The freshly launched Wiko 5G in China is actually a barely modified Huawei Nova 9 SE. A new trick that allows Huawei to continue to sell smartphones, but in white label.
But how did the Wiko brand come to sell a Huawei smartphone in China? This is the question that we can ask ourselves when discovering the Wiko 5G which is quite simply a Huawei Nova 9 SE having changed its costume and taking advantage of compatibility with the 5G network.
This summary would almost make you want to scream “ Kamoulox (if this reference still works) and yet the story is not very difficult to understand.
Wiko to the rescue of Huawei
Still very affected by the American embargo imposed on it, the giant Huawei sees many of its activities seriously hampered. The Chinese company no longer has the right to install Google services on its smartphones and no longer has access to several technologies. Direct consequences: the manufacturer can no longer make its own chips and can no longer embed 5G support on its phones. These are the two major flaws of the Mate 50 Pro, which is nevertheless full of technical innovations.
Recall that the United States applies these sanctions, because it accuses Huawei of engaging in espionage practices on behalf of the Chinese government. Seeing that the situation was not about to improve for him, the Shenzhen-based group turned his plans in Europe upside down. It thus shows that the priority is no longer expansion, but rather survival.
In its native market, China, Huawei is not bothered by the absence of Google services since they are not used there (because they are prohibited). However, the impossibility of offering 5G smartphones remains a major handicap. This is precisely where Wiko comes into play.
A Huawei smartphone with a mustache
The Wiko 5G is therefore a new smartphone in China. However, as we said, it is actually a Huawei Nova 9 SE. Only two notable changes have been made:
- the Wiko 5G has the right to be 5G compatible;
- it changes its design to, among other things, display the Wiko logo.
The rest are really the same phones: 6.78-inch LCD screen and 120 Hz (1080 x 2388 inches), Snapdragon 695, 8 GB of RAM, 128 or 256 GB of storage, 4000 mAh battery, charger 66 W, 108 Mpx main camera accompanied by an ultra wide-angle and a sensor with macro lens.
The Wiko 5G even runs HarmonyOS, the operating system designed by Huawei as an alternative to Android. Smartphones launched in Europe should never be entitled to this OS.
White label Huawei
Everything in the Wiko 5G shows that Huawei is working here as a white label. The agreement is interesting for both parties. For Huawei, it’s a way of continuing to sell smartphones in large numbers despite the sticks put in its wheels by Washington.
For Wiko, it’s a good way to get into the Chinese market. Remember that this is a brand with French origins which merged with its Chinese partner Tinno in 2018.
The Wiko 5G is already sold in China at 1999 yuan, or about 269 euros excluding tax for the 128 GB version. Count 2199 yuan (about 296 euros excluding tax) for the 256 GB model.
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