Huawei has a big problem with the popular Mate 60 5G smartphones: there’s not enough supply to meet growing demand

Huawei Technologies is facing a challenge with their latest 5G smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro. This phone is in high demand because it has a powerful chip that works around US sanctions. However, Huawei is struggling to produce enough phones to meet this demand, leading to a wait time of up to three months. To manage this, Huawei is taking pre-orders, which allows them to gauge demand and plan their production accordingly.

The Mate 60 Pro uses a secretive Kirin 9000s processor, complicating the supply chain process. Typically, it takes 12 to 18 months to gather all the parts needed for a new device. Huawei has introduced a subscription program to ensure customers receive their phones within 90 days, but the delivery order is random. Some customers have shared their order statuses on Weibo, showing delivery dates ranging from the current month to February of the next year.

Despite the challenges posed by US trade sanctions, Huawei has made a significant comeback in the 5G smartphone market. In just eight weeks since its launch, the Mate 60 series has sold 2. 4 million units domestically. During the Singles' Day shopping festival, Huawei's sales were impressive, ranking third among smartphone vendors. However, supply shortages have limited the number of phones available each day. Huawei's suppliers, including Foxconn and SMIC, are increasing their workforce and production capabilities to meet the high demand for the Mate 60 Pro.