Huawei is undoubtedly one of the most experienced mobile phone manufacturers in the world. Unfortunately, Huawei is one of the many victims of the US-China war, which affects not only companies but also customers and fans of their iconic brands.
Last week, the Chinese giant unveiled one of the thinnest flip phones on the market. Under normal circumstances, this would have been very exciting for tech enthusiasts and fans of the brand, but we live in difficult times.
Today, Huawei's “world” is a fraction of what it once was before the US said it would not allow the use of its Android operating system on the company's devices. Many of the phones Huawei launches are launched in other markets, such as Europe, but never in the US.
Unfortunately, the more sophisticated models like the Nova Flip are unlikely to launch outside of China. Although its predecessor, the P50 Pocket, launched in both Europe and China, the likelihood of the Nova Flip launching in other countries is very slim.
Huawei P Smart 2019 | Photo credit: Huawei
The fact that it took Huawei almost three years to launch another flip phone is a sign of the really tough times the company has been going through. The Nova Flip could mark the rebirth of the company's smartphone business, which has been crippled by repeated US sanctions since 2019. The flip phone unveiled last week is a really interesting device that deserves a lot more attention, which probably won't happen if it remains exclusively available in China. Granted, the Chinese market is one of the biggest, but all the rest of the world won't have access to it.
Huawei Nova Flip at a glance:
- Unfolded: 169.8 x 75.4 x 6.9 mm
- Folded: 87.6 x 75.4 x 15.1 mm
- Weight: 195 g or 199 g (6.88 oz)
- Main screen: 6.94 inches, 1136 x 2690 pixels, LTPO OLED, 120 Hz
- Cover display: 2.14 inches, 480 x 480 pixels, LTPO OLED, 120 Hz
- Chipset: Huawei Kirin 8000
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Main camera: Dual 50 MP, f/1.9, 23 mm (wide), 1/1.59 inch, OIS
- Selfie camera: 32 MP, f/2.2, 90˚ (wide)
- Battery: 4400 mAh
- Charging 66 W wired, 100 % in 40 min (stated), 5 W reverse charging
- Software: HarmonyOS 4.2
- Price: $745
While Huawei's first foldable clamshell smartphone, the P50 Pocket, was more focused on being a fashionable smartphone, the Nova Flip features a more traditional design. At first glance, Huawei's new device ticks all the boxes, but there are some drawbacks that could make it significantly less attractive in markets other than China (if Huawei decides to do so).
Missing Google services are a big problem for global customers
The main problem, of course, is the lack of Google services. That alone could spell doom for the Nova Flip in markets other than China. But when you add in the fact that Huawei's proprietary HarmonyOS ecosystem isn't yet mature, it's pretty clear that the Nova Flip will have a lot of trouble competing with similar foldables from other brands.
Although Huawei has not yet confirmed the processor of the Nova Flip, rumors are rife that the foldable device will use the company's own Kirin 8000 chipset. This is designed specifically for mid-range devices, but that's certainly not the problem.
Huawei P Smart | Photo credit: Huawei
Chinese customers will have no problem choosing a device with a Kirin chipset over one with a Qualcomm chipset. However, European customers have very different tastes, and while some may not be as picky, the Kirin vs. Snapdragon controversy will definitely hurt Nova Flip sales. I believe Huawei is aware of these issues and has probably already decided whether or not the Nova Flip will be released in other markets like its predecessor, the P50 Pocket.
Although the company's profit rose by a staggering 564% in the first quarter of 2024, we don't know how well the smartphone business did. Huawei's revenue growth has largely come from new businesses such as smart car components, but the company has also gained a large market share in smartphones in its home country, especially after Apple's share fell from nearly 20 percent last year to below 16 percent.
HarmonyOS NEXT could make Huawei devices significantly more attractive outside of China
Huawei's Nova Flip seems like a well-designed device, but US sanctions prevent it from shining. On the bright side, Huawei's HarmonyOS NEXT beta, the company's Google-free operating system, is due out very soon and I believe it will solve many of the problems arising from the lack of Google services on the devices.
HarmonyOS NEXT logo | Photo credit: Huawei
Of course, one must accept the risks that come with using Huawei's proprietary technology, which will completely replace Google's technology, but it is not as if the other side is not equally guilty when it comes to exploiting customers' private data.
The Nova Flip and all other interesting Huawei phones/tablets deserve to be introduced to a wider audience. Ironically, they are usually the better devices.