Huawei has claimed the general consumer is unconcerned about the cost of smartwatches, suggesting instead features are the primary point of focus for most.
Despite having risen through the ranks of affordable smartphone providers, Huawei looks set to ditch its cost-effective ways when it comes to the wearables market.
Speaking exclusively with TrustedReviews recently, the Chinese manufacturer declared that smartwatch experiences will always be more important than how much a wearable device costs.
Given widespread grumblings at the premium price tag associated with existing Android Wear watches, and the wallet-busting cost of the Apple Watch, this is a bold claim by the TalkBand maker.
“For consumers, the cost and pricing is not important, what’s important is the user experience,” Yang Yong, Huawei’s Vice President of Product Management told us while discussing the smartwatch space.
Highlighting the company’s belief in consumers’ supposed disregard for wearables costs, Huawei has adorned its first smartwatch, the aptly named Huawei Watch, with all manner of high-end materials.
Pairing a stainless steel body with a sapphire glass display and the option of metal or leather straps, the company has positioned itself closer to the Apple Watch that the likes of the Samsung Gear Live.
“To make the users really like this watch, we’ve used premium materials,” Yong explained.
“By using sapphire glass we can make this watch immune to scratches and help you to think this watch is really premium and the quality is really good.
“That’s the most important thing.”
Despite suggesting prices are of little concern to the average consumer, Huawei has yet to announce official costing for its upcoming Moto 360 challenger.
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Further discussing Huawei’s approach to the smartwatch space, Yong added: “Our Huawei Watch is very much like a classic watch, and different from the current electronic smartwatches from Sony, LG and Samsung.
“From what we’ve heard from consumers, the smartwatch must first be a very good looking watch. You can see this in our design and materials.”