Huawei has yet to make a real impact on the American market with the handsets they’ve released so far, but CES 2012 left us yearning for more. When Huawei unveiled the Ascend P1 S, they made it clear just how badly they want to break out of the prepaid, free-on-contract market in the [...]]]>

Huawei has yet to make a real impact on the American market with the handsets they’ve released so far, but CES 2012 left us yearning for more. When Huawei unveiled the Ascend P1 S, they made it clear just how badly they want to break out of the prepaid, free-on-contract market in the US, and into the high-end. Unveiling the world’s thinnest smartphone with Android 4.0, a qHD Super AMOLED display, and a dual-core Snapdragon processor is one way to do it, but even that may not be what Huawei considers high-end.

Huawei has scheduled a press event for February 26th, one day before Mobile World Congress kicks off, where they plan to detail their Diamond series high-end Android phones. Tagged as being the “smartest, fastest and most high-performing smartphone(s),” it’s not clear exactly how Huawei would build on the still unreleased Ascend P1 S or P1 LTE.

If Huawei wants to keep up with top manufacturers like Samsung, HTC and Sony, then there’s a good chance their Diamond series devices will feature quad-core processors, HD displays and some sort of advanced imaging technology.

With just over a month until Mobile World Congress kicks off, we’re finally starting to get an idea of what to expect at the show. Everyone from LG and HTC to Epson will have something running Android on display. Is there any particular device you’re really looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.

Huawei may not be a name you think of when you’re in the market for a high-end Android smartphone, but that could all change with the introduction of the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE. If you’re looking for a phone that runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and has all bells and whistles, the Ascend [...]]]>

Huawei may not be a name you think of when you’re in the market for a high-end Android smartphone, but that could all change with the introduction of the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE. If you’re looking for a phone that runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and has all bells and whistles, the Ascend P1 will probably fit the bill.

The Ascend P1 features both LTE and GSM connectivity and comes equipped with a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor (MSM8960), 1 GB or RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot that supports all the way up to 64 GB. The Huawei Ascend P1 LTE also sports WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, 2000 mAh battery and a half dozen of the standard sensors included in today’s Android phones. The handset has an 8 megapixel camera with LED and is capable of shooting 1080p video at 30 frames per second.

Measuring in at 132 x 65 x 9.9mm, the Ascend is thin, but if you’re looking for the thinnest smartphone in the world, we suggest you check out the Huawei Ascend P1S. The handset’s thin body and curved edges give it a solid feel, the the plastic back and chrome finished edges make the Ascend P1 look a lot cheaper than it actually is.

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As we mentioned above, the Huawei Ascend is running on Android 4.0.1. Surprisingly, Huawei was the only large maufacturer at CES to show off phones running on Ice Cream Sandwich. The Ascend P1′s build of Android 4.0 is mainly stock, but Huawei has tweaked the lock screen a little, adding more direct launch applications to the unlock circle.

As usual, pricing and exact availability for the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE are not available, but we should have more details once we get closer to the handset’s spring launch

Handset makers are hard at work figuring out ways to bring Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) to their Android devices. While HTC and Motorola were quick to mention which devices would get the ICS update, both companies were beat to the punch when it comes to releasing the [...]]]>

Handset makers are hard at work figuring out ways to bring Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) to their Android devices. While HTC and Motorola were quick to mention which devices would get the ICS update, both companies were beat to the punch when it comes to releasing the much-anticipated OS upgrade to their devices.

Huawei has released a demo-build of Ice Cream Sandwich for the Huawei Honor smartphone onto its website. Though the Huawei Honor is not currently available in the United States, it is rumored to be coming soon to Cricket Wireless as the Huawei Glory, though no official announcement of the release has been made. Since Huawei doesn’t have their Honor phone available in the U.S., their Android 4.0 build did not have to go through carrier testing, a process which makes the upgrade cycle unbearably slow in the U.S.

