Huawei unveils 4G devices and wearable tech at MWC
The Chinese manufacturer has pulled out the stops for MWC 2014, including five new 4G devices and a fitness tracker.
Chinese device maker Huawei unveiled a range of new devices overnight at the Mobile World Congress 2014 show in Barcelona.
The products include two smaller-screen tablets, a new smartphone, a MiFi wireless hotspot and a connected fitness tracker.
The two Android tablets — the 7-inch Huawei MediaPad X1 and 8-inch MediaPad M1 — seem to be even further blurring the lines between smartphone and tablet. The X1 in particular sports a SIM card slot and 4G data connectivity allowing users to make phone calls and send text messages.
The device also boasts a 1.6GHz quad-core processor and a full HD display, suggesting that Huawei will market the X1 as perfect for digital video consumption.
The 8-inch MediaTab M1 also has a SIM card slot and 4G support, although the slightly larger screen might not make it as friendly to use for calls and SMS. It has a 1280 x 920 resolution screen and also comes with a 1.6GHz quad-core processor.
Huawei's new 4G smartphone, the Ascend G6 4G, is being called the 'selfie smartphone' thanks to its 5-megapixel forward facing camera. The 4.5-inch phone has a 960 x 540 resolution screen and comes with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. The device runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and has an 8-megapixel camera on the back.
Huawei also announced the E5786 personal hotspot, calling it the 'world's fastest' MiFi device. On LTE networks the E5786 promises download speeds of 300Mbps, according to Huawei, with upload speeds of 100Mbps. The MiFi supports Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and 802.11ac and can connect up to 10 devices via Wi-Fi. It has a 3000mAh battery that Huawei claims will give up to 10 hours of use. It even works as a charger for any device connected to it via USB.
Finally, Huawei threw its hat into the wearable device ring with the new TalkBand B1, a combination Bluetooth headset and fitness tracker.
Using both Bluetooth and NFC, the Talkband can be removed from the wristband and use to make a call. It's water- and dust-resistant and covers the usual fitness trackers basics such a sleep tracking and pedometer functions.
The strap itself is a USB connector for easy charging. It has seven hours of talk time and two weeks standby capability. However, the 1.4-inch OLED screen is not actually touch-enabled, so the device is managed using an app on a smartphone.
In a local media release, Huawei said the MediaPad M1 will be available in Australia from Q1, at a price of €299 (or AU$458). Australia was not listed as a release location for the X1 or the Talkband. The E5786 MiFi will be available in Australia from May, although no local pricing was given.