In recent times feels almost like a deregulation of the mobile phone sector, with almost any electronics brand able to enter the fray, using the Google Android platform, to offer and interface that can compete with the very best.
As with the opening up of any industry, what has followed is an influx of new ideas, new designs and also diversity, which for the likes of Apple is not necessarily a good thing. The ability to personalise your products is a definite trend in consumerism, and while Apple have in the past tackled this with their variety of cases and accessories, and yes you can engrave your message of the back, there is only so much they can do. Now there are other viable handsets that can offer similar performance and give you the individuality, or niche functionality you require.
Take for example the new Huawei handset; the Huawei P9, made in partnership with Leica to create a professional camera experience. Highlighting the clear preference of people to use their phones as their primary photographic device, the partnership with Leica reaches into an audience of professional photography and the luxury goods market in one fell swoop. Clever.
What’s more the handset matches the aesthetics of the iPhone by… well pretty much replicating it to a large degree. Where they have gone a step further is in the striking accessories designed to enhance rather than purely protect the handset.
What’s more, it doesn’t appear that this is just a collaboration for collaboration sake, the influence of Leica is very evident in the technical performance of the camera. Users will be able to automatically take photos, as per the norm, but there is also the ability to adjust the ISO, white balance and shutter speeds.
The handset also boasts two front facing cameras – one that shoots purely in black & white – that both help to increase the image quality, especially in low light photography. The phone also allows for clever Bokeh effects for which the German camera manufacturers are famed, with the option to blur the background pre and post shot, and even render the background in black & white or vice versa should you desire.
With Apple seemingly running out of ideas – as the new iPhone SE suggests – coupled with the clever options appearing from the phone manufacturers across the globe, could it be there could be that there could be a momentum shift in the premium phone market? One thing is certain, with competition comes creativity – and that can only be a good thing, for all concerned.
HUAWEI.com
