Taking a bite out of the big Apple: Huawei challenges iPhone 6S with Mate 8 as Chinese smartphone vendors shift up a gear
Chinese brand’s new flagship phone unveiled in Shanghai, CEO claims some of its features leave latest iPhone trailing in its wake.
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei, the world’ s third-largest vendor, revealed its most advanced flagship smartphone in Shanghai on Thursday in what looks like a bold challenge to Apple’s iPhone 6.
The seamlessly designed Mate 8, which is now available in mainland China, is of comparable size to the larger iPhone 6S but with an even bigger 6-inch FHD display. The screen takes up 83 per cent of the phone’s front real estate.
READ MORE: Huawei rides Google coattails into new markets after pair team up on premium Nexus phablet
Richard Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, directly compared the two models’ battery life, charging speed and screen appearance during his presentation in the early afternoon, which was seen by reporters elsewhere via live video conference.
His conclusion came as little surprise: The Mate 8 is the superior smartphone in many ways.
The model will be available to consumers in other countries early next year. It will get a fuller unveiling at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which is due to run from January 6-9 in Las Vegas.
The Mate 8 follows on from the success of Huawei’s Ascend Mate 7, which has sold over 6.5 million units since it was launched little over a year ago.