Seeking to expand beyond telecom infrastructure and smartphones, Chinese electronics giant Huawei will enter the display market in the second quarter of this year, local media outlet 21jingji.com reported, citing industry sources.
Huawei is expected to unveil a 23.8-inch model display, although no other details about the new screen were leaked. The firm will reportedly develop an independent product line of displays including commercial, home, and gaming screens. Huawei has established six exploratory teams and contacted factories about manufacturing details, the sources said.
While the company already produces screens for smartphones, tablets, and notebooks, a move into the display market would be consistent with Huawei’s expansion in the internet of things (IoT) business. Last year, Huawei introduced its “1+8+N” strategy, which puts the smartphone first (“1”), with eight types of smart gadgets including PCs, speakers, and watches (“8”), interconnected to smart mobility and entertainment systems (“N”).
Huawei’s IoT category has experienced tremendous growth, as its PC category grew 214% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2019, while smart speakers recorded a 260% increase and wearables rose 272%, Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business group, told 36Kr.
Yu also predicted that IoT products will generate 30% of total sales in Huawei’s consumer unit, bringing in 30 to 40% of total revenue.
Xiaomi, one of Huawei’s major competitors in both smartphone and IoT products, has also entered the display market. It launched two computer monitor models in October 2019, including a flagship 34-inch curved screen called the Mi Surface Display, which is designed for gamers and movie enthusiasts, and a 23.8-inch flat panel display.
36Kr is KrASIA’s parent company.