Huawei announces the Ascend P7

Huawei has today announced their latest flagship device, the Ascend P7. With an updated Emotion UI interface, significantly updated cameras, and a 5-inch 1080p display, the P7 is a marked upgrade from last year's Ascend P6. In addition, the Ascend P7 is the one of thinnest LTE phone to hit the market, measuring in at a mere 6.5mm from front to back. The phone is set to launch around the globe in May, priced at 449 (US$625).

Camera-wise, the Ascend P7 jumps to a 13 megapixel shooter on the rear and a big 8MP camera up front (take that, HTC One M8. The rear camera is a 4th-generation Sony BSI sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. All things considered, it should be a good camera. Huawei claims that their the Ascend P7's new Ultra Snapshot function will get the phone from off to picture-snapping in 1.2 seconds all the user has to do is double-click on the volume down button. The front-facing camera also supports panorama mode with automatic facial enhancement, which Huawei has cheekily-titled "groufies".

The display is a 5-inch 1080x1920 number that clocks in at 445ppi, and the phone is both fronted and backed by Gorilla Glass 3. That back panel has a "sleek, sophisticated metallic appearance created by a seven-layered rear surface treatment with a refined 'spin effect' micro-pattern design.". In other words, it looks like circular brushed metal. You'll be able to get one in black, white, or pink.

Inside the Ascend P7 you'll find a 2500 mAh battery, which compares favorably to the thicker HTC One M8 at 2600mAh and the Samsung Galaxy S5 at 2800 mAh. Like that One M8 and Galaxy S5, the Ascend P7 also features a power saving mode that kicks to extend battery life when you're running low. Huawei's kicks in at 10% and throttles back the screen brightnes and locks down all but the most basic functions of the devices. It's claimed that the remaining 10% in "super power-saving mode" will net you an extra 24 hours of standby battery life.

The Huawei Ascend P7 is set to launch this month, priced at 449 (US$625). Launch markets include much of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Check the presser below to see if your nation is included and sorry to those in the US that might be interested in this particular smartphone, you're not on that list.

Press release:

Huawei Ascend P7 Redefines Excellence to Give People an Edge'

Huawei's new 4G LTE smartphone delivers stand-out design, unparalleled camera experience, access to ultra-fast connectivity and superb battery performance

Paris, France, May 7, 2014: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today unveiled the highly anticipated Huawei Ascend P7. Building on the success of Huawei Ascend P6, the new 4G LTE-enabled smartphone redefines smartphone excellence with top-notch features, ultra-fast connectivity, and easier navigation in a beautifully crafted design that places it in a class of its own. With a 5-inch full high definition display, industry-leading 8MP front-facing and 13MP rear-facing cameras, and the latest intuitive Emotion UI 2.3, Huawei Ascend P7 will Make it Possible for people to express excellence with edge, anytime, anywhere.

Huawei redesigned Ascend P7 from the inside out, significantly improving the performance of the smartphone's hardware and software to redefine user experience. At 6.5mm slim, Ascend P7 sets a new record as one of the slimmest 4G LTE smartphones in the market. To relentlessly pursue excellence with edge for discerning global users, Huawei incorporated a perfect harmony of design influences from the West with attention to detail from the East.

"Huawei's relentless commitment to developing premium quality smartphones over the past three years has paid off. We are now ranked number three globally in terms of smartphone shipments, and our brand recognition is growing steadily in key regions such as China and Western Europe," said, Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG). "Today, the launch of Huawei Ascend P7 once again challenges existing industry standards by redefining smartphone design, camera experience, and connectivity, to provide people with an unprecedented mobile experience."

"Orange is pleased to witness how Huawei's products and brand have developed since we first identified Huawei as a global contender several years ago. Today's launch of the best-in-class Ascend P7 is an illustration of a strategy and investment that is now paying dividends," said Yves Matre, Executive Vice President, Connected Object and Partnerships, Orange. "As a long-term partner, Orange is delighted to provide its customers with the results of this successful relationship."

