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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) returns to Barcelona at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via convention center from February 26-29. The mobile and communications technology trade show describes itself as “the largest and most influential event in the communications ecosystem,” with tens of thousands of attendees from manufacturers, mobile operators, consumer technology companies and other enterprises.
Amidst the buzzing atmosphere of innovation and cutting-edge connectivity, Huawei is showcasing its cutting-edge innovations at MWC 2024.
Technology displays are evident in the architecture and design of Huawei's pavilion in Hall 1, which showcases a vision of a smarter digital world where everything is intelligently connected. This means that in the future, technology will be seamlessly integrated into every part of our lives, industries and societies, and a glimpse of this inevitable reality can be seen in Barcelona as Huawei puts the user at the center of its ecosystem.
The world of Huawei wearables
Through its exhibition space, Huawei shows a clear focus on enhancing user experiences through scenario-based areas, which include themes such as Ultimate Design, Fashion Forward, XMAGE, Creation of Beauty, and Fitness and Health. These areas, which serve as a proof of concept for Huawei's innovation, provide personalized and modern experiences to consumers around the world.
At a Huawei press conference, the message was as follows: “Our product development is about improving people's lives across different scenarios, including smart lifestyle, health, fitness, entertainment and productivity. We aim to create a rich ecosystem of hardware and software that seamlessly integrate into people's lives.” users, providing a uniquely connected experience.Our vision is to empower users with personalized and elegant technology solutions that stand out in the consumer technology industry.
The global technology manufacturer is showcasing a range of consumer products, including the Huawei Mate 60 RS Ultimate Design, Huawei FreeClip and Huawei Watch GT 4.
Kevin Hu, Chief Operating Officer of Huawei Consumer Business Group, stressed the company's commitment to strengthening its position as a high-end, advanced fashion and technology-driven global brand. “Huawei will continue to strengthen its position as a high-end, fashion-forward and technology-driven global brand,” Hu said. “In 2024, we will continue to increase R&D investments in smart devices, fitness, health and digital innovation. These efforts will make innovative products and services accessible to users around the world, and create cutting-edge, pioneering and personalized lifestyles for consumers.
Against the backdrop of steady growth in Huawei's consumer business portfolio, marked by breakthroughs in various markets including wearables, audio, tablets, PCs and smartphones, the company's presence at MWC 2024 underscored its focus on expanding its global footprint as a premium brand.
In 2023, Huawei's landmark launches, such as the Huawei Mate 60 series and Huawei Mate X5, showcased the company's technological prowess, while the introduction of Ultimate Design enriched its product portfolio. Notably, Huawei gained a 5 percent market share in the global high-end smartphone market in 2023, according to Counterpoint Research.
A Huawei representative explained during a press conference: “Despite the challenges, we are committed to success in overseas markets. We resumed our regular cycle of overseas launches last year and are excited to expand our presence further. We launched in Barcelona, followed by our recent debut in the Middle East with an outdoor launch event in Dubai in December, marking an important milestone for Huawei. Our focus remains on serving consumers' needs, and we are constantly innovating our product development to deliver seamless and intelligent technology experiences.
Beyond smartphones, Huawei has continued to lead in wearables, with global shipments exceeding 150 million units by the end of 2023, and ranking first in China's smartwatch market for five consecutive years. The company's dedication to design innovation is evident in the 'Fashion Forward' exhibition area, highlighting its investments in exciting new designs and materials such as the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design featuring 18-karat gold inlays, a rotating gold crown, and black and gold ceramic bezels.
The representative said that Huawei is celebrating 10 successful years of its wearable devices. “We launched our first wearable here exactly 10 years ago. So the first product was launched at MWC in 2014. Since then, we've achieved the No. 1 market share in the world. Watch this space, because we're told by independent researchers that in the last quarter of 2023 “Our sales increased 56 percent year over year. So we are, again, very optimistic about the potential of our wearables business.”
Looking to the future, Huawei pledges to address industry challenges such as sleep, blood pressure and mental health management, with the aim of providing consumers with more accurate and comprehensive health management solutions.
Huawei has so far filed more than 800 smart wearable patent applications, ranking high in terms of R&D investment and number of patents defining fitness and health. The company has also built more than 10 global research centers, accelerating the global planning of professional research in the field of wearable devices.
In October 2023, Huawei unveiled its third health laboratory in Finland. In addition, she established aesthetic research centers in Paris, Milan, and London, to gain insight into the design and aesthetic trends of different cultures, drawing on a variety of traditions, and integrating design elements from the East and West. These centers act as a global platform that fuels the continuous advancement of technology and design, and provides a unique and unprecedented aesthetic experience for consumers.
“In 2024, we will continue to focus on developing pioneering technologies and expanding our product portfolio across various categories. Our wearables strategy, centered around fashion-forward design, will extend to other product areas, to meet consumer demand for unique and personalized products, especially health. Additionally, we are exploring opportunities to bring our advanced medical degrees abroad, further supporting global health initiatives.Finally, our commitment to creativity and expression through technology will drive initiatives such as creating beauty, enriching lives and empowering individuals around the world.
As Mobile World Congress continues to serve as a pivotal platform for the connectivity ecosystem, Huawei's showcase at MWC 2024 is a glimpse into the tech giant's capabilities in delivering cutting-edge, on-trend, technology-driven products and experiences to consumers around the world.