CES 2013: Huawei press conference live blog

Join CNET as Huawei introduces new cell phones at CES 2013.

  • Welcome everyone! We're here at CES 2013 and we're about to kick off the Huawei press event here in Las Vegas. We have about 5 minutes here until showtime, but I can answer any questions you may have.
    by Jason Parker
  • Ahem, ahem, is this thing on? Andrew Nusca here, along with Jessica Dolcourt and Lori Grunin, to cover the heck out of this Huawei press conference.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • We had some tech difficulties, but we are now on!
    by Jason Parker
  • We're in and seated and should be beginning shortly. Huawei already has some phones on display; we'll have photos for you in just a moment.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Huawei has chill out music on the speakers and lots of food out -- a nice touch, considering that their press conference is at prime lunch hour here in Las Vegas.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • For a little background, Huawei usually launches lower-end handsets in the U.S. and higher-end phones abroad, but have committed to a consumer campaign in the US and are working on higher-tier partnerships here.
    by Jason Parker

  • Jessica modeling the Huawei Ascend Mate

    by Lori Grunin
  • If you're wondering, both devices on display are smartphones -- one's considerably larger than the other. They've got them in black and white. They're called the Ascend Mate (larger) and Ascend D2 (smaller).
    by Andrew Nusca
  • If the Ascend Mate sounds familiar, it leaked late last month. Here's our story on that: Huawei to go jumbo with 6.1-inch Ascend Mate
    by Andrew Nusca

  • Ascend D2

    by Lori Grunin
  • We're still waiting. Folks are still filing in the back. Sit tight! We sure are. (Seriously, we're inches from each other.)
    by Andrew Nusca
  • aaaand here we go!
    by Andrew Nusca
  • They're showing a video clip.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • It's a guy snapping a photo of a butterfly with his Huawei smartphone. (Normal-sized edition.)
    by Andrew Nusca
  • People watching at home: refresh your browsers to get rid of the Intel feed.
    by Jason Parker
  • They're basically running through the features as they track this guy's life -- at home, at work.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • To be clear: this is a filmed advertisement. It's not a real-life clip.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • The Ascend D2 was the device shown.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Video clip over. Introductory remarks commence!
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Consumer business CEO Richard Yu takes the stage.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • "This year, we're launching two exciting products."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Talking corporate transformation: looking to address the high-end market better, and looking to move out of feature phones to smartphones.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • He added another: Huawei's transition from a white-label manufacturer to its own brand.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Last year, "good progress" in revenue growth.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • "It's a little bit complicated" having so many gadgets in our bags today, Yu says.
    by Andrew Nusca

  • Richard Yu

    by Lori Grunin
  • Huawei's answer: "We need an all-in-one solution." Large screen, long-lasting battery, easily carried, superior camera.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • The photo is of the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Today Huawei will officially launch: Ascend Mate, "largest screen smartphone in the world." and Ascend D2, "most powerful smartphone."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • I just got my hands on these phones right before the presser started and let me tell you, this 6.1-inch Ascend Mate is no joke.
    by Jessica Dolcourt
  • Yu is talking "design philosophy."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • I feel like I've become so desensitized to 5-inch screens that the Mate's massiveness really stands out. These phones look good.
    by Jessica Dolcourt
  • "Beauty." "Function." "Pure." "Flow."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • "It's also very comfortable in your hand...so convenient."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • You can put it into any pocket, Yu says, demonstrating with his black suit. (I imagine he doesn't own a pair of skinny jeans.)
    by Andrew Nusca
  • "Quality." "Simplicity." Lots of buzzwords here, without ornamentation.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Now we're talking about the manufacturing process. He says it's highly complicated, because the device has a metal frame. Now a video, to demonstrate the stamping process.
    by Andrew Nusca

  • Richar Yu

    by Lori Grunin
  • The music accompanying the video is slow-burn rock. Epic manufacturing.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • "More advanced manufacturing technology than the iPhone." Them's fightin' words.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • The phones are really slim and pretty. I'm just wondering how good the cameras are, since Huawei shooters haven't always been so hot. And by not-so-hot, I mean really not good.
    by Jessica Dolcourt
  • OK, now we're talking about the D2. Yu will explain why it's the "most powerful."
    by Andrew Nusca
  • 443 PPI resolution. 1080x1920.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Galaxy S3 is 306 ppi. iPhone 5 is 326 ppi.
    by Andrew Nusca
  • Yu makes a crack about his old age and seeing the screen. (He's not that old.)
    by Andrew Nusca
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