Huawei launches the Mate 90 in China, featuring a groundbreaking Kirin 9030 chip with hardware ray tracing, enhanced durability, and sophisticated imaging capabilities, as it positions itself with a new entry-level model amid flagship updates.
Huawei has introduced the Mate 90 in China as the standard model in its new flagship family, positioning it as the entry point to a wider line-up that also includes higher-end variants. The launch follows a familiar strategy for the company: a hardware-led release built around a new Kirin processor, Huawei’s own imaging stack, and HarmonyOS 7. Several Chinese technology sites reported that the series arrived on 1 October, with the base model carrying the broadest appeal through a lower starting price and a more conventional camera package than the Pro and special-edition versions.
The Mate 90 is offered in Crystal Green, Crystal Pink, Zero White and Obsidian Black. Huawei has paired the green and pink finishes with a lattice-pattern rear design, while the other colours use a plainer surface. The company says the handset uses third-generation Kunlun glass and nylon fibre for better durability, claiming a 50% improvement in drop resistance over the Mate 80 series. It also carries IP68 and IP69 protection, which means it is designed to withstand dust, immersion and high-pressure water jets. On the front, the phone uses a 6.75-inch flat OLED panel with a 2,832 x 1,280 resolution, a 1-120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, 1,440Hz PWM dimming and a 300Hz touch sampling rate.
At the core of the device is Huawei’s Kirin 9030 chip. The company says the silicon supports hardware ray tracing at up to 31 million rays per second, a specification that Huawei demonstrated in Wuthering Waves, although only in selected scenes. Huawei also says its FFRT scheduling system can double image-loading speeds. The battery is rated at 6,600mAh, with 66W wired charging through USB-C and 50W wireless charging. Reported storage options are 256GB, 512GB and 1TB, with prices in China starting at CNY 5,999 for the 12GB-plus-256GB version and rising to CNY 8,499 for the top model.
The camera system reflects Huawei’s continued emphasis on computational photography and colour science. The Mate 90 uses a 50-megapixel main camera with a 1/1.56-inch RYYB sensor, variable aperture from f/1.4 to f/4.0 and optical image stabilisation. It is joined by a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 4x zoom and stabilisation, plus a 40-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Huawei also says its third-generation Red Maple primary-colour camera improves colour accuracy by 37%. The company’s XMAGE assistant can suggest shooting options, including portrait poses and composition layouts, while a live-streaming mode adds one-tap launching, focus switching and network acceleration. Security features include a Mobile Security Processor with support for post-quantum cryptography for unlocking and payments. The phone runs HarmonyOS 7 and can also connect with an iPhone for call forwarding, file transfer and message notifications, according to Huawei. The handset is available in China for now, with no confirmed timeline for other markets.
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