All four phones are expected to ship with HarmonyOS Next, entirely independent of Google
On November 26, 2024, Huawei steps further into self-determined territory with the launch of its Mate 70 series in China — four devices built entirely on homegrown silicon and a proprietary operating system that owes nothing to the American technology ecosystem. It is less a product launch than a declaration: that a company shaped by sanctions and trade restrictions has chosen to forge its own path rather than seek reentry into the world it was shut out of. The question the Mate 70 quietly poses is whether technological sovereignty, pursued with enough resolve, can become its own kind of freedom.
- Huawei has confirmed a November 26 launch for four Mate 70 models — standard, Pro, Pro+, and RS Ultimate Edition — with pre-bookings already underway in China.
- The decision to ship exclusively with HarmonyOS Next creates a hard break from Android, leaving users without access to Google Play apps or games and forcing a choice between ecosystems.
- The debut of the in-house Kirin 9100 chipset marks the first time Huawei has powered the Mate line with its own silicon, benchmarking competitively against Qualcomm and MediaTek flagships from recent cycles.
- Configurations range from 12GB RAM on the base models to 16GB on the Pro+, with storage reaching 1TB across the lineup, while the premium RS Ultimate Edition remains shrouded in pricing silence.
- China remains the sole confirmed launch market, with global availability loosely gestured toward 2025 — a timeline as much political as logistical.
Huawei has confirmed that four new Mate 70 devices will arrive on November 26, each targeting a different tier of the premium smartphone market. Though the company stopped short of officially naming the models, a specs sheet circulating on Weibo filled in the details: the standard Mate 70, Pro, Pro+, and RS Ultimate Edition. Pre-bookings are already open.
The lineup covers a range of configurations. The base and Pro models top out at 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, offered in four color options each. The Pro+ steps up to 16GB of RAM, arriving in its own set of finishes. The RS Ultimate Edition, positioned as the flagship of flagships, will come only in Black and Red — with memory options and pricing still undisclosed.
What defines this generation most sharply is what runs beneath the glass. All four phones will ship with HarmonyOS Next, Huawei's fully independent operating system, severing any connection to Google's Android framework. No Android apps, no Play Store — a meaningful constraint that nonetheless reflects years of deliberate strategic repositioning in the wake of U.S. trade sanctions.
Driving the hardware is the Kirin 9100, Huawei's own processor, reportedly performing in the range of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 and MediaTek's Dimensity 9000. It is the first time the Mate line has run on a proprietary Huawei chip — another brick in the company's effort to build a fully self-sufficient technology stack. All models are expected to carry IP ratings for dust and water resistance.
The launch is China-first, where Huawei retains considerable market strength. Broader availability has been loosely signaled for 2025, but details on international pricing, markets, and timing remain unannounced — and are unlikely to surface when the phones officially debut on the 26th.
Huawei is bringing four new phones to market on November 26, all bearing the Mate 70 name but each pitched at a different tier of the smartphone hierarchy. The company confirmed the launch date this week, and while it stopped short of officially naming the models, a specs sheet circulating on Weibo has made clear what's coming: the standard Mate 70, the Mate 70 Pro, the Mate 70 Pro+, and the Mate 70 RS Ultimate Edition. Pre-bookings have already begun.
The lineup spans a range of configurations and finishes. The base Mate 70 and Pro models will max out at 12 gigabytes of RAM and one terabyte of storage, and both will be available in Obsidian Black, Spruce Green, Hyacinth Purple, and Snow White. The Pro+ steps up to 16 gigabytes of RAM and the same storage ceiling, arriving in Ink Black, Blue, Gold with Silver, and Feather White. The RS Ultimate Edition, positioned as the premium flagship, will come only in Black and Red—though Huawei has not yet disclosed its memory options or pricing.
What sets this generation apart is the software and silicon underneath. All four phones are expected to ship with HarmonyOS Next, Huawei's proprietary operating system that runs entirely independent of Google's Android framework. This means none of these devices will be able to run Android apps or games out of the box. It's a significant constraint for users accustomed to the Google Play Store, but it reflects Huawei's strategic pivot away from American technology following years of trade restrictions and sanctions.
Powering these phones will be the Kirin 9100, Huawei's own processor. According to early reports, the chip's performance sits in the same neighborhood as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 and MediaTek's Dimensity 9000—respectable company for a homegrown silicon effort. This marks the first time Huawei has equipped the Mate line with its proprietary chipset, another step in the company's effort to build a self-sufficient technology stack.
All four models are expected to carry IP ratings for dust and water resistance, a baseline feature in the premium phone market. The phones will initially debut in China, where Huawei remains a dominant force despite its struggles in Western markets. The company has signaled plans to expand availability to other regions sometime in 2025, though no details about global pricing, availability windows, or which markets will receive which models have been announced. When the phones officially launch on November 26, Huawei is unlikely to address international distribution—that conversation will come later, if at all.
Citas Notables
All four Huawei Mate 70 phones will ship with HarmonyOS Next right out of the box, which will make them incompatible with any Android apps or games.— Huawei product specifications
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Why does it matter that these phones run HarmonyOS Next instead of Android?
Because it cuts them off from the entire Google Play ecosystem. No Gmail, no Maps, no YouTube unless Huawei has built its own version. For a Chinese user, that's less of a problem—Huawei has alternatives. For anyone outside China, it's a real friction point.
Is Huawei actually capable of making competitive processors?
The Kirin 9100 is being compared to chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek, which suggests it's in the ballpark. But "comparable" doesn't mean better. And there's the question of long-term support and optimization. Huawei has to prove it can sustain this.
Why release four versions of the same phone?
Market segmentation. You capture the person who wants a flagship but can't justify the RS price, and you also get the person who wants the absolute best. It's standard practice, but it also signals confidence—Huawei is betting it can sell across the entire premium range.
What does this launch say about Huawei's relationship with the West?
That it's moved past hoping for reconciliation. These phones are built for a Chinese market and a Chinese ecosystem. International expansion is secondary. Huawei is no longer trying to be a global brand on Western terms.
Will these phones actually sell outside China?
That depends on whether Huawei can build enough alternative apps and services to make HarmonyOS feel complete. Right now, it's a hard sell. But in markets where Huawei has brand loyalty—parts of Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East—there's an audience willing to try.