Prime Highlights:
Huawei unveiled the Pura X foldable smartphone, priced at 7,499 Chinese yuan ($1,037).
The Pura X is the first device to run Huawei’s self-developed HarmonyOS 5, marking a move away from Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.
Key Background:
Huawei has launched its latest foldable smartphone, the Pura X, priced at 7,499 Chinese yuan (approximately $1,037). This new device marks a significant step for the company, as it is the first smartphone to run HarmonyOS 5, Huawei’s own operating system, signaling the company’s push to offer a viable alternative to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS.
The Pura X features a 6.3-inch display when unfolded, offering a 16:10 aspect ratio that provides more screen real estate compared to most other smartphones. When folded, the device forms a compact square with a 3.5-inch display, along with a front-facing camera. Huawei’s design aims to differentiate the Pura X in a crowded smartphone market, combining cutting-edge foldable technology with its proprietary software.
This launch is particularly significant for Huawei for two reasons. Firstly, the Pura X comes as part of the company’s ongoing recovery from U.S. sanctions, which severely impacted its smartphone business. Since late 2023, Huawei has seen a resurgence in its home market, China, where its market share increased to 16.2% in Q4 2024, up from 13.7% the previous year. During the same period, Apple’s market share dropped from 20% to 17.4%, highlighting Huawei’s growing competitiveness.
Secondly, the Pura X is a key step in Huawei’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Google’s Android operating system. HarmonyOS 5, which initially debuted as HarmonyOS Next in November 2024, no longer uses any Android code, representing a full detachment from Google’s software ecosystem. This shift comes after Huawei was cut off from Google services due to U.S. sanctions in 2019. Additionally, the Pura X is powered by Huawei’s AI assistant, Xiaoyi, which integrates AI models developed by the company and its partner DeepSeek.
Through the Pura X and HarmonyOS 5, Huawei is positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the global smartphone market, offering an alternative to the dominant Android and iOS ecosystems.
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