x PhoneArena is hiring! Reviewer in the USA
  • Hidden picShow menu
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • Huawei launches the Ascend Mate 2 LTE in the US for $299, alongside its own online store

Huawei launches the Ascend Mate 2 LTE in the US for $299, alongside its own online store

Posted: , by Florin T.

Share Share

Tags :

Huawei launches the Ascend Mate 2 LTE in the US for $299, alongside its own online store

Huawei today launched its very own US-centric online shop - GetHuawei.com - which, for the beginning, is selling just one smartphone, plus several accessories. The smartphone is the huge 6.1-inch Ascend Mate 2 LTE - we knew since April that this would reach US soil at some point.

While the Ascend Mate 2 isn’t a high-end handset, Huawei is trying to attract consumers with its price: $299.99, unlocked (that’s significantly lower that the handset’s initial price for the Chinese market). But it’s not just the price that may lure customers. Those who pre-order the new Ascend Mate before June 22 will get a protective case, and “a SIM card with a free month of service.” While this isn’t specified, it seems that you can choose what US carrier will provide cellular and data service for that month. Another bonus offered for a limited time gets you 20GB of free lifetime storage space on Bitcasa.

The 6.1-inch screen of the Ascend Mate 2 LTE is an IPS one with 720 x 1,280 pixels - not the highest resolution out there, but, as we said, this isn’t a high-end device. Other features include Android 4.3 with Emotion UI, 5MP front-facing camera with “panorama selfie” mode, 13MP rear camera, quad-core 1.6GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, and microSD card support. The US variant of the Mate 2 comes with a 3,900 mAh battery that can charge other devices (with an AF16 cable accessory). More details about the Ascend Mate 2 LTE are available at the first source link below - where you can also order the device.

All in all, Huawei says that the Mate 2 LTE is “the no-compromise, go-everywhere, do-everything, money-saving, fun-having, memory-making smartphone you’ve been waiting for.” Is it? You tell us in the comments! 

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G

View more
+ 47 images

sources: GetHuawei, PRNewsWire

21 Comments
  • Options
    Close





posted on 12 Jun 2014, 09:53 1
Reply

1. Jinto (Posts: 436; Member since: 15 Jan 2014)


Great news.
Now to the important matters, how do you pronounce "Huawei"?

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:26
Reply

5. Duketytz (Posts: 534; Member since: 28 Nov 2013)


Wawei

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 14:03 2
Reply

18. Neo_Huang (Posts: 1067; Member since: 06 Dec 2013)


Hwahway. (I'm Chinese)

posted on 16 Jun 2014, 12:17
Reply

21. Jinto (Posts: 436; Member since: 15 Jan 2014)


Thanks

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 09:55 3
Reply

2. gehrig (Posts: 374; Member since: 17 Apr 2014)


The UI is ugly, the resolution is too small for a display that size, and there needs to be AT LEAST a Snapdragon 600.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:22 5
Reply

3. maherk (Posts: 4847; Member since: 10 Feb 2012)


For $299, there is nothing much you can complain about.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:26
Reply

6. ajac09 (Posts: 1482; Member since: 30 Sep 2009)


Oh the people who think they are owed something always find a reason to complain

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 12:36 2
Reply

13. bpcooper14 (Posts: 26; Member since: 14 May 2014)


For $299 with LTE

posted on 15 Jun 2014, 00:29
Reply

20. givemetacos (Posts: 16; Member since: 12 May 2014)


What phone above $299 doesn't have LTE these days?

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 13:43
Reply

16. gehrig (Posts: 374; Member since: 17 Apr 2014)


It has low-end specs. The Snapdragon 400 was being used on midrangers from last year. Plus, if they're going to make the resolution 720p, then they should give it 5 inch or below screen so that the display is crisp. Also, the UI is full of skeumorphism and it looks like it belongs in 2008.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:26 1
Reply

4. ajac09 (Posts: 1482; Member since: 30 Sep 2009)


This phone is obviously not for you.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:47 2
Reply

9. PapaSmurf (Posts: 10457; Member since: 14 May 2012)


I think the UI is really clean and modern. Well worth the $299 price tag.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 13:25 1
Reply

14. networkdood (Posts: 6330; Member since: 31 Mar 2010)


Yeah, I am actually tempted to get this, rather than wait for the elusive, invite-only, OnePlus One...

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 13:45
Reply

17. gehrig (Posts: 374; Member since: 17 Apr 2014)


You should just get a nice phone on contract. It's worth it to get a good experience.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:27 3
Reply

7. ajac09 (Posts: 1482; Member since: 30 Sep 2009)


great price and for the specs amazing value. And the best thing.. no invite system to get this phone.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 10:36 1
Reply

8. Yaldabaoth (Posts: 42; Member since: 06 Jun 2012)


Apparently the battery performance is amazing. But the low PPI, value-tier performance, and near-uselessness of the camera in low light are what one gives up for the price. The Moto G of phablets? Too generous of a comparison?

Anandtech just reviewed it... it's on their front page.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 11:05 1
Reply

10. Joshua9007 (Posts: 94; Member since: 08 Jun 2012)


I was underwhelmed with the display resolution, but I believe they have a product that people will actually buy. Most people that have a prepaid service do not have many decent options, and still have to pay more than this for a year or older flagship (i.e. GS3 was $399 on virgin for quite a while) and this is a phablet which there are not many unless someone wants to pay full outright price of $700+ for most samsung/HTC/etc...

I will say that if it was at 1080p resolution I think they could have raised the price to $350 and, I would probably buy it for a 2nd phone for me and swap my sim into it when I want more of a tablet but still receive calls & texts.

Overall, the performance of the 400 processor is not bad and will get you through most applications with ease, although I would probably install 4.4.2 because they have better optimizations for lower spec devices. The 3900mAh battery intrigues me because with the slower processor and lower screen res (although large in size) it should last a weekend like they say, and I would bet it has a very long screen-on time too. We just have to wait for phone arena to put it through their battery test.

All in all, I wouldn't say I have ever considered a huawei before, but this help them increase their sales in the US.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 11:09 3
Reply

11. isprobi (Posts: 696; Member since: 30 May 2011)


Sony Z Ultra Google Edition is a much better phone at $450.

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 11:51 1
Reply

12. Wannes86 (Posts: 3; Member since: 03 Jun 2014)


Oneplus One should do the job as well + it has better specs

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 13:26 2
Reply

15. networkdood (Posts: 6330; Member since: 31 Mar 2010)


True, so, do you have one? lol

posted on 12 Jun 2014, 20:06 1
Reply

19. 0xFFFF (Posts: 3806; Member since: 16 Apr 2014)


These are two different things. The Ascend Mate 2 is a product from a real company, with real specs, with real support. The price is fair and reasonable and there is some profit in the price so the company can afford bug fixes and support.

OnePlus One is just a fake phone from a scam company that couldn't even come up with a name for their phone, so they scammed one from HTC.

I think a lot of people want a company where there is no marketing gimmick, no hunger games, no invites, no find the easter egg on the Internet, no endless hype, etc.

Who wants to have a long game show for every little spec like OnePlus did? What LTE bands... ohh the mystery... we will unveil at unknown time in little bits and pieces... because OnePlus is the king of scam.

Maybe one day they will make and sell phones for real, but when is that day? It doesn't look like it is going to be soon. Until that day comes and there is some track record for OnePlus fixing bugs and supporting their phones, I am certainly not going to buy one.

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Latest stories