“We are moving towards very interesting new scenarios on mobile phones”

During the presentation of the Honor Magic V2 foldable mobile phone in Leipzig, Germany, EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre had the opportunity to interview Tony Ran, CEO of HONOR in Europe, during a round table with various media for discuss some details of its new foldable mobile, European Union regulations and artificial intelligence.

The perfect opportunity to know the brand’s interests for 2024, driven by the launch of the thinnest foldable mobile phone on the market which we had the opportunity to test on site to show some of its details, and why it is very strong to be one of the main Android players in the coming years.

In addition, HONOR adheres to regulations implemented by the European Union on liability and repairability of mobile phones, as well as the Digital Markets Act, which makes it so difficult for some technology giants. A special moment for all the challenges it faces, already on its way to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona where it will also be present with new launches.

What do you think is the most important factor for the mobile market this year?

To talk about the current state of the smartphone industry and to be honest, I have always shared my ideas with my close friends. For example, some of them believe that the general public has a perception of devices in terms of product value, and even more so at a time when part of the market is growing, while another part is is in an opposite position.

But despite this, the value of smartphones increases year by year; It doesn’t matter whether it is the Western or Eastern market, like in our country. People demand complete and highly satisfying experiences. In addition, I think that this year is going to be very important for mobile phones and for the industry itself because of the revolution that we are experiencing, so we are facing a wide variety of challenges, from hardware to software, in going through everything surrounding artificial intelligence. .

These challenges are currently leading the industry into a new era in which high-end mobile phones acquire greater value and interest from the general public, thereby increasing competition for hardware and software, as I I mentioned. That is to say, we are directly entering a new era with very interesting new scenarios to come. At HONOR we are very confident and very positive about this year 2024 in which we will continue to grow as a company and a brand.

Will the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR mobile phone be sold in Porsche stores?

Yes, Posche products will be sold in its own stores. This will depend on the logistics of the German company in each country.

Why did they launch the HONOR Magic V2 with Android 13 instead of Android 14?

It’s a little late, but the new version is about to arrive in Europe. We know that customers are wondering about Android 14. Let’s say that our engineers must adapt the news of the new update to the user’s own needs in Europe. This is the reason for this slight delay, but we want to make sure it arrives with the best customer experience possible.

Our goal is that users of our mobile phones equipped with the new version of Android receive the required news, but always with the best possible treatment from our software engineers. And here come into play the new experiences based on artificial intelligence that HONOR is also working on; which must also be implemented to continue to offer the quality that we demand from ourselves as well as from our customers.

If you take my word for it when it comes to AI, is Honor’s AI developed by your own engineers or is it outsourced?

When the time comes, we will provide more details. 2023 was a year where everyone was talking about artificial intelligence and the productivity it can generate. Our goal is to protect user privacy and our idea is that all processes are generated on the device, that is, from the same device.

What we do know is that there is strong mainstream demand for AI. Our perspective is to be transparent about the inclusion of artificial intelligence in our devices. We are excited to embrace the new capabilities offered by the industry and bring them to consumers.

We know that the Honor Magic V2 was already presented months ago in China, if Europe is important for HONOR, will there come a time when you will launch devices internationally?

It is important that this happens, but the user experience must also be guaranteed during an international launch, and it is not easy for us to meet this challenge at the moment. A presentation in Europe a few months later currently allows us to ensure that the best user experience reaches the European user. And yes, this is currently one of our biggest obstacles, but we are working to be able to launch new devices as quickly as possible and thus achieve these international launches.

Let’s say that many brands are worried about the regulations in force in Europe regarding liability or the ability to repair devices, how are you preparing for this new regulation which will come into force in 2026? How will this regulation affect the foldable cell phone segment, i.e., if the batteries have to be removable, how will you deal with it?

He talks about the “eco” design of the devices. We take this very seriously, probably more than it seems. We started development last year. We fully adhere to this regulation, as we know it, it is precisely the request demanded by the users themselves.

And this comes from the consumer’s point of view. We share the same understanding and this is also the product we design. What will actually happen is that more and more options and ways will be offered to consumers to repair their devices, and it is our responsibility to give them the tools to do so.

Image of the Porsche Experience Center, location of the HONOR presentation event

Manuel Ramirez

Free Android

From another point of view, it is a kind of revolution that is happening, and a valuable help to remind us, as manufacturers, of what we must launch on the market, the “right” device. We are very careful while introducing every new device in the market as we ensure the best experience on the consumer side.

Regarding foldable mobile phones, the requirements of European Union regulations will have to be met with innovations in these devices. In order to offer the best service, we will be able to make the necessary modifications to folding products.

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