Regardless, the fact that one company is releasing Android 4.0 could suggest that other companies will soon follow suit. Or, at the very least, that handset makers will soon be putting their finishing touches on their ICS builds to submit to the carriers for their approval.

Kudos to Huawei for getting it out so early, and being the first handset maker to offer an upgrade to their customers.

You would think Microsoft would be happy with the money it is taking from some of the bigger Android manufacturers – but no. Now they are trying to get some money from our little buddy, Huawei. While this company is not among the most recognized, it is gaining its place in the Android [...]]]>

You would think Microsoft would be happy with the money it is taking from some of the bigger Android manufacturers – but no. Now they are trying to get some money from our little buddy, Huawei. While this company is not among the most recognized, it is gaining its place in the Android atmosphere, and sadly, that can be a downside when it comes to Microsoft.

Claiming that Android devices are infringing on many of their patents, Microsoft has been taking $5-$15 per device sold from multiple Android manufacturers (now over half of them). Microsoft is currently making more profit out of Android devices than Windows Phone smartphones. It’s quite a shame.

This Chinese manufacturer’s growth has now come to Microsoft’s attention, and wants it to become part of its money-making trophy wall. Huawei representatives have stated that Microsoft has indeed reached out to them. Negotiations seem to be “in progress,” but Microsoft has already been winning these legal battles. We seriously doubt that Huawei can get away from this one without busting out its wallet for Microsoft.

We sure hope that this legal bullying will stop soon. Google is planning to acquire Motorola, and manufacturers are surely trying to protect themselves, as well. The patent wars should calm down at least a little bit once Google and its partners get stronger patent portfolios.

Last time we saw this device, it promised some pretty good specs. You may know Huawei as a low-to-mid-end manufacturer, but the Huawei Honor looks like quite a powerful smartphone. Huawei has just announced this device, and the Honor is actually better than we’d heard.

Last month’s leaked specs are still standing. The Huawei [...]]]>

Last time we saw this device, it promised some pretty good specs. You may know Huawei as a low-to-mid-end manufacturer, but the Huawei Honor looks like quite a powerful smartphone. Huawei has just announced this device, and the Honor is actually better than we’d heard.

Last month’s leaked specs are still standing. The Huawei Honor will come with a 1.4 GHz single-core processor, 4-inch FWVGA display (854 x 480), 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal memory with microSD slot (supports cards up to 32 GB), an 8 MP rear-facing camera, a 2 MP front-facing camera and a hefty 1900 mAh battery.

One of the main features on this device is something most of us really want: good battery life. By good battery life, we mean nearly as good as those Nokias we almost never charged. That 1900 mAh sure is big. And according to Huawei, this device will give up to 3 days of battery life. That’s simply unimaginable for anyone who’s been using Android smartphones.

That’s Huawei’s estimated battery life, which might not be what everyone will experience. We assume only those who use the device fairly lightly will get 3 days of juice. Heavy users should not expect such longevity. It’s safe to assume heavy users could definitely get through the day easily with one charge, though. If Huawei is going to make such a claim, the battery life must be substantially superior than average.

The Huawei Honor is comes with the bands GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and the WCDMA/HSPA+ 900/AWS/2100. This means the device is compatible with America’s T-Mobile 3g network. So if the device happens to not come around the US, you might be able to import it. Release is scheduled to come during Q4 of 2011 in China, Russia and the Middle East. For the Classic Black version, that is. If you want to add some color to your life, other colors are “to follow” soon afterwards.

What do you guys say? Would you go for this device? Are you surprised by the specs/battery life? Would you be willing to import it, if it doesn’t hit the US?

Side Note

Watch out for lawsuits, Huawei! Your device looks a lot like you-know-who’s…

Android could have not made it to 550,000 activations a day without the good ol’ low-end devices. In fact, most avid Android fans used a budget-friendly smartphone when getting their feet wet on the Android platform. Huawei is known for manufacturing affordable smartphones, and AT&T has a new one for you today.