Redefining craftsmanship

Huawei Ascend P7 provides an edge with enhanced strength and durability against everyday use with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front and rear covers. It stands out from the crowd with a sleek, sophisticated metallic appearance created by a seven-layered rear surface treatment with a refined "spin effect" micro-pattern design.

"Huawei Ascend P7 was inspired by the natural curves of a water droplet which instills the phone with a sense of natural purity, and also gives users a more comfortable grip," said Joon Suh Kim, Mobile Device Vice President, Consumer Experience Design Center, Huawei Consumer BG. "It took us months of extensive design refinements to achieve this excellent balance of form and function."

For intense visual clarity when viewing multimedia, Ascend P7 has a 5-inch FHD touchscreen display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 445ppi and 16:9 aspect ratio. To suit any style, Ascend P7 is available in a range of fashionable colors including black, white, and pink.

Redefining camera experience

Huawei Ascend P7 gives users an edge in low-light settings with Sony's 4th generation BSI sensor, Image Signal Processer (ISP), IMAGESmart 2.0 software and f/2.0 aperture on its 13MP 5P non-spherical lens rear-facing camera to create unparalleled clear, rich pictures at night or indoors.

To capture spontaneous moments before they are gone, Huawei Ascend P7's unique Ultra Snapshot function enables the user to be camera-ready 1.2 seconds after double-clicking the down volume button intuitively while in locked mode, instead of spending time trying to unlock the screen.

Take better selfies, or the ultimate group selfie -- a "groufie" -- with the leading 8MP 5P non-spherical lens front-facing camera that comes with a panorama function for panoramic selfie shooting, and 10 level auto-facial enhancement in beauty mode. Users can also take a selfie video with the 1080p HD video playback. Huawei Ascend P7 ensures picture-perfect moments every time with the innovative built-in mirror function and selfie preview window.

Add an extra dimension to photos with the "Voice Photo" function which takes photos accompanied by 10-second audio clips for users to upload photos with special audio expressions on a variety of social media platforms.

In addition to camera improvements, Huawei's proprietary Image Signal Processor (ISP) allows the smartphone to control a whole range of functions that mimic those found in professional digital SLRs, including autofocus, white balance, and noise reduction, for beautifully-optimized photos under any conditions. Users can also select the focus and exposure metering function with just one touch so the preferred focus and exposure position can be set to maximize image precision.

Redefining connectivity and battery performance

For people seeking even faster and seamless connectivity, Huawei Ascend P7 enables unlimited media viewing with ultra-fast 4G LTE speed and Huawei's unique dual antenna design to improve signal reception. Ascend P7 also uses smart network switching technology that stabilizes the connection even during weak signal reception to minimize battery drainage.

Enjoy long-lasting continuous media viewing and data sharing thanks to the robust 2500 mAh lithium polymer battery and proprietary battery saving technology. In addition, the power saving management function enables users to save battery by switching off any applications running in the background that are consuming unnecessary power.

The super power-saving mode enables Ascend P7 to adopt the most suitable use of power when it is running on less than 10 percent of the total battery. When enabled, the screen will dim and only the basic functions of the phone will remain activated, including voice calls and the contact page. It will also stretch the remaining 10 percent of battery power to last 24 hours on standby.

Redefining user experience

Huawei Ascend P7 gives smartphone newbies the edge of an expert with the latest version of the intuitive, easy-to-use interface, Emotion UI 2.3, providing customizable lock and home screens, with two enhanced UIs for effortless navigation. Easily personalize the smartphone management software, including a harassment filter, permission manager, network and notification management, and power saving modes.

The recommended retail price of Huawei Ascend P7 is 449 euros and it will be available in China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Serbia, Greece, Norway, Hungary, Denmark, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates from May, with other markets to follow. Accessories include HUAWEI TalkBand B1, colorful protective cases, clamshell protective screen covers, and portable batteries.

Via: Huawei announces the Ascend P7