Huawei's Android touchphone is a mystery wrapped in an enigma

We were really hoping MWC would be Android's coming out party, but while there's a hefty amount of name-dropping at the show, nobody much seems ready to put hardware on the line. And then there's Huawei. We were expecting a handset from them at the show, and they're halfway there, announcing an Android phone, but only bringing a non-working prototype to show for it. The touchphone hardware is decidedly iPhone-esque, and almost seems too button scarce to work with the traditional Android interface, but that's where the rest of the story comes in: Huawei is working with an "established design consultancy" to develop its own custom interface for the device. The as-yet unnamed phone will be coming to market in Q3 of this year, and Huawei is currently in talks with a carrier who will rebrand the device -- the lack of finality there left much of the rest of the info on this phone shrouded. We're looking forward to learning more about this device in the coming months, but for now you can check out the tease of a gallery below, and the even less informative press release at the read link below.

Gallery: Huawei's Android touchphone is a mystery wrapped in an enigma

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[joe23521 @ Feb 16th 2009 1:00PM]

Android sure could use a prettified interface, that's for sure.

[wrabbit @ Feb 16th 2009 5:30PM]

So true. I love Google but a smartphone is not just about the OS, hardware is important as well, and so far I ain't seen nothing yet that would make me want to get an Android phone.

[philosopher @ Feb 17th 2009 2:21AM]

Here we go again with the overhyped android os. Youve been out since october n still really only on 1 phone. Actions speak louder than words. Apple app store with a closed source is killing your open source.Closed source = 20,000 apps. Open source=no more than a handfull.,get with the times already!!!!!

[matt @ Feb 17th 2009 2:51AM]

Vaporware written all over this thing.

Face it. You have to get an iPhone if you want form & function.

[Big Sam @ Feb 16th 2009 1:00PM]

Well its something. I'm severely disappointed by the lack of Android news so far. Please save me from WinMo!

[Kevin @ Feb 16th 2009 4:29PM]

Agree, I was really expecting more Android news.

As the article mentions, it seems like hardware makers are happy to talk about Android, but are hesitant to put it in action.

Where are the more aesthetically pleasing Android phones? Or at least one with more than 192mb dedicated to the OS. If the G1 had say 300mb or 500mb of device memory, I would consider it.

[strider_mt2k @ Feb 16th 2009 1:01PM]

-wrapped in a vest...

[Special_K @ Feb 16th 2009 7:42PM]

"He sure is ugly, though."

[ImaYam @ Feb 16th 2009 10:14PM]

*throws iphone at you*

[Najakwa @ Feb 16th 2009 1:02PM]

i agree with joe. i was hoping for a veritable orgy of Android at this show. I am disappointed so far. hopefully archos can show something.

[Marc @ Feb 16th 2009 1:03PM]

Huawei's Android touchphone is a mystery wrapped in an iPhone


Im sorry but this thing REALLY looks like the 1st gen iPhone and 3G iphone had a baby.

[Saad Rabia @ Feb 16th 2009 1:05PM]

People no need for the hating, but Marc is absolutely right about this one. I swear I thought it was a new iPhone!

[Finnschi @ Feb 16th 2009 1:15PM]

I First thought its the Meizu M8 remake of the iPod Touch!

[Major4Play @ Feb 16th 2009 2:06PM]

a black screen with one button and no other surface features is not an Apple design, i have a 4 year old PDA that looks quite similar.

[maveric101 @ Feb 16th 2009 3:01PM]

normally i hate it when people yell "iphone clone!!!!1!" but in this case i'm going to have to agree.

[Markarian @ Feb 16th 2009 3:39PM]

Iphone Clone!
O RLY?
YA RLY?
NO WAI!
HUAWEI!

[KilgoreTrout @ Feb 16th 2009 6:19PM]

Enough!
Please; let's stop with this childish Apple copied the LG armani LG now copies the Samsung, Samsung clones HTC, which has copied someone else.
A touch screen smartphone MUST be a slab of glass, metal and plastic with one ,two or three keys underneath (and some softkeys and buttons on the sides).
Counting the deviced recently presented and due for release in the next months now there are more than 100 of these devices: how the hell do you expect them to be like?
Triangular?
Spherical?
What?
How different can USB keys be? Or external HD for that matter?
Just like for laptops and netbooks (hey who started to copy first here?) the differences between smartphones and MIDs will have to be found in screen sizes, bulk, and specially specs/features and software; I don't know if it's a good thing but this is surely the trend in industrial design of complex devices that must share the mjority of their components and their softwares.
After all who cares about the shape of these couple of keys or the material of the bezel?

[Finnschi @ Feb 16th 2009 1:04PM]

It look like they took a G1 and a iPod touch and put them in a blender....

[chickenator @ Feb 16th 2009 1:43PM]

but but but, will them blend?

