US-sanctioned Huawei unveils new Pura 70 smartphone series amid speculation over its chip capabilities

Huawei did not reveal details of the processors that power the Pura 70 series, but analysts believe the new line will use the company’s own Kirin chips

Pura 70 Ultra, the high-end model with a price starting at 9,999 yuan, and Pura 70 Pro, priced from 6,499 yuan, have already sold out on Huawei’s online store

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A customer looks at a Huawei Technologies' new Pura 70-series smartphone, as the models go on sale at the firm's flagship store in Beijing on April 18, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:16pm, 18 Apr 2024Updated: 10:08pm, 18 Apr 2024

Huawei Technologies has announced its highly anticipated new smartphone series, the Pura 70, in the US-sanctioned firm’s biggest flagship handset launch since the Mate 60 Pro, which drew Washington’s scrutiny for its home-made advanced chip.

Huawei announced two models for sale on Thursday, the Pura 70 Ultra and Pura 70 Pro, while the Pura 70 Pro+ and Pura 70 will be available starting April 22.

Huawei did not reveal details of the processors that power the Pura 70 series, but analysts believe the new line will use the company’s own Kirin chips. The Pura series was renamed from the P series in a rebranding effort earlier this week.

Pura 70 Ultra, the high-end model with a price starting at 9,999 yuan (US$1,382), and Pura 70 Pro, priced from 6,499 yuan, have already sold out on Huawei’s online store, while some units are still available for purchase at its bricks-and-mortar shops.

For offline purchases at Huawei’s flagship stores, consumers had to show up in person and line up for a reservation before buying, according to a saleswoman at the company’s store in Shenzhen. Some models, such as the 512GB Pura 70 Ultra, had already run out of stock before noon, she added.