This fall is expected to bring a number of intriguing new hardware and software releases, from new smartphones and tablets to Android Wear 2.0 and Android 7.0 Nougat. One of the most interesting devices yet comes from Huawei, a Chinese company that manufactures smartphones with hardware comparable to that of many competitors’ flagships at very reasonable price points. One of the selling points of the Huawei Honor 8, which is already available for purchase in China, will be a partnership with Deezer, a music streaming service.
While the specifics of the partnership are not yet known, it may be reasonable to assume that those who purchase the device will receive a discount on Deezer’s premium service, or may even be able to use the service for free. The latter would be excellent value, as the service normally costs customers $9.99 per month. Although the name Deezer may not be as well-known as big players like Spotify, their music library boasts over 40 million tracks, topping Spotify by about 10 million. The service is also ad-free and emphasizes personalization and music discovery. Huawei promises the Honor 8 will “take you to a world of trending music”. Aside from the partnership with Deezer, the Honor 8 will come equipped with a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a HiSilicon Kirin 950 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory, a 12 MP dual rear-facing camera that includes laser autofocus, a fingerprint scanner, and a 3000 mAh battery, and it will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow. In terms of physical design, it sports a metal frame, and will come in a variety of different color options.
The Honor 8 will be launched on August 16, just days before the release of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, during an event that will take place in San Francisco, CA. The device will come unlocked, so it can be used with any carrier out of the box. The price has not been officially announced yet, however, it is expected to be between $400 and $500, quite a bit less than similar offerings from competitors. With so many appealing options on the horizon, manufacturers will have to become creative in designing features that will help differentiate their product from that of their competitors, and catch the interest of consumers. Huawei may have done that with the Honor 8, particularly when it comes to those who spend a great deal of time on their phones listening to music.