The Huawei Mate 70 series debuted with promising features and powerful specifications, but its market reception seems to have fallen short of expectations. This has raised concerns about Huawei's performance in the fourth quarter of 2024, particularly in the competitive Chinese smartphone market.
Lack of Consumer Excitement
According to a report by Reuters, some analysts have observed a noticeable lack of excitement surrounding the Mate 70 series. This muted reception could potentially impact Huawei’s sales and create opportunities for competitors like Apple and other Android brands.
Jefferies’ Observation
Analysts from Jefferies noted “much less enthusiasm” for the Mate 70 series on social media platforms and online discussions. They suggested that this could lead to a downward revision of sales projections for the new lineup.
For reference, the Pura 70 series achieved only 5–6.5 million unit shipments, and analysts now suspect that the Mate 70’s sales may also fall below expectations.
Quote from Jefferies Analysts:
“We believe Mate 70’s ultimate sales volume could be below that of Mate 60. It seems our Huawei shipment forecast of 48 million this year has a downside, which is positive for iPhone and other brands.”
Limited Improvements Over the Mate 60
While the Mate 60 impressed consumers with its groundbreaking Kirin 9000s 5G chipset, the Mate 70 series has reportedly brought only incremental upgrades. Analysts believe this lack of significant innovation may have contributed to the lukewarm market response.
Contrasting Opinions and Bright Spots
Not all predictions are negative. Canalys analyst Toby Zhu acknowledged the cool initial reception but pointed to Huawei’s sufficient flagship production capacity, which could slightly boost Mate 70 sales over the Mate 60.
Meanwhile, other industry experts suggest that the Mate 70 series could still outperform its predecessor, driven by pent-up demand and strong pre-order activity.
- Reservations Surge: Long queues and millions of reservations were reported for the Mate 70 series across both online and offline platforms, indicating a latent interest among consumers.
- Positive Momentum: Huawei's comeback in its home market could fuel gradual growth as the series gains traction.
HuaweiCentral’s Take
While early reports highlight a lack of excitement, it may be premature to draw conclusions. The Mate 70 series could still gain momentum as more consumers explore its features and flagship production scales up.
Ultimately, Huawei’s ability to respond to market dynamics and innovate in future releases will determine its trajectory in the highly competitive smartphone industry.
Stay tuned for updates as the sales data and consumer feedback unfold!