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Do innovations in the Huawei P8 justify its iPhone or Galaxy S level pricing?

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By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Apr 20, 2015, 4:59 AM

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Huawei P8

Dimensions

5.7 x 2.84 x 0.25 inches

144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm

Weight

5.08 oz (144 g)

Apple iPhone 6

Dimensions

5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 inches

138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm

Weight

4.55 oz (129 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6

Dimensions

5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 inches

143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm

Weight

4.87 oz (138 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge

Dimensions

5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches

142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm

Weight

4.66 oz (132 g)

Huawei P8

Dimensions

5.7 x 2.84 x 0.25 inches

144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm

Weight

5.08 oz (144 g)

Apple iPhone 6

Dimensions

5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 inches

138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm

Weight

4.55 oz (129 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6

Dimensions

5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 inches

143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm

Weight

4.87 oz (138 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge

Dimensions

5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches

142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm

Weight

4.66 oz (132 g)

Compare these and other phones using our Size Comparison tool.

Slowly but surely Huawei built its P-line of flagship handsets as a direct alternative to the more established iPhone and Galaxy S premium smartphone franchises. The P6, P7 and, now, the newly-announced P8, have all shipped with $500+ MSRPs, which is way above what the typical Chinese handset costs, even the flagship ones.

It is Apple that Huawei mimics with the strategy, rather than Samsung, as the Korean company usually stuffs its phones to the gills with the latest specs, while the team from Cupertino bets on a proven specs sheet that is a level below the top-shelf stuff, but stuffed in a well-crafted body, and polished to perfection. Well, the "premium" Huawei P8 version (you know, the one with enough internal storage, as the microSD slot doubles as a nano SIM one, too) will cost 600 EUR or USD, which is not that far off from the price tag that a basic iPhone 6 ($650) or Galaxy S6 ($700) command now. Moreover, while the P8 is thinner than both, it doesn't sport a fingerprint sensor, or a Quad HD display - features that its direct competitors have.

Thus, Huawei breaks the affordable value-for-money mould that we've come to expect from Chinese handsets for years, and Xiaomi seems poised to follow suit, judging from the Mi4 and current Mi Note flagships' pricing. The trend comes to show that Chinese handset companies are becoming more and more confident in their abilities to pull off handsets rivaling the best out there, and are pricing them very similarly, with about a Benjamin discount for the brand name only, hoping to emulate the profit margins of Apple or Samsung.

That is why we wanted to ask you if you think that Huawei is right to be confident enough about the P8, and price its new flagship close enough to an iPhone 6 or a Galaxy S6. Huawei brags that the P7 sold 4 million units in the first six months, but that number would undoubtedly be much higher if it didn't command this comparatively high price tag that the P8 now shows up with, too. Take your pick, and sign off in the comments.