Huawei-linked Honor release new smartphone despite US-China dispute

Last updated on: 21 May,2019 09:33 pm

U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods last week, throwing future software updates into question.

LONDON (Reuters) - Huawei launched its new Honor 20 series smartphones in London on Tuesday (May 21) in a presentation that emphasised the Chinese company‘s technology but made no reference of a possible rupture with Google.

Huawei, the world‘s second-biggest phone maker, runs its devices on Google‘s Android platform but the U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods last week, throwing future software updates into question.

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On Tuesday, the United States temporarily eased restrictions on Huawei, granting the Chinese phonemaker a licence to buy U.S. goods until August 19, meaning that updates of popular Google apps like Gmail and YouTube can continue until then.

George Zhao, president of Huawei‘s youth-focused brand Honor, told hundreds of reporters, bloggers and analysts that he was "really happy to see so many friends" at the event.

Honor 20: Main: 48MP Sony IMX 586, ½” sensor, 4-in-1 Light Fusion (12MP, 1.6μm), f/1.8 Secondary: 16MP Super Wide Angle (117°), f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP Depth Assist, 1.75μm pixel size, f/2.4 Quaternary: 2MP Macro, 1.75μm pixel size, f/2.4, 4cm distance, fixed focus Front: 32MP, f/2.0

Honor 20 Pro: Main: 48MP Sony IMX 586, ½” sensor, 4-in-1 Light Fusion (12MP, 1.6μm), f/1.4, OIS Secondary: 16MP Super Wide Angle (117°), f/2.2, 17mm focal length Tertiary: 8MP Telephoto, 3X optical zoom, OIS, f/2.4, 80mm focal length Quaternary: 2MP Macro, 1.75μm pixel size, f/2.4, 4cm distance, fixed focus, 27mm focal length Front: 32MP, f/2.0

He unveiled the Honor 20 Pro, Honor 20 and Honor 20 Lite, which will retail at 599 euros ($669), 499 euros and 299 euros respectively.