Skip to main content

Huawei tries to break into U.S. market with Ascend Mate 2 phablet

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G lock screen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The U.S. smartphone market is difficult to break into, but Huawei, like Sony and Asus before it, is giving it a go. Unable to convince any major carriers to promote its high-end devices, Huawei will sell the Ascend Mate 2 to Americans via gethuawei.com. The monster phablet will work on AT&T and T-Mobile’s networks only, but it’s a good start, if anyone buys the Mate 2, that is.

Huawei may not be the first, second, third, or even fifth smartphone maker that comes to mind, but the huge Chinese electronics company is actually the world’s third-largest smartphone vendor, coming in right behind Samsung and Apple. So far, the company’s greatest successes have been in Asia and Europe, with only a few carrier-branded smartphones hitting the U.S market. As such, most Americans have no idea that Huawei makes smartphones.

Better-known companies such as Sony have tried and failed to sell their own smartphones without carrier support. Even though Sony’s devices are now carried by T-Mobile, its Xperia smartphones have yet to become a sensation in the States. Asus faces a similar battle with the new Padfone X, which recently hit AT&T. Nonetheless, Huawei doesn’t seem discouraged.

Huawei told The Verge that it spent a year-and-a-half in Europe trying to get people to pay attention to its brand. Getting carrier support was also a challenge, but now, thanks to its very low prices and nice-looking smartphones, Huawei is making a name for itself in Europe, one step at a time. The company plans to conquer the United States using a different strategy. Huawei will focus on digital marketing and social media to get its name out there. In the meantime, the online store will be there, showing off Huawei’s product offerings. If things go Huawei’s way, Americans will buy so many of its phones that carriers will have to take notice and support the brand.

That said, the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 is an unusual first choice. The Mate 2 features a massive 6.1-inch display with a 720p resolution, which is lower than most mid-to-high-end smartphones in the U.S. market. It’s also running an outdated Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor alongside 2GB of RAM. The Mate 2 does have a large-capacity 3,900mAh battery, though. The best part about the Mate 2 is its very low price point of just $299 unlocked, which is hard to beat in the U.S., where unlocked phones can cost between $400-$700.

Huawei plans to add more options to its online store. Hopefully, the high-end Ascend P7  will arrive next. Of all of Huawei’s smartphones, the P7 probably has the best chance of proving to Americans that this unknown Chinese company can really make high-quality smartphones.

According to Juniper Research, outside of Asia, phablets aren’t particularly popular with North American or European buyers. From observation, what gets the U.S. smartphone market whipped up into a frenzy is a great, high-end smartphone with a famous brand and gorgeous design. It may sound shallow, but the numbers don’t lie; there’s a reason why Apple and Samsung smartphones are so popular stateside and its not necessarily because they have the best hardware (although that does help). 

It may take a while for Huawei to build up its reputation in America, but in the meantime, it will certainly continue to sell tons of devices in Asia and a handful or two in Europe.

Editors' Recommendations

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
Huawei Mate X2 folding phone patent shows big design change over the original
huawei mate x review hinge

The Huawei Mate X2 is rumored to be Huawei’s next major foldable smartphone release, and may potentially arrive toward the end of 2020. Rumors about the phone have been spreading, including some possible standout design features, and how it will differ from the current Huawei Mate X. Let's take a closer look at the Huawei Mate X2.
Huawei Mate X2, not the Mate Xs
Huawei is expected to launch a revised version of the original Mate X folding phone during Mobile World Congress 2020. It’s currently known as the Huawei Mate Xs, and isn’t the Mate X2. The Mate Xs is likely to be very similar to the first Mate X on the outside, but with the new Kirin 990 processor inside, an improved hinge, and a tougher folding display.
Huawei Mate X2 announcement and release
The Huawei Mate X2 has been rumored for release after summer this year, sometime between July and September, making it possible the phone will arrive soon after the IFA 2020 technology trade show. The timing may mean the Mate X2’s announcement will come at the same time as a Mate 40 phone from Huawei.
Huawei Mate X2 design

What will the Huawei Mate X2 look like? Unlike the Mate X, a patent filed by Huawei shows what could be the Mate X2 with a screen that folds inward, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold. However, the design will allow for a side bar down one edge, which makes the phone easier to hold with one hand, something we noted about the current Mate X. This bar has a display on one side, which could be used to show notifications. There doesn’t seem to be any other outer display.

Read more
The licenses U.S. firms need to do business with Huawei are ready to be approved
huawei mate 30 pro review pocket

The U.S. government may be on the brink of approving the first licenses which will allow U.S. companies to sell to Huawei, according to a report published by The New York Times, quoting sources familiar with the matter. It states President Trump has agreed for license approval to begin, although it has not been revealed which companies have applied for licenses, or how long the approval process will take.

Huawei was placed on the Entity List, which bans U.S. firms from doing business with it, in May. It was subsequently given a temporary license which allowed it to continue certain working relationships in the U.S., but this did not include renewing crucial agreements with Google, forcing Huawei to launch the Mate 30 Pro smartphone without Google services on board.

Read more
Huawei has announced the Mate 30 Pro, and the camera has super-senses
huawei mate 30 pro launch news

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro is one of the most anticipated smartphone announcements of 2019. Every flagship phone from Huawei carries considerable expectation, due to the success and ability of the company's recent products; but the Mate 30 Pro carries even more weight on its shoulders. It's the first phone to be announced since Huawei was placed on the Entity List by the U.S. government, which bans U.S. businesses from working with the company. It has everything to prove with the new device.

Despite the tumultuous past months, Huawei has still delivered the Mate 30 series, and it's the powerhouse we've been hoping for. Here's everything you need to know.
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
As we've come to expect from Huawei, it has outdone itself with the camera. It's a quad-sensor array set inside an unusual ring on the back of the phone, complete with a metallic halo around the edge. Huawei says it's inspired by professional cameras, a process that extends to the shape of the phone itself. The corners are curved for comfort, and the 3D glass on the back matches it. Huawei calls the triple-lens system a Super Sensing Triple Camera, and it has a 40-megapixel main lens, a 40-megapixel SuperSensing lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. These are joined by a 3D depth sensor, completing the quad-sensor setup.

Read more