HUAWEI has used the opening of the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, which kicked off yesterday in Barcelona Spain and will run until 29 February, to showcase a line-up of high-end, fashion-forward flagship products including the HUAWEI Mate 60 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN, HUAWEI FreeClip, and HUAWEI WATCH GT 4, all drawing significant attention from attendees. HUAWEI’s exhibition space reflected its focus on the user experience through scenario-based zones: ULTIMATE DESIGN, Fashion Forward, XMAGE, Creation of Beauty, and Fitness & Health. These zones demonstrate HUAWEI’s continuous investment in innovation and commitment to building rich, personalised and fashion-forward experiences for its global consumers.
“HUAWEI will continue to cement its position as a global high-end, fashion-forward, and technology-driven brand,” said Kevin Ho, COO of the Huawei Consumer Business Group. “In 2024, we will continue to increase R&D investments in smart devices, fitness and health, and digital creation. These efforts will make innovative products and services more accessible to users worldwide and create cutting-edge, pioneering, and personalised lifestyles for consumers.
Steady Huawei CBG business growth cements its position in the high-end market
Over the past year, HUAWEI CBG has seen steady growth, making breakthroughs in the global high-end wearable, audio, tablet, PC, and smartphone markets, by releasing an intriguing lineup of fresh and exciting products. These products have been showcased at flagship HUAWEI product launch events across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific regions, demonstrating its commitment to growing its global presence as a premium brand.
Notable 2023 smartphone releases like the HUAWEI Mate 60 Series and HUAWEI Mate X5 have solidified its technical prowess and the company also introduced ULTIMATE DESIGN, a new ultra-high-end brand that offers distinctive aesthetics, craftsmanship, and innovative technology. According to Counterpoint Research, HUAWEI gained a 5% market share in the global high-end smartphone market in 2023, ranking third among all brands. In the first two weeks of 2024, it ranked first in the Chinese market for smartphone sales volume.
Beyond smartphones, HUAWEI strengthened its leadership in wearables, with global shipments surpassing 150 million units by the end of 2023. The company has held the top spot in the Chinese smartwatch market for five consecutive years, with HUAWEI Health App boasting over 450 million users. And in 2023, HUAWEI celebrated a decade of tablet innovation with a milestone of over 100 million tablets shipped.
Creating a new aesthetic paradigm with high-end designs
HUAWEI’s commitment to design innovation was evident in its “Fashion Forward” exhibition zone. In 2023, Huawei unveiled its “Fashion Forward” campaign and to date its substantial investment in R&D is what drives its ability to forge new design paradigms for each new product, leading industry fashion trends.
An example of its Fashion Forward innovation is that while developing the HUAWEI Mate 60 RS ULTIMATE DESIGN, rare earth elements were added to the red ceramics sintering process for the first time. Each phone underwent 1400°C calcining and was subject to more than 50 processes during the 60-day manufacturing process, all of which proved crucial for creating the vibrant red body. Another example is the HUAWEI WATCH ULTIMATE DESIGN, HUAWEI’s first-ever gold smartwatch, featuring 18K gold and Zirconium-based Liquid metal. The HUAWEI FreeClip earbuds are another step forward in its innovative approach to design with their C-bridge Design for both durability and a comfortable, breathable fit, with a refreshingly original look and feel. The HUAWEI WATCH GT 4, with its distinctive octagonal design, showcases meticulous attention to detail.
To gain insight into design and aesthetic trends across different cultures, HUAWEI has set up Aesthetics Research Centres in Paris, Milan, and London. These centres serve as global platforms that fuel the continuous advancement in bridging technology and design.
Cutting-edge smart wearables provide comprehensive and precise health management
HUAWEI’s Fitness & Health exhibition captivated visitors with its focus on smart wearables, one of the most crucial sectors in HUAWEI CBG’s global business. 2023 saw the release of several flagship smart wearables, including the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate, the first daily smartwatch to support two-way BeiDou satellite messaging; the HUAWEI WATCH 4, which introduced the all-new Health Glance feature[1]; the HUAWEI WATCH GT 4, which came with brand-new Activity Rings and the Stay Fit App; and the HUAWEI WATCH ULTIMATE DESIGN, HUAWEI’s first ever gold smartwatch.
HUAWEI has made continuous breakthroughs in technology, design, health management, and science-based workout monitoring, earning global consumer recognition. The HUAWEI WATCH GT 4 is a testament to this success, exceeding 2.5 million units shipped globally within just three months of its launch.
A decade of expertise in wearables has led HUAWEI to develop its proprietary TruSeen™ vital signs monitoring technology, now in its fifth generation after eight years of refinement. In 2023, HUAWEI underscored its position as an industry innovator with over 800 smart wearable patent applications. This commitment is further demonstrated by the opening of its third Health Lab last year in Helsinki, Finland. The company has also built over 10 global R&D centres, accelerating the global layout of professional research in the wearable field.
In 2024, Huawei will prioritise addressing three industry challenges: sleep, blood pressure, and mental health management. The goal is to provide even more accurate, convenient, and comprehensive health management solutions, and make them accessible to everyone.
Digital creation that witnesses the Creation of Beauty
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 13.2″, HUAWEI’s latest flagship tablet, and the collection of digital artworks made by creators from across the globe using the tablet also drew interest at MWC 2024. Launched in 2023 as the first tablet to support NearLink technology, it is also the thinnest tablet with the narrowest bezels and the highest screen-to-body ratio. The tablet works seamlessly with HUAWEI M-Pencil (3rd generation), the first stylus to support 10,000+ pressure sensing levels, offering an unprecedented stylus experience. In 2023, HUAWEI launched the global GoPaint Activity, inviting creators worldwide to showcase works made on HUAWE tablets.
At the MWC event, HUAWEI further pledged that it will continue investment in digital creation throughout 2024, prioritising technologies like PaperMatte Display and NearLink, to provide consumers with enhanced digital experiences. The GoPaint Activity will also be extended to more countries and regions, making it a global platform for the digital art community.
HUAWEI’s achievements in mobile imaging are similarly impressive with its XMAGE brand, encompassing optical systems, imaging technology, and image processing. The HUAWEI XMAGE Awards in 2023 saw over 600,000+ submissions from nearly 100 countries and regions, inspiring users to capture and share the beauty around them.
HUAWEI’s showcase at MWC 2024 demonstrated the company’s commitment to the global high-end market with the company earmarking 2024 as a year where HUAWEI will break boundaries, making high-end, fashion-forward, technology-driven products, services, and experiences more accessible worldwide.
