Huawei officially unveiled its highly anticipated Mate 90 series smartphones and a range of new ecosystem products on October 1st, marking a significant launch event on the first day of China’s National Day holiday.
The All-New Huawei Mate 90 Series: Pushing Boundaries
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, took the stage to introduce the Mate 90 series, touting it as the most powerful Mate to date. He highlighted four key advancements:
- Cutting-edge semiconductor technology
- Precision manufacturing
- Advanced communication tech
- Innovative software and operating systems
Yu emphasized the Mate series’ role as a leader in innovative technology and ultimate user experience. The Mate 90 series introduces:
- The latest generation of Kirin chipsets, new system architecture, and communication technologies, including industry-first satellite communication support.
- Enhanced durability with the debut of Kunlun Glass and Xuanwu architecture for improved reliability.
- Advanced photography features such as the new Maple Original Color Imaging system, ten-stop physical variable aperture, and telephoto macro capabilities.
- A refined user experience with the AI-powered Xiao Yi intelligent agent, Xingdun security architecture, and the ultra-smooth Ark engine.
Design and Display: A Familiar Yet Evolved Aesthetic
The Mate 90 series retains the classic Mate design language with a focus on a symmetrical rear layout and an all-metal unibody construction featuring a crystal lattice design. The Pro and Pro Max models boast a suspended star ring camera module, with the Pro Max Ultimate Edition featuring a Yttrium crystal gem for enhanced durability and aesthetics. Color options include ‘Flowing Light and Splendid Colors’ for the Pro and Pro Max variants, with distinct palettes for each. The standard Mate 90 features a ‘Rhythmic Crystal Lattice’ design with its own set of color choices.
On the front, the Mate 90 and Pro models feature a 6.75-inch display, while the Pro Max offers a larger 6.9-inch screen. All models utilize 2D direct screens with 3D ToF sensors. Durability is paramount, with all devices offering IP68 dust and water resistance and IP69-level resistance to high-pressure water jets. The third-generation Kunlun Glass is standard across the series, with the Pro and Pro Max models benefiting from optical Kunlun Glass and the Xuanwu architecture. The Pro Max Ultimate Edition exclusively features Xuanwu Kunlun Glass.
The display technology sees a significant upgrade with the second-generation Linglong Screen on the Mate 90 Pro and Pro Max, featuring a dual-layer OLED architecture and a custom Suzaku display chip. These screens achieve a peak brightness of 12000 nits. The Mate 90 Pro Max further enhances this with its full-color Linglong Screen technology, supporting the BT.2020 ultra-wide color gamut.
Performance: Four New Kirin Chips Power the Series
Huawei reaffirmed the symbiotic relationship between the Mate series and Kirin chipsets. The Mate 90 lineup is powered by four distinct Kirin chips:
- Mate 90 Standard Edition: Kirin 9030. Offers a 13% CPU improvement, a 54% GPU boost, and a 13% NPU increase over the Kirin 9020, with doubled image loading speeds thanks to FFRT soft-hard collaboration scheduling.
- Mate 90 Pro: Kirin 9035. Provides an 11% CPU boost, a 10% GPU increase, and a 51% NPU enhancement over the Kirin 9030.
- Mate 90 Pro Max: Kirin 9050 Pro. This advanced chip boasts a transistor density of 238 million/mm², a 28% increase.
- Mate 90 Pro Max (12GB version): Kirin 9050.
Connectivity and Communication: Leading the Pack
Huawei continues its leadership in communication technology. The Mate 90 Pro Max introduces industry-first quad-card triple-standby (eSIM + physical SIM). It also features Wi-Fi cellular fusion antennas, multi-device mutual communication sharing, and a new outdoor exploration mode. The 6800mAh battery supports silent calls and features triple-vibration membrane leak-proof technology.
Photography: A New Era of Mobile Imaging
While the Pura series is known for its cameras, the Mate 90 series makes a strong statement:
- Mate 90 Standard Edition: Features a 50MP main camera with a variable aperture (F1.4-F4.0), OIS, RYYB sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 40MP ultra-wide lens.
- Mate 90 Pro: Upgrades to a larger 1/1.28-inch main sensor with variable aperture, a 50MP RYYB telephoto macro lens, and a 40MP ultra-wide lens.
- Mate 90 Pro Max / Ultimate Edition: Boasts a 50MP main camera with an 18EV ultra-high dynamic range, LOFIC technology, a 200MP telephoto lens, and a 40MP ultra-wide lens.
Unique photography features include broadcast-grade live streaming capabilities with a dedicated streamer mode. The Pro Max Ultimate Edition supports an external Huawei Ruiying Z10 10x optical zoom module, offering a versatile 24mm-240mm focal range and advanced imaging features.
HarmonyOS 7 and User Experience
The Mate 90 series comes pre-installed with HarmonyOS 7, bringing enhancements in smart features with Xiao Yi, seamless cross-device connectivity, advanced security through Xingdun, and aesthetic improvements with spatial wallpapers and clocks.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing for the Mate 90 series starts at 5999 yuan for the standard 12GB+256GB model, going up to 12999 yuan for the Pro Max Ultimate Edition 16GB+1TB variant. The Huawei Ruiying Z10 accessory is priced at 5999 yuan.
Mate 90 RS Non-Ordinary Master: The Pinnacle of Design
The Mate 90 RS Non-Ordinary Master elevates luxury with its diamond-like texture and dynamic grating Kunlun Glass. It features a titanium unibody, Xuanwu architecture, and comes in three distinct colors. This edition shares core specifications with the Mate 90 Pro Max Ultimate Edition, including the Kirin 9050 Pro, satellite communication, and advanced camera systems. Pricing for the RS Non-Ordinary Master starts at 12999 yuan for the 16GB+512GB model, reaching up to 18999 yuan for the 16GB+2TB version.
Expanding the Ecosystem: New Smart Devices
Huawei also launched several new ecosystem products:
- Nova 16 Pro and FIT 5 x Bubble Mart Hirono Limited Edition: The Nova 16 Pro includes exclusive merchandise and a custom theme. The FIT 5 smartwatch features a special strap and watch face.
- FreeBuds Neo: A new series of wireless earbuds with a unique design and advanced noise cancellation technology.
- WATCH D3: The next-generation smartwatch with enhanced health monitoring features, including blood pressure measurement and ECG.
- Mate TV 2: Featuring a new 3D display, Huawei’s Black Diamond Screen, and pre-installed with HarmonyOS 7, supporting full installation of mobile apps and screen mirroring from iOS devices. Pricing starts at 7999 yuan.
The launch event showcased Huawei’s commitment to innovation across its smartphone lineup and its expanding smart ecosystem, offering a blend of performance, design, and advanced technology.
