In an attempt to move up the value chain, Huawei will introduce its latest phones in India – the high-end P series comprising the P8 and the P8lite.
HUAWEI P8 Price Rs 26k
The most interesting of all the phones is the Huawei P8 and the P8 Lite. The P8 actually has two versions – a low end and a high-end version. According to our sources, it is possible that only the lower speced version will be launched in India initially.
The Huawei P8 is the Chinese company’s attempt to move into the premium market and not just focus on the entry-level segment.
However, the P8 is not a true flagship like, for example, the Sony Z sereis or the Samsung S series is. In many ways, the P8 can be compared to Huawei’s own Honor 6 Plus because of its full-HD display (as opposed to a quad-HD display.)
However, unlike the Huawei Honor 6 Plus, the P8 has a 5.2 inch display.
It is powered by Huawei’s in-house Kirin 630 processor, which is still being manufactured on the 28 nm process. The Kirin 640 will move to the 16 nm FinFet technology.
As mentioned earlier, there are two versions of the phone – one with 16 GB memory and another with 64 GB memory. It is not clear which one is being launched in India. Given the price, it could be either.
One of the interesting things about the phone is the front camera. Unlike other models, the P8 comes with an 8 MP shooter in the front and a 13 MP camera at the back.
Everything else, including 3 GB of RAM and 4G LTE support, are standard flagship specifications. Battery, at 2.7 Ah, is not the biggest we have seen though.
HUAWEI P8Lite Price Rs 14k
Together with the above model, Huawei will also launch the ‘Lite’ version of the phone, priced considerably lower. This one will come with a 720p, 5-inch display and a slower Kirin 620 processor. While the back camera remains the same on P8Lite, the front camera has been reduced to a 5 MP unit. Battery will be 2.2 Ah.
Storage memory will be 16 GB.
OUR TAKE
We believe Indian buyers may not accept ‘premium’ pricing from Huawei, even if the quality of the handsets are well above those of its entry-level offerings. As a result, much will depend on the actual market pricing.