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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/HONOR) |
Since HONOR’s independence and official comeback to the Philippines, the consumer global technology brand revealed its future product lineups and its own Research and Development facility. The separation led the brand to invest more in its technology without losing the learnings it gained as a former sub-brand. HONOR was formerly owned by Huawei except for the smartphone business. With Huawei’s standards and the support of Google, HONOR is expected to seamlessly deliver feature-packed consumer devices.
Ecosystem With Google Mobile Services
Consumers are significantly questioning the presence of Google Mobile Services given the remarkable similarities between Huawei and HONOR products. Google’s absence has made HONOR and Huawei phones less recommendable to countries that use Google Apps the most. The Philippines is no exception to that, with almost 90% of smartphone users in the country using Android devices according to a Statista measurement.
Last October 2021, HONOR launched globally the first smartphone with GMS, the HONOR 50, which helped the brand to be strongly placed as the third-biggest smartphone seller in China. All smartphone lineups of HONOR from its low to mid-range up to its flagship foldable are equipped with Google Apps and services. Turning to the devices, the HONOR X series, HONOR 70, and the HONOR Magic Series are the smartphone line ups that the Filipino market is eyeing to grab in Q4 2022.
HONOR’s rise to the top
An IDC (International Data Corporation) report in Q2 2022 showed that HONOR is now the top mobile smartphone brand in China with a 19.5% market share, up 88.6% from the same period last year, and 8.8% from the previous quarter. The brand’s overall positioning in many categories helped achieve its dominance with the new HONOR 70 series, according to IDC, “helped to sustain its high growth". The budget-friendly Changwan 30 series and Play 6 series also met the needs of the entry-level segment, while the Magic 4 series also allowed Honor to strengthen its share in the >US$600 high-end segment.
On building a fresh and separate identity
HONOR recently revealed its first self-funded factory demonstrating excellence to manufacture high-quality premium products. “The opening of the HONOR Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park was a significant milestone of our success in integrating our R&D capabilities into our manufacturing processes. The consolidation allows us to better harness our expertise across both fields. In addition to bolstering our manufacturing capacities, the smart manufacturing facility houses world-class production, testing and quality control equipment that ensures our premium products live up to our customers’ high expectations,” said HONOR Device Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Zhao.
Automation, digitalization, and intelligent technology serve as the cornerstones underpinning the Park’s core manufacturing capabilities. The Park operates with 75 percent of its production line automated, minimizing the risk of human error. Additionally, more than 40 percent of the automated production equipment is developed in-house, which serves as further evidence of the tight integration between R&D and manufacturing capabilities at the Park. All key equipment in the production facility supports digital control systems, allowing HONOR to better manage the entire production line and reap better efficiency as well as improve product quality.
