Huawei has carried its flagship ambitions westward, bringing the Mate X3 foldable and P60 Pro to European and British markets at prices that place them among the most expensive devices available. The launch is an act of defiance as much as commerce — a company shaped by years of US sanctions choosing to compete on design and hardware rather than retreat. Yet the absence of Google services and 5G connectivity means these phones arrive not as equals in the premium tier, but as a wager that some consumers will trade convenience for distinction.
Huawei's Mate X3 and P60 Pro arrive in Europe at premium prices, sans Google
Premium phones with older silicon and no 5G
Mark
So Huawei is selling these phones in Europe at two thousand pounds for the foldable. That's a lot of money. What's the actual draw here if you can't use Gmail or Google Maps?
Mimi
The hardware is genuinely strong. The Mate X3 has a better hinge design than before, the screens are excellent, and the cameras are competitive. For someone who doesn't rely on Google services—or who's willing to work around them—the design and build quality might justify the price.
Luke
But that's a small group in Europe. The source doesn't tell us how many people actually bought these phones in China, or whether Huawei has any data on Western adoption of its alternatives. We're assuming the hardware is enough, but we don't know if it actually is.
Mark
What about the processor? The source says it's last year's Snapdragon chip, and it's 4G only. That seems like a step backward for a phone at this price.
Mimi
It is. The US sanctions mean Huawei can't access the latest Qualcomm chips or 5G modems. So they're selling premium-priced phones with older silicon and no 5G. That's the real constraint.
Luke
Right, and the source doesn't explain why anyone would choose this over a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 or a standard flagship with current processors and full Google integration. The article says consumers "may want to consider" other phones, but it doesn't tell us what Huawei's actual strategy is here. Are they targeting design enthusiasts? People in markets where Google services matter less? We don't know.
Mark
The free Watch GT 3 promotion—does that suggest they're struggling to move these at the asking price?
Mimi
It could. Bundling accessories is often a sign that the core product needs help. But it could also just be a launch incentive.
Luke
The source doesn't give us any sales figures or pre-order numbers, so we can't tell if the promotion is working or if demand is soft. We're left guessing.
Mark
So what's the real story here? Is this a sign Huawei is confident it can overcome sanctions, or is it a sign they're desperate?
Mimi
The article frames it as confidence—the company is expanding globally despite sanctions. But the premium pricing without the features people expect suggests they're working with real constraints.
Luke
And we don't have enough information to know which interpretation is correct. The source tells us what the phones cost and when they're available, but not whether they'll actually sell, or what Huawei's internal expectations are. That's the gap.
Der Puls
- Huawei is asking European buyers to pay up to €2,199 for phones that lack the Google apps and 5G connectivity that most premium Android users consider non-negotiable.
- US sanctions have stripped these devices of their most competitive features, creating a gap between their polished hardware and the practical experience Western consumers expect.
- To soften the blow, Huawei is bundling a free Watch GT 3 with early purchases — an acknowledgment that the value proposition alone may not be enough to close the sale.
- The phones boast genuinely impressive specs: durable Kunlun Glass, capable multi-lens camera systems, and refined design language that rivals Samsung's best foldables.
- Without Google Play Services, buyers face a landscape of workarounds and compromises that most Western users have never had to navigate.
- Huawei's willingness to launch at full premium pricing signals corporate confidence, but the market will ultimately decide whether hardware excellence can outweigh ecosystem absence.
Huawei has carried its flagship ambitions westward, bringing the Mate X3 foldable and P60 Pro to European and British markets at prices that place them among the most expensive devices available. The launch is an act of defiance as much as commerce — a company shaped by years of US sanctions choosing to compete on design and hardware rather than retreat. Yet the absence of Google services and 5G connectivity means these phones arrive not as equals in the premium tier, but as a wager that some consumers will trade convenience for distinction.
Huawei is asking European and British consumers to pay flagship prices for phones that arrive without two features most buyers treat as given: Google's apps and 5G connectivity. The Mate X3 foldable and P60 Pro debuted in the UK and Europe this month after launching in China in March, priced at €2,199 and €1,200 respectively. Both constraints trace back to US sanctions that have shadowed Huawei's global ambitions for years.
The rollout is staggered across May, with the P60 Pro available first through Huawei's online store before broader retail availability, and the Mate X3 following later in the month. To strengthen the offer, Huawei is including a free Watch GT 3 with purchases made before June 5 — a gesture that quietly acknowledges the phones need extra incentive to compete.
