New Huawei launch despite dispute

Huawei-owned smartphone firm Honor has unveiled its next line-up of smartphones, despite uncertainty over the future of its devices.

An executive order from US president Donald Trump last week effectively banned technology firms from“foreign adversaries” trading with US companies without approval.

Google then confirmed it would stop supporting Android on Huawei and Honor devices, the software which powers both firms’ phones.

The block means new and yet-to-be-released Huawei and Honor phones are unlikely to be able to access Google apps as part of Android, although a temporary license and grace period sanctioned by the US government will initially allow support for existing devices until August.

At a launch event in London yesterday, Honor boss George Zhao made no mention of the ongoing trade row, saying only that he believed that “no matter what happens, no matter what kind of challenge… we can overcome it”.

He announced the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro, although neither phone yet has a confirmed release date.

Honor is a sub-brand of Huawei and aims its devices at millennial smartphone users. “The Honor 20 is the latest in a number of consummately well-made handsets from the Chinese manufacturer that punches well above its weight in the affordability stakes,” he said.