Huawei has launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate S, at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. The device is touted as the first Android phone to incorporate Force Touch technology, which can distinguish between a light tap and a deep press, allowing users to control a device in different ways depending on the pressure they apply. Apple started using the technology in the MacBook and Apple Watch and is expected to add it to the new iPhones to be unveiled later this month. The Mate S builds on the company’s Mate 7 smartphone and comes with a full metal shell measuring just 2.65mm at its thickest point, a 5.5-inch display, fingerprint security and a 13 megapixel rear camera with four-colour RGBW imaging sensor, optical image stabilizer, dual color-temp LED flash lights. It also features an 8 megapixel front camera with soft, front lights to improve selfies.
In addition to the Force Touch technology, the Mate S also features Knuckle Sense 2.0 technology, so that users can crop photos, capture snippets of film and create shortcuts, all with their knuckles.
Huawei's Mate S phone will retail at EUR 649 for the 32GB version in ‘titanium grey’ or ‘mystique champagne’, with the 64GB version in ‘prestige gold’ or ‘coral pink’ priced at EUR 699. The Mate S will be first available in over 30 countries including China, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Spain, South Africa and UAE. Pre-orders in Western Europe start on 15 September.