The Mate X3 is Huawei's answer to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4, unfolding to a 7.85-inch 120Hz OLED display and featuring Kunlun Glass that the company claims is ten times more drop-resistant than its predecessor. Its camera system spans a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an ultra-wide lens, and a periscope telephoto capable of 50x digital zoom. The P60 Pro follows a more traditional form, built around a 6.67-inch OLED display and a rear array anchored by a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 48-megapixel telephoto. Both phones run on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in 4G-only configurations.
On paper, the hardware is genuinely impressive — refined design, strong cameras, and displays that rank among the best available. But the absence of Google Play Services means no Gmail, Maps, or YouTube out of the box, and the lack of 5G further narrows their appeal in markets where those networks are rapidly expanding. These are not minor trade-offs; they are the defining friction between a premium phone and one that demands workarounds.
Huawei's decision to hold firm on pricing suggests the company believes it can find buyers willing to accept those compromises, or that it can eventually transcend them. It has spent years cultivating alternatives to Google's ecosystem for its Chinese user base. Whether that model travels to Western markets — where Google's services are woven into daily digital life — remains the central, unanswered question of this launch.
Huawei is betting that European and British consumers will pay flagship prices for phones that lack the features most of them expect as standard. The Mate X3 foldable and P60 Pro arrived in the UK and Europe this month following their March debut in China, priced at €2,199 and €1,200 respectively—sums that position them squarely in the premium tier. Yet both devices ship without Google's apps and services, and neither supports 5G, constraints imposed by US sanctions that have hemmed in Huawei's global ambitions for years.
The company is releasing the P60 Pro starting May 9 through its online store, with broader retail availability beginning May 22. The Mate X3 foldable follows on May 22 in Europe and May 26 in the UK, with preorders already underway. To sweeten the proposition, Huawei is bundling a free Watch GT 3 with purchases of either phone made before June 5, while supplies hold out. The offer signals an awareness that the value proposition needs reinforcement.
The Mate X3 is Huawei's answer to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4, though it arrives with last year's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor in a 4G-only variant. The device unfolds to reveal a 7.85-inch OLED screen running at 120Hz, while the outer display measures 6.4 inches and offers the same refresh rate. Both screens are protected by Huawei's Kunlun Glass, which the company claims is ten times more resistant to drops than its predecessor. The foldable carries an IPX8 water-resistance rating and uses an aviation-grade aluminum hinge designed for durability. The camera system includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto capable of 5x optical zoom and 50x digital magnification. A 4,800mAh battery supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 7.5W reverse wireless charging to top up other devices. It ships in black Feather-Sand Glass and dark green Vegan leather finishes.
The P60 Pro is Huawei's traditional flagship, built around the same 4G Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and featuring a 6.67-inch OLED display with 2,700 by 1,220 resolution and 120Hz refresh. It carries the same Kunlun Glass protection and offers a 4,815mAh battery with 88W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 7.5W reverse wireless charging. The rear camera array consists of a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, and a 48-megapixel telephoto with 3.5x zoom and optical image stabilization. Design options include a Rococo Pearl variant with a pearl-textured rear made from natural mineral powder, and a black option with fingerprint-resistant Feather Sand Glass.
On paper, both phones present compelling hardware. The design language is refined, the camera systems are capable, and the displays are among the best available. But the absence of Google Play Services and Gmail, Maps, and YouTube out of the box creates a fundamental usability gap for Western consumers accustomed to those services as baseline. The lack of 5G support further narrows the appeal in markets where 5G networks are expanding. These are not minor omissions—they are the difference between a premium phone and a premium phone that requires workarounds and compromises.
Yet Huawei's decision to launch these devices at full European and UK pricing suggests the company believes it can overcome these obstacles, or at least that it can find a customer base willing to accept them. The company has spent years developing alternatives to Google's ecosystem and has built a loyal user base in China where those alternatives are the norm. Whether that loyalty translates to Western markets, where Google's services are deeply embedded in how people use their phones, remains an open question. At these prices, consumers shopping for a premium Android phone will likely find devices with full Google integration and current processors more compelling—unless design, camera quality, and the appeal of owning something different outweigh the practical limitations.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Huawei's latest global releases suggest the company is confident it can overcome the challenges posed by US sanctions and continue to grow its business.— Android Central reporting
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