[Finnschi @ Feb 16th 2009 2:57PM]

Will it play Doom=?

[Darren @ Feb 16th 2009 1:04PM]

That's some nice iPhony.

[Mr. Ford @ Feb 17th 2009 12:28AM]

dammit, I didn't want to like your comment

[BB @ Feb 16th 2009 1:05PM]

Huawei's Android touchphone is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an iPhone shell

[CJ @ Feb 16th 2009 1:09PM]

Sexiest. Enigma. Ever

[Finnschi @ Feb 16th 2009 1:16PM]

The Old Enigma was more usefull tho ^^

[Nick @ Feb 16th 2009 1:35PM]

For a second I thought this was the new iPhone..

[Daniel @ Feb 16th 2009 1:11PM]

I've seen this device before...

[chrisk1590 @ Feb 16th 2009 1:15PM]

HOLY SHIT HUAWEI PHONE IS COMING

[rawnnie @ Feb 16th 2009 1:24PM]

Why is everyone making their goddamn phones to look like the iPhone? Goddamn hell, don't these companies ever think OUT of the box? Is no one ever going to be a real innovator like Apple?

Currently, I think the Palm-Pre is the most innovative out of the "iphone killers" pack, but still has some of iPhone in it. Yeah, yeah, iPhone features were unoriginal and copied..whatever mitey.

[telepheedian @ Feb 16th 2009 2:22PM]

I think that nokia did a good thing with the 5800's design though, its full face touchscreen, but doesn't really resemble the iPhone.

[Dagreenman18 @ Feb 16th 2009 1:25PM]

A mystery, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in bacon and sexy.

[chickenator @ Feb 16th 2009 1:45PM]

...and yummy!

[bangladeshiluv @ Feb 16th 2009 1:27PM]

a mystery burrito

[ugg.tryptophan @ Feb 16th 2009 2:30PM]

a thuritto?

[iKurt Mark III @ Feb 16th 2009 1:30PM]

What are you talking about

It doesn't look like the iPhone

[Kinger @ Feb 16th 2009 1:40PM]

I think that wins worst print ad of the year award.. that skewed font is just so sexy.

[Sharks! @ Feb 16th 2009 4:19PM]

how original.

[LiquidMeson @ Feb 16th 2009 1:51PM]

PERFECT!! (as long as it has a headphone jack) Great design, Android is a must!. This is the phone I've been waiting for, hurry up and release it on sprints 4g or att 4g and I'm sold.

[Chandler @ Feb 16th 2009 2:02PM]

Come to ATT, baby.

[funyun2 @ Feb 16th 2009 3:07PM]

Screw you AT&T already has enough awesome phones. Sprint or Verizon should get this, (T-Mo already has the G1 so it shouldn't have 2 android phones).

[Setnev @ Feb 16th 2009 7:12PM]

@funyun2

Actually, I would love to see this phone come to T-Mobile and wouldn't be surprised if it did. Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint won't get an Android cause they like to lock out people from their software. Android is way too open source for those carriers and way too easy to hack to do what you want n it. VZW tends to lock you out of their phones and make you pay for everything, same with AT&T and Sprint.

And coming this year, T-Mobile will be getting a second Android phone, so why not add more to their lineup, especially cause a lot of people want the Android phones.

[ananimus3 @ Feb 16th 2009 11:47PM]

@Setnev: Speaking as a power user of Sprint WinMo phones, I've never once felt locked out or overcharged. Though on the surface they've tried to rope people in with some commercially stuff and weak locks. But then again, when your main comparison is VZW everything looks open source.

[TareX @ Feb 16th 2009 2:31PM]

It's lovely. But again, what hardware could a phone that slim harbor.

I think it's sexiness will come at the expense of slow processing and short battery life. Unless it comes with Tegra, which is VERY doubtful.

[teasphere @ Feb 16th 2009 2:33PM]

Huawei is one of those lesser known names but actually makes very good gear. They are fairly well known in networking for inexpensive switches that rival the big names like Cisco. I agree the design could be better but aside from a slightly poor take on the iPhone I'd imagine it to be a good me-too phone.

[wrayRAY @ Feb 16th 2009 3:09PM]

iphone much?

[xValentine @ Feb 16th 2009 3:33PM]

Title should be

"Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXXIII Huawei's Android touchphone is a mystery wrapped in an enigma"

:P

[Dragonfly @ Feb 16th 2009 3:50PM]

Wow! is that the new iPhone?! Oh! sorry my bad.

[James @ Feb 16th 2009 4:06PM]

So none of you ever listened to Churchill's speeches? Or wondered at his oratorial prowess?

"It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma."

He was talking about Russia.

[Alan @ Feb 16th 2009 4:46PM]

Looks pretty familiar... oh wait! that looks like an iPhone.

[007bond @ Feb 16th 2009 4:49PM]

man, i wanna tap that