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

posted by Florin T. / Jun 12, 2014, 9:46 AM

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 + 45 images

sources: GetHuawei, PRNewsWire

Options

21 Comments

1. Jinto

Posts: 436; Member since: Jan 15, 2014

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 9:53 AM 1

5. Duketytz

Posts: 534; Member since: Nov 28, 2013

Wawei

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 10:26 AM 0

18. Neo_Huang

Posts: 1067; Member since: Dec 06, 2013

Hwahway. (I'm Chinese)

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 2:03 PM 2

21. Jinto

Thanks

posted on Jun 16, 2014, 12:17 PM 0

2. gehrig

Posts: 423; Member since: Apr 17, 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 Jun 12, 2014, 9:55 AM 3

3. maherk

Posts: 6775; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 10:22 AM 5

6. ajac09

Posts: 1482; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

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

13. bpcooper14

Posts: 32; Member since: May 14, 2014

For $299 with LTE

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 12:36 PM 2

20. givemetacos

Posts: 16; Member since: May 12, 2014

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

posted on Jun 15, 2014, 12:29 AM 0

16. gehrig

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 Jun 12, 2014, 1:43 PM 0

4. ajac09

This phone is obviously not for you.

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 10:26 AM 1

9. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 10:47 AM 2

14. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 1:25 PM 1

17. gehrig

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 1:45 PM 0

7. ajac09

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 10:27 AM 3

8. Yaldabaoth

Posts: 42; Member since: Jun 06, 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 Jun 12, 2014, 10:36 AM 1

10. Joshua9007

Posts: 94; Member since: Jun 08, 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 Jun 12, 2014, 11:05 AM 1

11. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 11:09 AM 3

12. Wannes86

Posts: 3; Member since: Jun 03, 2014

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

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 11:51 AM 1

15. networkdood

True, so, do you have one? lol

posted on Jun 12, 2014, 1:26 PM 2

19. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 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.