Huawei Mate 70: Expected Release Date, Features, Specs & Price

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The Huawei Mate 70 features the all-new HarmonyOS NEXT, stepping away from Android.
  • HarmonyOS NEXT isn't compatible with Android APK files, making it a new mobile OS option.
  • The Mate 70 is rumored to feature a powerful telephoto macro camera for detailed shots.
  • Huawei's Mate 70 will include the Kirin 9100 chip — can it rival the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
  • The Mate 70 is expected to release in November 2024 and aims to challenge the iPhone 16 and Samsung S25.

If you are looking for something fresh in the smartphone world, the upcoming Huawei Mate 70 might grab your attention for all the right reasons.

The Huawei Mate 70 is undergoing a revamp with changes in appearance and artificial intelligence features — and the first Huawei to use the official version of HarmonyOS NEXT, which promises improvements to performance and user experience.

This is not a re-skinned Android but a new OS that will aim to make the mobile operating system space a three-horse race.

Get ahead of the holiday season tech releases with our guide to the Huawei Mate 70, which includes the expected release date, price, specs, features, and more.

What is the Huawei Mate 70?

Last year's model: The Huawei Mate 60's successor will come with its own operating system
Last year’s model: The Huawei Mate 60’s successor will come with its own operating system. (Huawei)

Last year’s model: The Huawei Mate 60’s successor will come with its own operating system. (Huawei)

The Huawei Mate 70 is the latest AI smartphone from Huawei which comes with the HarmonyOS NEXT operating system — that’s not Android, but Huawei’s own attempt to create a third mobile OS.

Despite higher production costs, the company still plans to maintain its competitive pricing to distinguish itself from the iPhone 16 and the upcoming Samsung S25.

We expect the Mate 70 series to include the Mate 70, Mate 70 Pro, Mate 70 Pro+, and Mate 70 RS Ultimate, but so far these models are unconfirmed.

Huawei Mate 70 Release Date

Expected Release Date: November 2024

We expect the Huawei Mate 70 to arrive in mid-to-late Q4 2024, with November being the most likely month for a launch event.

Although there is no official release date, Yicai Global reports that the components have already been shipped to Huawei.

The previous Mate 60 launched in September last year, but we believe the Mate 70 launch has been delayed to coincide with the launch of HarmonyOS NEXT.

Huawei Mate 70 Features

Appearance

According to Weibo blogger Pikachu, the Huawei Mate 70 series will have a different design aesthetic than its predecessors.

Unlike the curved sides of the Mate 60 models, the new Mate 70 phones will feature a right-angle middle frame design.

This change marks a major departure in Huawei’s design strategy for the Mate series, adding a more distinct and modern edge to the devices.

The new Mate 70 series screens will also boast a slightly curved large display with a 1.5k resolution.

HarmonyOS NEXT

HarmonyOS NEXT allows Huawei to stand away from Android and iOS. The introduction of a next-gen operating system to the Huawei Mate 70 feels like the start of something special.

Although there could be teething problems while we wait for more applications to become compatible, the attractiveness of HarmonyOS NEXT could quickly increase and help position Huawei as a stronger competitor in the mobile operating system space.

Huawei is also offering a solution for the Chinese to reduce their reliance on Windows and Android operating systems.

Announcing 10,000 apps that support ‘HarmonyOS Next’ while not being compatible with Android APK files is a bold move.

But anything that gets us thinking bigger than the age-old iOS vs Android debates can only be a good thing.

Camera

Along with a 10x optical zoom, the Huawei Mate 70 is rumored to feature a powerful telephoto macro camera. According to tipster SmartPikachu on Weibo, this upgraded camera will incorporate a distinctive circular module with a revised lens arrangement.

The telephoto macro lens will allow users to zoom in on distant objects while also capturing close-up shots.

Unlike the periscope camera that offers higher magnification for long-distance zooming, the telephoto macro focuses on delivering precise and detailed images at a 2x or 3x zoom range.

To compensate for its lower optical zoom capabilities compared to periscope lenses, Huawei is expected to integrate an improved imaging chip that enhances macro shot capabilities, ensuring that the Mate 70 series stands proud in the field of smartphone photography.

Security and Privacy

The OpenHarmony OS is being promoted in China as a “national operating system”  — a good line that might see it eat into the share of Western operating systems like Android and Windows in the region. This will inevitably cause a few security conversations in the future.

Predictably, Huawei is strongly emphasizing security and privacy in its new OS. OpenHarmony is built on the foundations of protecting user data. But whether this will be enough to convince users who prioritize their privacy is still up for debate.

Huawei Mate 70 Specs

In-house Components for Huawei’s Flagship Range

While Mate 70 expected specs are still light on the ground, here are snippets that we do know:

  • The Mate 70 camera is expected to have 10X optical zoom using a Howe OV50K image sensor with Huawei’s in-house XMAGE image technology.
  • The processor is Huawei’s own Kirin 9100 processor using 5nm technology.
  • Early benchmarks suggest the Mate 70 will come with a 6,000mAh battery.

Huawei on a Quest for Independence: A New Mobile Operating System and Own Hardware

Huawei has invested over $112 billion in R&D in the last decade. It’s a strategy that appears to be paying off as the company continues its drive toward technological independence, regardless of the cost. But what does this mean for the Mate 70 and its users?

On Weibo, @DirectorShiGuan revealed that the high-end components inside Huawei’s Mate 70 have raised production costs by 30%. Most of these costs can be attributed to the next-generation Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 5G SoC.

The Mate 70 is expected to deliver new AI and imaging capabilities that will offer users a next-level smartphone photography experience.

The new imaging chip is designed to enhance image and video quality by reducing noise, improving autofocus, and refining HDR.

Huawei Mate 70 Price

Expected Price: $840

Despite the high cost of components, we expect the base level Mate 70 to start at $840, the same price as last year’s Mate 60.

The Bottom Line

From a distance, the Huawei Mate 70 might look like just another new smartphone with a 50-megapixel camera sensor and shiny AI features. But if you look a little closer, it is a story of striking out on your own path.

The Huawei Mate 70 is powered by its new-gen Kirin 5G chip series and built on its own HarmonyOS NEXT operating system. This means that users are being offered a viable alternative to other mobile operating systems at a reasonable price.

Although this approach and stepping away from Android APK files might divide audiences, Huawei’s audacity in its commitment to innovation and independence cannot be denied.

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