Huawei has unveiled the Mate 70 Air in China, joining the recent wave of ultra‑thin “Air” phones but taking a different route: rather than shaving battery capacity to achieve a slim profile, the Mate 70 Air packs a 6,500 mAh silicon carbon‑anode battery into a 6.6 mm body with a 7‑inch display.
Big battery in a thin frame
The headline numbers are striking. Huawei says the Mate 70 Air measures 6.6 mm thick, has a 7.0‑inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 2,760 × 1,320 pixel resolution, and weighs 208 g. The company touts a 6,500 mAh battery — far larger than most recent thin phones — and supplies a 66 W wired charger. Huawei also claims extended endurance (one outlet reported a company claim of roughly 50 hours of runtime) and includes reverse wired charging at 5 W.
These choices position the Mate 70 Air as a counterpoint to devices that trade battery for ultra‑thinness: the phone is still large in hand because of its expansive screen, but Huawei has prioritised longevity over the last few grams saved.
Cameras, hardware and connectivity
Huawei equips the Mate 70 Air with a multi‑camera array. The rear system includes a 50 MP primary camera with optical image stabilization (f/1.8), a 12 MP RYYB telephoto unit with 3x optical zoom and OIS, an 8 MP ultrawide and a small color sensor. A 10.7 MP punch‑hole front camera handles selfies and video calls. Additional hardware highlights include:
- HarmonyOS 5.1 out of the box with several AI features
- Side‑mounted fingerprint scanner
- IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance
- Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.2 (LE), NFC and Beidou satellite support
- Hi‑Res audio support
- 12 GB / 256 GB — CNY 4,199 (~$590)
- 12 GB / 512 GB — CNY 4,699 (~$660)
- 16 GB / 256 GB — CNY 4,699 (~$660)
- 16 GB / 512 GB — CNY 5,199 (~$730)
The handset’s screen is described as a full‑view panel with a wide aspect ratio designed to make content look crisp from different angles.
Two Kirin chips, one confusing truth
Huawei is offering buyers a choice of RAM and storage tiers — 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM paired with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage — and has said the phone will ship with a variant of its Kirin 9020 chipset. However, reporting about which Kirin variant pairs with which RAM configuration is inconsistent across outlets: some sources say the 12 GB model uses a Kirin 9020B with the 16 GB model upgrading to a Kirin 9020A, while others reported the opposite. Huawei’s official product materials confirm the presence of Kirin 9020 family silicon but do not make the wiring between RAM and specific chip suffixes unequivocally clear in initial listings. Buyers should check Huawei’s local product pages or in‑store specifications for definitive configuration details.
Pricing, colours and availability
The Mate 70 Air launched in China with a starting price of CNY 4,199 (roughly $590) for the base 12 GB / 256 GB model. Reported price points include:
Huawei lists the device in several finishes, including Gold/Silver brocade, White and Obsidian Black, and has made it available through its official channels in China. Early secondary‑market activity showed some models trading at a small premium: one report cited a roughly CNY 300 uplift on the 512 GB “Golden Silk Silver Brocade” variant shortly after pre‑sales opened.
For Chinese buyers the phone is available now through Huawei’s official retail channels; Huawei’s consumer site provides product and sales information.
How the Mate 70 Air fits the market
The Mate 70 Air arrives amid a trend toward “Air” phones — slim, premium handsets that emphasise design and pocketability. Huawei’s take is notable because it refuses to accept the battery compromises some rivals have made. The company’s design trades a few millimetres and extra weight to deliver substantially more battery capacity and a very large display.
Reactions have been mixed. Supporters will point to the phone’s battery, cameras and broad connectivity as practical advantages over other slim devices that have sacrificed endurance. Critics will note that a 7‑inch display and 208 g weight undercut the idea of a truly pocket‑friendly “Air” handset, making the Mate 70 Air feel large despite its thinness.
What to watch next
For now the Mate 70 Air is a China‑only launch. Observers will watch whether Huawei expands availability overseas and whether competitors such as Apple and Samsung respond in subsequent “Air” refreshes by closing the battery‑life gap. The initial pricing and immediate aftermarket interest suggest there is consumer appetite for a thin phone that does not compromise on battery or imaging.
Bottom line: the Mate 70 Air is less a minimal‑weight experiment and more a design compromise — thin in profile, but physically large and heavy enough to carry a class‑leading battery. For buyers who value screen size and multi‑day battery life over featherlight portability, it will be an attractive option; for those who prize pocketability above all, the tradeoffs may be harder to accept.