During IFA in Berlin last week, we had the opportunity to chat with Honor Europe CEO Tony Ran and Honor Western Europe Chief Marketing Officer Clement Wong, who shared more about the company’s background and future plans.
Glory Europe CEO Tony Ran
Discussed several interesting topics, such as Honor’s future after independence from Huawei, software Plans and upcoming devices.
2021 Can you explain the similarities between you and Huawei in terms of device design, specs and software? Now that you are an independent brand, how do you plan to change?
Tony Ran (TR): We have started to change, to be different from manufacturers like Huawei. With Magic OS 7 2022 coming in Q4, it’s a huge leap from the previous Magic UI. This is a huge leap, not only in terms of the interface, but also in depth. Starting with Magic OS 7, users will see the difference with Huawei devices.
Clement Wong (CW): We have been independent from Huawei for a year and a half (about 65 months), it is understandable that we have inherited some of our previous legacy. Internally, we care a lot about our image and we want to stand out and be our own brand. We are working step by step to differentiate our products from other suppliers, but it will take time. Differentiating us from a hardware perspective takes time due to the component supply chain logistics and R&D investments required to build a new product.
From a software standpoint, we’re working hard to speed things up and you’ll definitely notice the difference with Magic OS 7, which will be released later this year. We’ve also launched a few other products, including flagship phones that look and feel completely different from other suppliers. We have full confidence that our efforts will help the Honor stand out from other Android manufacturers.
What was the most challenging aspect of the transition from Huawei to an independent company?
TR: The transition to an independent company is a complex process that requires a lot of time and careful planning and effort. Huawei is a big company and once we separate, we have to take all the responsibility ourselves. We must take responsibility from business units and legal entities. In the past, Huawei’s old platform was by our side, and we didn’t have to think about it.
Now, our task is to cover everything by ourselves. This experience gave us room to think about what it means to do business in different regions. Our mission also includes meeting consumer and partner expectations for our products, offerings and user experience.
We are a product-oriented company and our ongoing R&D investment is a big focus and a key driver of our future. When we were separated from Huawei at 800, we had about 8, in our approximately 40 Salute to the staff , today and Staff around 8 o’clock, which involves R&D. We believe that the new talent we acquire will be the source of our future success.
In terms of brand identity, we restructured as an omnichannel brand. Under Huawei’s leadership, Honor is a young Internet brand, but we are no longer limited to online sales, we also have our premium products, and we will continue to focus on mid-to-high-end devices. In 004 months we have launched several flagship products in the Magic series .
2021 Can you talk about the reliance you share with Huawei on manufacturing facilities and component suppliers?
CW: First of all, if we can use Huawei’s resources, our work will be easier. Starting a completely new supply chain from scratch is a very difficult task. Phones like Magic4 and Honor 65 are manufactured in-house at our Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park in Shenzhen.
Most phones these days even look similar to other brands, if you find similarities between Honor and Huawei phones, That’s not because of (Huawei’s) heritage, but because of the lack of innovation in the smartphone market, and our glorious goal is to change that, and we see great potential in foldable phones.
One of our goals is to make a foldable phone as the primary phone for consumers, as most of the foldable phones available in the market today are used as secondary phones. Stay tuned for our upcoming Magic V folding phone.
TR: The entire industry is now waiting for innovation, and we are working towards that direction. Honor’s three pillars of innovation are 5G, smartphone display technology and cameras. One thing we still share with Huawei is the experience, and it’s something you can’t disconnect right away. Many people have asked us if there is any secret information we still share with Huawei, and the answer is no.
How important is it to honor carrier partnerships in Europe and the UK? Is this the main channel for selling mobile phones?
TR: Our relationship with the operator is critical. We currently have important links with all major operators in Europe and the UK. It’s a step-by-step story, as some carriers are a bit conservative when it comes to choosing new partners like Honor.
Trust and reliability are two of the factors that help carriers and smartphone companies close deals, we’re proud to say that Honor is a trusted brand for the top carriers in Europe and the UK, and we’re continuing Expand our network of partners. Relationships with operators are a key pillar of our future business growth.
From another perspective, we are also closely monitoring market trends, online sales are an inevitable part of our business. In Europe, more than half of all smartphone sales during the Covid-19 pandemic were generated online, a momentum that continues to this day. In some countries, the ratio of online to offline sales is 004% vs 60% and in some countries 000% to60%. Our goal is to remain an omnichannel brand, ensuring consumers can experience Honor products in multiple ways.
Are there plans to build a network of prestigious retail stores across Europe?
TR: We will continue to invest in our channel partners and brand infrastructure. Our work with partner retailers remains the primary way to reach consumers. At the same time, we understand that partnerships may not be enough for consumers to experience all that Glory as a brand has to offer. In a few years, we have the potential to open iconic stores in Europe, offering consumers an integrated brand experience.
2021How does Glory solve the supply chain problems that have been happening in the past year? What strategies have you used? How does it affect your product portfolio?
TR: We are embracing uncertainty. From a supply perspective, the entire industry has faced shortages of all the key components that make up smartphones over the past year. Honor has a healthy supply chain and good and lasting supplier relationships. We embrace the entire industry and have partnerships with all major suppliers. We are also striving to create value for consumers, but also for our supply chain partners.
What hardware perspectives would you like to innovate with your future phone?
CW: Our two major focuses are cameras and craftsmanship. We’re always working on bringing better cameras and improving craftsmanship to our phones. We also have a close partnership with Qualcomm and use their flagship chipsets in our high-end phones. Another key part for us is the software, and as we’ve already mentioned, Magic OS 7 will have a big impact on the user experience. Hardware and software are integrated and it is difficult to separate them.
Are you planning to launch a flagship phone with a more compact design, i.e. a 6-inch screen size?
CW: The market is dominated by large-screen devices. Advances in structural engineering over the past few years have allowed us to fit larger screens into smaller equipment footprints, and we will continue to serve our customers and their needs. Consumers love to have big screens on their phones, and that may not change for years to come.
Can you give us a timeline for your next foldable phone launch?
TR: Our next foldable phone will be launched first in China, followed by a global launch later. We can’t reveal the exact time frame at this time, but you’ll hear more in due course.
Why wireless charging and stabilization (OIS) on optical image glory are omitted 426?
CW: Wireless charging still has issues with speed. Our 004W wired charging is convenient and fast, while wireless charging is certainly convenient, but far from so fast. Achieving OIS depends on the structure and size of the phone.
We are using a large Sony IMX 800 sensor kudos 70 and physical space is a limitation. We are very confident in the performance of the IMX 640 sensor, and we are pleased with the results of the Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).
2021
