the US trade ban. To make matters worse for the Chinese manufacturer, Google revoked access to Play Services, leading the company to come up with its own solution known as Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). Despite these major setbacks, Huawei has continued to release smartphones in its home country as well as in neighboring regions in addition to international markets like Europe. Well, the list of Huawei devices going global grows longer this week at IFA 2022 with the introduction of two new phones — known as the Nova 10 and the Nova 10 — in addition to the health-oriented Watch D smartwatch.
The Huawei Mate series is back with the Mate 50, launching in September
Huawei's first Mate phone in two years will arrive a day before Apple's purported iPhone 14 event
The US trade ban dealt a massive blow to Huawei's smartphone business. The Chinese company did not exit the market entirely, but the shortage of core components forced it to slow down the pace of launches significantly. And while Huawei phones are available outside of China, the lack of Google Play access means they don't find many takers. Despite all these hurdles and setbacks, the company has released some impressive devices over the years, including the foldable Mate Xs 2, P50 Pocket, and the P50 series. Now, Huawei is gearing up to launch the Mate 50 in China on September 6—a day ahead of the rumored iPhone 14 launch event.
Taking out Huawei and ZTE tech from US 5G networks will cost billions more than planned
What's another $3 billion going to hurt?
Back in November 2019, the FCC snuffed out ties with Chinese (government-backed) enterprise, deciding that Huawei and ZTE posed a threat to US national security. Congress later allocated funds and required operators using 5G equipment from either or both vendors to "rip and replace" it all. The FCC estimated that the procedure would cost nearly $1.84 billion at the outset of the project but, as it's now turned out, that figure may have been grossly underestimated.
The Honor Watch GS 3 still suffers from the Huawei split
While Huawei is moving on with HarmonyOS, Honor’s latest watch feels stuck in limbo
Honor only recently split from its parent company, Huawei, back in 2020. The newly independent firm is working hard on building on its legacy while also moving forward on its own. However, losing Huawei's enormous research and development capabilities is a huge blow, and it’s one Honor needs to overcome before it can truly stand on its own. The company has already proven that it has the right building blocks set in place with devices like the Magic4 Pro, but it still has a lot of catching up to do. This becomes clearest when we look at some of Honor’s latest wearables, like the Watch GS 3.
Canada bans Huawei from its 5G networks
ZTE has also been barred from supplying 4G and 5G networking equipment
In 2019, amidst the trade war between the US and China, the Trump-led government passed an order banning Huawei from procuring and supplying 5G equipment to network operators in the country. The US was worried that the company could be conducting surveillance on behalf of the Chinese government, leading to this move. Later, the UK passed a similar law banning the Shenzhen-headquartered company from supplying components for its 5G network. Almost two years after it, the Canadian government is following suit in banning Huawei and ZTE — another Chinese state-owned firm — from providing 5G networking hardware due to security concerns.
Huawei's foldable Mate Xs 2 goes global, alongside six other gadgets
New Huawei fitness trackers and smartwatches galore
Previously announced for the Chinese market, Huawei has now confirmed the Mate Xs 2 foldable phone is coming to its preferred global locations. The global release details were revealed at an event in Milan, which the company also used to launch six wearables. You won't be able to buy these Huawei gadgets in the US, but they're all coming to European markets, including the UK.
Huawei AppGallery vulnerability allows paid apps to be downloaded for free
Don't expect this hole to remain open for long
Following the US ban, Huawei lost access to Google services. As a result, it had to invest more resources into its own software, Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), for use on its smartphones. Part of that is the Huawei AppGallery, the company’s alternative to the Google Play Store. Now, the whole point of an app store is to distribute software, and that includes collecting money for paid titles. Unfortunately for Huawei, a flaw seems to allow users to download paid apps for free.
Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro could be coming to Europe with a high-end strap option
You get to choose between two sizes and multiple strap materials
Late last year, Huawei revealed the Watch GT 3, a wearable highlighted by purported marathon battery life. Last week, the company announced a Pro variant with ECG functionality for China. While the non-Pro Watch GT 3 has already been selling internationally, it wasn’t clear if its pricier model would be getting the same treatment. But as a new report now shows, the Huawei Watch GT 3 Pro will indeed be making its way to Europe soon — in a few different flavors.