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| Huawei P40 flagship phones launch amid Covid-19 crisis | Huawei P40 flagship phones launch amid Covid-19 crisis |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Huawei has launched a range of new flagship smartphones despite the coronavirus pandemic. | Huawei has launched a range of new flagship smartphones despite the coronavirus pandemic. |
| The firm unveiled the P40 phones a day after the firm's founder announced that 90% of the company's 150,000 China-based employees had returned to work. | The firm unveiled the P40 phones a day after the firm's founder announced that 90% of the company's 150,000 China-based employees had returned to work. |
| But experts say demand for the handsets will likely be weak outside of its home market, at least in the short-term. | But experts say demand for the handsets will likely be weak outside of its home market, at least in the short-term. |
| They say many consumers and businesses are focused on buying laptops, PCs and tablets if they are spending at all. | They say many consumers and businesses are focused on buying laptops, PCs and tablets if they are spending at all. |
| "Smartphones are not a priority and certainly not premium ones," commented Marta Pinto from market research firm IDC. | "Smartphones are not a priority and certainly not premium ones," commented Marta Pinto from market research firm IDC. |
| "People's consumption confidence is falling because they are more concerned about buying things like groceries and whether they will keep their jobs. | "People's consumption confidence is falling because they are more concerned about buying things like groceries and whether they will keep their jobs. |
| "Even if you are still buying, because you're working from home, you'll probably purchase a laptop and monitor. Or because kids need to go to school online, you might buy them a tablet or Chromebook." | "Even if you are still buying, because you're working from home, you'll probably purchase a laptop and monitor. Or because kids need to go to school online, you might buy them a tablet or Chromebook." |
| The new handsets were unveiled via a livestreamed video feed rather than at one of the big-budget events Huawei typically hosts. | The new handsets were unveiled via a livestreamed video feed rather than at one of the big-budget events Huawei typically hosts. |
| Unlike last year's models, the P40 phones lack Google services - including its YouTube, Maps and Play Store apps, and the Google Assistant - because of a US trade ban. | Unlike last year's models, the P40 phones lack Google services - including its YouTube, Maps and Play Store apps, and the Google Assistant - because of a US trade ban. |
| That makes them a difficult sale outside of China, where Android phones come preinstalled with alternatives. | That makes them a difficult sale outside of China, where Android phones come preinstalled with alternatives. |
| But as a result, one company-watcher suggested that the firm might actually be in a better place to deal with the consequences of Covid-19 than its rivals. | But as a result, one company-watcher suggested that the firm might actually be in a better place to deal with the consequences of Covid-19 than its rivals. |
| "Huawei was already pretty much locked out of markets outside of China, and had factored in a pretty tough trading environment for the next year or two," explained Ben Wood from CCS Insight. | "Huawei was already pretty much locked out of markets outside of China, and had factored in a pretty tough trading environment for the next year or two," explained Ben Wood from CCS Insight. |
| "So, it is other phone-makers that have a bigger shock to deal with. LG and Sony's smartphone divisions, in particular, were already sub-scale and may not survive. | "So, it is other phone-makers that have a bigger shock to deal with. LG and Sony's smartphone divisions, in particular, were already sub-scale and may not survive. |
| "And don't forget, that the majority of Huawei's sales are still coming from its home market in China, where it's been selling over 40 million units on a quarterly basis. And that market is recovering faster than others having already endured coronavirus and seems to be coming out the other side." | "And don't forget, that the majority of Huawei's sales are still coming from its home market in China, where it's been selling over 40 million units on a quarterly basis. And that market is recovering faster than others having already endured coronavirus and seems to be coming out the other side." |
| Huawei remains the world's second bestselling handset-maker, but had once aimed to overtake Samsung before the end of 2019. | Huawei remains the world's second bestselling handset-maker, but had once aimed to overtake Samsung before the end of 2019. |
