Huawei has just launched a shopping app for its sub-brand Honor, posing a new threat in the face of Xiaomi's own shopping website.
Over the years, both Huawei and Xiaomi made statements with their smartphones but by the third quarter of 2018, Huawei's sub-brand, Honor, led the way as it bagged the fourth spot in smartphone sales, pushing the Beijing-based electronics provider behind.
Tech in Asia reported that Huawei recently launched Honor Qinxuan, a shopping platform where customers can purchase a variety of products ranging from printers to cameras. For electronics enthusiasts, this set of products may be familiar since Xiaomi also has a platform that sells various gadgets.
Aside from the said products, Honor also posted new lines of products on the app such as smartwatches, phones, and other popular gadgets. While this may seem coincidental to some, experts suggest that this is Huawei's method of letting its competitor know that it has the ability to overtake Xiaomi's spot in the Chinese tech world.
The outlet also noted a huge difference between the two platforms. Xiaomi allows sales of third parties on its website but the Honor app only sells its own gadgets and electronics. It has yet to be confirmed if Huawei has plans to collaborate with third-party tech providers for sales on the Honor app.
In fact, Honor recorded a 14 percent sales growth in China by the third quarter of 2018. Xiaomi, on the other hand, saw a 15 percent dip that could further be affected by Huawei's latest gig.
Last year, Honor president George Zhao said the sub-brand isn't closing doors on the idea of working with other brands. He also clarified that Xiaomi isn't among the brands they want to compete with but some analysts believe that the competition between Xiaomi and Huawei is very much on.
Meanwhile, Huawei dished out a bonus for phone enthusiasts with the unveiling of an Honor 8X variant at this year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show). According to CNET, the Honor 8X variant comes in Phantom Blue, a shade that plays between blue and purple.
The Huawei Honor 8X in Phantom Blue caught the attention of spectators with its ability to shift between three colors: purple, blue, and pink. Smartphone experts believe that the latest reveal is a great way to convince potential buyers that colors still make a difference in the phone industry.
Details about Huawei's smartphone and laptop display at CES 2019 can be viewed on the Honor Qinxuan app. The app is only available on Android phones as of the moment.
