Skip to main content

Huawei’s got a new smartphone to show us, teases September 4 event (Updated)

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G front camera macro
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Huawei gave the press some very early warning about its plans for the upcoming IFA technology show right at the beginning of August, by announcing a press event for the first media day of the show, which takes place in Berlin, Germany in September.

Updated on 08-29-2014 by Andy Boxall: Huawei has released a teaser video, and a leak has given us some more clues about the device itself.

As the show draws closer, Huawei continues to drop hints about what we could see launch at the event. The first invitations said the company would be “empowering a future of exciting possibilities,” a slogan which really didn’t mean anything, leaving us to speculate about what Huawei could introduce on the big day. The next teaser image was slightly more revealing. It showed the edge of a smartphone body in silhouette, which seems to highlight the number seven at the same time.

THuawei 7 Invitehere are no words to accompany the picture, but according to MyDrivers.com, which first published the picture, Huawei’s new smartphone could be called the Ascend Mate 7, or the D7. We’ve been given a few clues about a future Huawei smartphone over the past weeks, thanks to a leak describing what was referred to at the time as the Ascend Mate 3.

Huawei introduced the Ascend Mate 2 at CES back in January, and only recently put the phone on sale in America through its own website. The Mate 3 would replace a device not quite ten months old. One possible reason for the early introduction could be due to Huawei merging the Mate series with the D-Series devices, which could explain the naming confusion.

At the end of August Huawei posted a teaser video on YouTube, named 7 Mates for 7 Dreamers, with the footage highlighting people who will love the new phone, such as gamers and business people. Again, the number 7 keeps cropping up, as does the Mate brand name.

Whatever its name, it promises to have a high spec

The specification, according to the rumor reports, will see the phone’s screen shrink down to 6-inches, and the resolution increase to 1080p. There’s also talk of a second version of the phone with a 1440p, 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, ready to take on the LG G3. If this is true, it may see a limited release.

An octa-core processor of Huawei’s own design could provide the power, replacing the Snapdragon 400 inside the Mate 2, and Android 4.4 KitKat should be installed as the operating system. Like the Mate 2, 4G LTE connectivity should be onboard, along with a 13-megapixel camera on the rear panel.

Leaked Ascend Mate 7A Huawei phone showed up on the website of Chinese certification board TENAA at the end of August, and discussed a phone with a 6-inch, 1080p screen, a 13-megapixel camera, and the Kirin 920 octa-core processor. A leaked picture shows the phone with a fingerprint scanner on the rear, just like the HTC One Max.

Any big screen smartphone announced during IFA is likely to find it hard to grab attention, thanks to the Berlin show traditionally being the launchpad for the latest in Samsung’s Galaxy Note range, and we’re not expecting this year to be any different. We’ll see what Huawei has to offer on September 4, when the event takes place at 3p.m. local time.

Updated on 08-12-2014 by Andy Boxall: Added in details about a second invitation to the event, which teases a smartphone somehow related to the number seven.

Article originally published on 08-04-2014

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The best Google Pixel 8a screen protectors in 2024
A photo of someone holding the Google Pixel 8a.

The Google Pixel 8a is Google's latest smartphone, and while it's not a match for Google's flagship phones, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, it's not meant to be. The Pixel 8a is a midrange powerhouse, with the Tensor G3 processor, a showstopping camera, and the advanced smarts of Google's Gemini Nano AI model.

But none of that is worth squat if you can't see it. The display is a vital part of any smartphone, and the Pixel 8a's 6.1-inch OLED panel is a beauty. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, and a much higher brightness to boot, making it the equal of some of the best phones you can grab in the midrange market. But all that tech should be protected. Here are the best Google Pixel 8a screen protectors to keep your phone's screen safe from scratches, dirt, and smears.

Read more
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
The 5 best AirTag alternatives for 2024
Chipolo ONE 2020 attached to keys in hand.

Losing material goods is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t mean we should just lay down and wait for an item to disappear. Instead, we should spend our time investing in handy tracking devices. Apple’s AirTag lineup is one of the best-known options, but there are plenty of other brands to choose from, too. Whether you need to keep tabs on wallets, car keys, or other important possessions, these five AirTag alternatives are easy to set up, simple to use, and above all, reliable.

Read more