The [...]]]>

Android could have not made it to 550,000 activations a day without the good ol’ low-end devices. In fact, most avid Android fans used a budget-friendly smartphone when getting their feet wet on the Android platform. Huawei is known for manufacturing affordable smartphones, and AT&T has a new one for you today.

The Huawei Impulse 4G is one of the most pocket-friendly devices available for AT&T customers. This little guy can be yours for the low price of $29.99 on a 2-year contract. And while it’s no superphone, it can probably take care of users without too many expectations. The specs are not too bad for $30. And it has HSPA+ bands, so it’ll have a speedy internet connection.

Huawei Impulse 4G Specifications

• Android 2.2 Froyo
• 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 processor
• 3.8-inch display
• 4G-capable (HSPA+)
• 5 MP rear-facing camera (with 720p video recording)

Not many details are provided, but we can expect this device to be as good as last year’s mid-range to high-end devices. Honestly, that’s not bad at all–especially with that price tag. What do you guys think? Anyone getting this? Maybe for your parents, kids, girlfriend, etc.? Do you like the idea of having a 4G device for only $30?

Android’s success is due mostly to its open nature and diversity. While high-end devices are exciting for the tech enthusiasts, affordable mid-range to high-end smartphones are even more exciting for the common consumer. Carriers now offer Android smartphones that are cheaper than what the Motorola Razr once cost. This has lead to an explosion in [...]]]>

Android’s success is due mostly to its open nature and diversity. While high-end devices are exciting for the tech enthusiasts, affordable mid-range to high-end smartphones are even more exciting for the common consumer. Carriers now offer Android smartphones that are cheaper than what the Motorola Razr once cost. This has lead to an explosion in the Android platform and an option for every person, regardless of economic class or style.

One of the most important contributors to these affordable devices has definitely been Huawei. With devices like the Huawei Ascend and the Ideos, customers no longer have to break the bank (or sign contracts) to own a smartphone.

Eventually, though, Android users become Android fans. After realizing the awesomeness that is Android, you begin to crave devices with better processors, more ram and greater specs overall. Huawei seems to be left out of this phase; the company is not known for making high-end devices.

But Huawei is trying to move up the ladder. While the company’s new devices might very well compete against current high-end Android smartphones, Huawei’s reputation seems to be getting in the way of success.

The two most notable devices in Huawei’s “higher-end” portfolio are the MediaPad and the recently leaked Huawei Honor. The Huwei Honor comes packed with a 1.4 GHz processor (quantity of cores unknown), Android 2.3, a 4-inch display, a 5 MP camera with 720p HD recording and a 1930 mAh battery.

Not only do these specs look promising, but the device itself looks good. As you can see, it looks much like Samsung‘s devices, which are known for their aesthetics. Measuring only 9.9 mm in thickness, it’s very thin and portable. This also means it looks much like the iPhone, though. Watch out for lawsuits, Huawei!

This device doesn’t sound bad, and it looks very good. Many users seem to have a certain opinion on Huawei as a manufacturer, though. We usually hear things like, “I would get it if it wasn’t made by Huawei,” or “Eh… It’s still Huawei.”

You can only wonders what Huawei would have to do to get rid of this bad reputation. Maybe risk being unsuccessful in the high-end smartphone market for a while? Huawei could also offer very good devices at a lower price, just so people can see the improvement in its work. This, mixed with some good share of timely updates, just might bring Huawei up in the world.

What do you guys think about the Huawei Honor? Would you consider this device? What if it was made by one of the major manufacturers (e.g. HTC, Samsung, Motorola, etc.)? Imagine these specs with another brand slapped on the device. Would it make a difference? How long do you think it will be before Huawei loses this reputation? Let us know what you think about the matter at hand. Take some time to check out what Huawei is capable of. Who knows? Huawei’s contribution just might be able to improve if they begin to grow.