2018 has been plenty of things, most notable of which is the runaway success of Huawei in the Philippines. The global tech brand has seen record growth in the country's highly competitive smartphone market, evidenced by the strong performances of its devices across all segments.
In fact, it's quite common to hear any tech-related discussion veer towards how much people are excited for the latest Huawei device. This year-in-review piece looks back on how the company repeatedly surpassed expectations throughout the 2018.
The Brilliance of the Nova Series
The Nova series of phones enabled Huawei to gain significant foothold in the Philippines' youth market. Through a combination of flagship-grade performance, camera experience and hardware design, the Nova 3 and Nova 3i soundly outperformed and outclassed the competition. Heartthrob actor James Reid helped convey these exciting features to consumers as the Nova series' brand ambassador.
Concurrently, Huawei initiated the Nova Academy workshop series to help foster tech-based creativity and passion amongst millennials. Influencers and content creators such as Discover MNL, Raiza Contawi, Bella Racelis, and Johan Aguilar shared tips and tricks on social media, vlogging, and mobile photography as part of the Nova Academy 'curriculum'.
The Nova 3i sold 20,000 units on the first day of availability, proving its immense popularity in the country. Equipped with a 6.3-inch FullView Display, Kirin 710 processor with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, quad-camera setup and Android 8.1-based EMUI 8.2 for only Php 15,990, the Nova 3i is definitely a winner.
P is for Prestige and Power
The launch of the P20 and P20 Pro in Paris introduced the world to a more powerful but more refined smartphone experience. The P 20 Series touted upgraded triple Leica optics, AI-powered processor and edge-to-edge display technology.
Upon release, the P20 Pro's cameras earned the highest rating from camera-reviewing institute DxOMark, edging out the iPhone XS Max in the process. Metro Magazine demonstrated the cameras' prowess by shooting their cover with the P20 Pro featuring Huawei brand ambassador Pia Wurtzbach.
Adding a flourish of prestige to the P20 Pro was its premium metal and glass body coated in an elegant Twilight Gradient color option.
Consumer reception the P20 series was no less exceptional, as the devices achieved Php 100 million in sales in only 5 hours.
Leading the Cutting Edge
Huawei launched the Mate 20 Series in London last October, which featured the new Kirin 980: the first consumer-ready mobile processor manufactured in the 7nm process, equipped with Dual Neural Processing Units, and sporting the powerful pair of Cortex A76 /Mali G76 chips – all world-firsts.
The Mate 20 Series introduced innovative tech like ultra-wide angle shooting, enhanced SuperCharge, Reverse Wireless Charging (for the Mate 20 Pro), and on-device AI capabilities.
The Kirin 980 heralded the advent of super-powerful yet super-efficient smartphones in the form of the Mate 20/Mate 20 Pro, resulting in enhanced overall user experience. Sales of the Mate 20 Series in the Philippines reached Php 100 million worth of units on its first day of availability, soundly beating out competitors in similar segments.
Local and International Dominance
Huawei’s achievements in the Philippines have resulted in the brand climbing to the #3 spot of the smartphone market in the country, according to data released by research firm GfK. In 2018 alone, brand awareness and consideration of Filipinos for Huawei products have significantly increased over a short five-month period.
According to country Head of Huawei Consumer Business Group for the Philippines George Li, the company’s gains hinged mainly on the strength of its mid-range offerings, which managed to incorporate high-end materials and specs to more budget-friendly price ranges.
In terms of global ranking, Huawei overtook Apple as the number two smartphone brand in the world after experiencing 40.9% growth since 2017, bolstered by positive reception to the P20 Series.
Making more Dreams Possible
For the holiday season, Huawei launched the “Make it Snow” campaign as a way to say thank-you to the overwhelming support of Filipinos. The campaign is a series of events that feature snow shows, games, and hands-on product demos.
The Make it Snow Campaign also serves as easy-access to Huawei’s Christmas promos such as their Home Credit partnership which offers zero downpayment, low-interest plans on select devices, and includes gadget freebies like wireless chargers and outdoor speakers.
As Huawei continues to grow and rack up milestone after milestone, the tech brand’s laser-sharp focus on consumer satisfaction remains. The quality and success of products like the P20 Series, the Nova Series, and the Mate 20 Series are direct proof of the company’s commitment to providing the ultimate smartphone experience that enhances the consumer’s respective lifestyle. (PR)