| Founder Ren Zhengfei told the Wall Street Journal that his firm now planned to boost its wider research and development budget by $5.8bn (£4.8bn) this year, taking it to more than $20bn. And part of that is being spent on building up its own library of apps. | Founder Ren Zhengfei told the Wall Street Journal that his firm now planned to boost its wider research and development budget by $5.8bn (£4.8bn) this year, taking it to more than $20bn. And part of that is being spent on building up its own library of apps. |
| "In markets outside of China, we don't see significant [smartphone] growth," he added. | "In markets outside of China, we don't see significant [smartphone] growth," he added. |
| "We are taking measures to address that." | "We are taking measures to address that." |
| AI smarts | AI smarts |
| There are three versions of the new phones: the standard P40, with a 6.1in screen, and a larger mid-range P40 Pro and high-end Pro+, which both have 6.58in displays. That makes then slightly bigger than Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. | There are three versions of the new phones: the standard P40, with a 6.1in screen, and a larger mid-range P40 Pro and high-end Pro+, which both have 6.58in displays. That makes then slightly bigger than Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. |
| All support 5G. The basic model has three rear cameras, including one that is capable of a 3x optical zoom - meaning users can tighten in on the subject without sacrificing quality. | All support 5G. The basic model has three rear cameras, including one that is capable of a 3x optical zoom - meaning users can tighten in on the subject without sacrificing quality. |
| The P40 Pro adds a time-of-flight depth sensor and upgrades the telephoto lens to a periscope design, allowing light to be reflected into the device to deliver a 5x optical zoom. | The P40 Pro adds a time-of-flight depth sensor and upgrades the telephoto lens to a periscope design, allowing light to be reflected into the device to deliver a 5x optical zoom. |
| And the Pro+ betters this with a 10x optical zoom periscope lens. If a digital effect is employed, the Pro+ can achieve 100x zoom. This matches Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra - but Huawei claims to produce a better shot. | And the Pro+ betters this with a 10x optical zoom periscope lens. If a digital effect is employed, the Pro+ can achieve 100x zoom. This matches Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra - but Huawei claims to produce a better shot. |
| Huawei also said its phones featured bigger camera sensors than those found in either the Galaxy S20 series or iPhone 11 range, giving it an advantage in low-light situations when the owner does not want to use the flash. | Huawei also said its phones featured bigger camera sensors than those found in either the Galaxy S20 series or iPhone 11 range, giving it an advantage in low-light situations when the owner does not want to use the flash. |
| Other standout features include: | Other standout features include: |
| The Huawei App Gallery includes TikTok, Telegram, Viber, and Microsoft Office among other products. But beyond Google's apps, it is also missing Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. | The Huawei App Gallery includes TikTok, Telegram, Viber, and Microsoft Office among other products. But beyond Google's apps, it is also missing Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. |
| To help make up for the loss of YouTube, the firm has created its own Huawei Video app. | |
| It has signed a deal with BBC Studios to provide access to 300 hours of content. | |
| Huawei Video will include BBC drama, comedy and factual TV shows in 26 countries outside the UK. | |
| And to replace the Duo video chat app, it offers MeeTime, which it claims offers superior performance in low-light conditions. | And to replace the Duo video chat app, it offers MeeTime, which it claims offers superior performance in low-light conditions. |
| "The design of the devices is superb - they are very sleek," commented Ms Pinto. | "The design of the devices is superb - they are very sleek," commented Ms Pinto. |
| "And it's clever that they've been able to bring more stability to the ultra-zoom lens than Samsung did with its S20 Ultra, assuming the P40 Pro+ lives up to its promise. | "And it's clever that they've been able to bring more stability to the ultra-zoom lens than Samsung did with its S20 Ultra, assuming the P40 Pro+ lives up to its promise. |
| "But it remains a hard sell, because would you actually want to use something like MeeTime rather than WhatsApp?" | "But it remains a hard sell, because would you actually want to use something like MeeTime rather than WhatsApp?" |
| The P40 and P40 Pro go on sale on 7 April, and start from €799 (£742, $890) and €999 respectively, The P40 Pro+ will be released in June, and is priced at €1,399. | The P40 and P40 Pro go on sale on 7 April, and start from €799 (£742, $890) and €999 respectively, The P40 Pro+ will be released in June, and is priced at €1,399. |