The turning point was the “HUAWEI P9,” equipped with a Leica double lens. Along with the twin-lens camera that can take emotional pictures like Leica, the slim and stylish design also attracted attention. Since then, the “HUAWEI P” series has continued to drive the evolution of smartphone cameras and designs to this day.
As you know, Huawei is currently in trouble due to US policy toward China. On the other hand, the “HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G” currently on sale is not a model that everyone will accept, such as adopting its app store. Still, the latest model of the “HUAWEI P” series is an organic EL display with four sides bent. In addition, it is equipped with a bright and high-definition 4-lens camera that supports from ultra-wide-angle to 50x zoom. It also has a unique function that can remove the reflection of passersby and glass cases using AI, and it is a smartphone that can be said to be one of the highest peaks at the moment, packed with cutting-edge technology.
“HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G” equipped with the highest class camera performance of smartphones
The design of Huawei’s smartphone has changed significantly since the “HUAWEI P9” in collaboration with Leica. What kind of changes have you made in thinking about design?
It means that smartphones are not just tools. Taking myself as an example, I sometimes unlock it more than 100 times a day and use it for 6 to 7 hours. No other electronic product is used so often.
What is an essential thing in designing a smartphone highest-class camera performance?
Hope that smartphones will bring more convenience and want them to be premium.
Huawei has two main models, the “HUAWEI P” series and the “HUAWEI Mate” series. What is the difference between the two characters?
The “HUAWEI Mate” series is a series that embodies Huawei as a technology company. If you look at the history of art, there are two types of aesthetics. One is aesthetics based on the progress and rationality of human science and technology. “HUAWEI Mate” series Based on this image, we have adopted a streamlined design with powerful technology such as a deep curve display. On the other hand, the “HUAWEI P” series has an image of another aesthetic based on human nature and sensibility. For example, the silver frost color used in “HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G” was inspired by the experience and emotions of the designer’s self-confidence. Both are Huawei’s flagship series, but because they convey different feelings, they also follow different paths of beauty.
Silver frost color that changes the expression depending on how the light hits
Do you think design has dramatically contributed to improving Huawei’s brand image?
The Twilight of the HUAWEI P20 Pro, the Breathing Crystal of the HUAWEI P30 Pro, and the Silver Frost of the HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G are looking forward to the new colors that the following new product will bring. I think that design builds the brand’s image and has a significant influence on the decision-making when purchasing the product.
How do you integrate new technologies such as multi-lens cameras and 5G that are born one after another into your design?
No other product incorporates new technology in a cycle as fast as a smartphone. New technology also brings new design possibilities. A good example is the quad curve overflow display of “HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G”.
Smartphone displays are required to have a smooth and comfortable finger feel.
It is easy to understand if you imagine it with origami, but wrinkles will occur at the corners if you bend both the long and short sides. Not to mention how difficult it is to bend the corners, especially if it’s a display made up of 10 layers of material. This time, we were able to achieve that with technology. Designers must constantly make a trade-off between technology limitations and possibilities to find a balance.
Quad curve overflow display with bent up, down, left, and right displays
“HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G” is equipped with a display of about 6.58 inches. While smartphones are becoming larger screens, there is a strong demand for smaller models in Japan. What are your thoughts on the size of your smartphone?
That’s precisely the contradiction in smartphone design. While smartphones are expected to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, people want a larger screen for a better experience. It is precisely the contradiction that triggered the development of the narrow frame full-view display and the foldable smartphone.
The life cycle of smartphones is short, and you can buy a new one in about two years. How does this affect your design?
Many consumers are buying new smartphones in about two years. Manufacturers will need to look two years into the future and make trade-offs with feature selection. Huawei has a lot of discussions and discussions with the R & D team, hardware team, and software team for that purpose. In a rapidly changing industry, knowledge needs to be updated daily.
For example, smartphones are used for several hours a day, so even 5 grams can be a heavy burden. People’s need for lighter smartphones drives us to experiment with more new materials and possibilities. The short replacement cycle of smartphone consumers poses many challenges for designers while offering countless possibilities and making the industry very interesting.
highest class camera performance
