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Huawei roadmap leaks with Ascend Mate 8 and Ascend D8 phablets

If the latest rumors are any indication, next year Huawei is gearing up to release several high-end smartphones, two of which could feature 2560 x 1440 pixel Quad HD screens. Just yesterday news of the Ascend P8 hinted at a sleek build using high-end materials, and now a new report suggests the arrival of two new phablets: the Ascend Mate 8 and Ascend D8.

A source tipped off PhoneArena to Huawei’s proposed roadmap for 2015. The table mentions a few key devices and a notable specification or two for each device. According to the document, the Ascend Mate 8 will probably get a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen this time around, as well as Huawei’s own, brand new Kirin 930 processor. The roadmap says it’ll debut in the fall for about $650.

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Meanwhile, another, more high-end phablet called the Ascend D8 appeared on the chart beside the Mate 8. This phablet sports a 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 pixel screen and may be powered by a zippy-sounding, but still unofficial, 64-bit Kirin 950 processor. It’ll also reportedly pack 4 GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Huawei’s first truly high-end phablet is apparently set to hit the market in May, but with a spec like this, you can bet it will be expensive. Rumors peg the Ascend D8’s price tag at a whopping $800.

The roadmap also hints at a slew of low-cost smartphones called the Ascend 5, 5X, 7, and 7X, all of which feature 5 or 5.5-inch 720p and 1080p screens. Prices for these models fall between $115 and $320. Additionally, the report confirms the existence of the Ascend P8, it’s specs, and arrival in early January at CES 2015.

Of course, these are just rumors based on a leaked roadmap that may or may not be real, so take this report with a grain of salt until we get further corroboration, officially or otherwise.

Malarie Gokey
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
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