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HUAWEI faces “challenging” Mate 9 launch in the US
July 08, 2025
Huaweiis soon set to launch its latest smartphone, theHUAWEI Mate 9, in the US, but could face difficulties in getting consumers to adopt the brand. Speaking toThe Wall Street journal, a HUAWEI US manager, who wished to remain unnamed, said the hurdles of the Mate 9’s US release are “very challenging”.
The Chinese manufacturer’s low brand recognition in the US and concerns with its phones’ security – which were oncesuspectedof posing a potential national security threat to the States – may hurt HUAWEI’s sales opportunities. However, HUAWEI is also expected to incur significant costs in making its smartphones meet the technical demands of US cell networks. “We haven’t figured out how to remove those obstacles,” said the HUAWEI manager.
HUAWEI announced that the Mate 9 would be sold in the US last month, but hasn’t revealed a release date or price. People familiar with the matter toldTheWall Street Journalthat the device would likely be sold through online retailers only, expressing that Verizon and Sprint would see little benefit in selling HUAWEI phones on their network. A partnership with T-Mobile could be ruled out on account of HUAWEI being in the midst of apatent disputewith the carrier.
HUAWEI began selling its flagship phones in the USearlier this yearand currently holds a reported 0.4% smartphone market share there, compared to Apple’s 39% and Samsung’s 23% share. In a recent interview, CEO of HUAWEI’s Consumer Business Group Richard Yu said he wantsHUAWEI to overtake Apple as the second biggest smartphone manufacturerin the world in two years.
The HUAWEI Mate 9 is on sale now for €699 (around 743 dollars) in Europe. Read our current thoughts on it in our hands-onHUAWEI Mate 9 review.
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