Huawei Wins The European Consumer Smartphone Award For The Third Time

In spite of the setbacks that Huawei encountered, especially in terms of trust and security, it has still remained on top in a lot of aspects. For one, it is still one of the top 3 smartphone makers in China, as well as one of the top 5 smartphone makers in the world. And yet another reason is the fact that Huawei’s Ascend model has won the “European Consumer Smartphone” award for the third year in a row.

The European Consumer Smartphone award is conferred by the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). Since 2013, a Huawei Ascend had earned that award:

2013: Huawei Ascend P6

2014: Huawei Ascend P7

2015: Huawei Ascend P8

The Huawei Ascend P8 was most likely given the same award for the same reason why the Ascend P6 earned it: For being a “surprisingly well-equipped smartphone at a very attractive price.”

Indeed, with these specs:

Processor/Chipset: Octa-core made up of a 2 GHz quad-core A53 Cortex, and a 1.5 GHz quad-core A53 Cortex processor

RAM: 3GB

GPU: Mali-T628 MP4

Internal Storage: 16 or 64 GB

Connectivity: HSPA, LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, and WiFi Hotspot

Expandable Storage: Yes, with a microSD card slot with a capacity up to 128 GB

Display: 5.2 inches, with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and ~424 ppi pixel density, protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3

Cameras: 13 MP with an output of 4160 x 3120 pixels, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, autofocus, and optical image stabilization on the Primary Camera; 8 MP for the Secondary Camera

Battery: A non-removable 2680 mAh Li-Po battery

Bells and Whistles: A splash-resistant nano coating

Huawei managed to pack these premium specs into a $530 phone. This is the price for the 16GB model, while the 64GB model costs $630. With specs that rival the Samsung Galaxy S6, which costs $579.99 for the 32GB model, or $659.99 for the 64GB model on T-Mobile, it still has an edge over the mainstream flagship phone, as the Huawei Ascend P8 has a microSD card slot and waterproofing. Plus, the Ascend P8’s 2680 mAh battery lasts a little longer than the S6’s 2550 mAh.

Although Samsung has leveled the playing field for rival offerings like that Huawei Ascend P8 by slashing its flagship model prices, for some users, one tiny detail such as waterproofing or the presence or lack of a microSD card slot makes a world of difference.

Apparently for the European Imaging and Sound Association, this is the difference that determines to which phone they give the “European Consumer Smartphone” award.