Honor (brand)

Honor (stylized and marketed as HONOR) is a smartphone brand majority owned by a state-owned enterprise controlled by the municipal government of Shenzhen. It was formerly owned by Huawei Technologies. As part of the former owner Huawei Consumer Business Group's dual-brand strategy, Honor provides smartphone handsets targeting young consumers but has released tablet computers and wearable technology as well.

Honor
Native name
荣耀
TypeState-owned enterprise
IndustryConsumer electronics, mobile internet
Founded2013 (2013)
FounderRen Zhengfei
HeadquartersShenzhen, China
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsSmartphones, laptops, wearables, accessories
RevenueUS$50+ billion (including Huawei) (2018)
ParentHuawei (2013–2020)
Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co., Ltd. (2020 (2020)–present)
Websitewww.hihonor.com

As of 2016, George Zhao served as global president of Honor.[1] In November 2020, Honor was acquired by Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co., Ltd.[2]

History and business model
Honor logo from 2013 to 2018

Founded in 2013,[3][4] Honor's line of smartphones allowed Huawei to compete with mid-range online smartphone brands in China and globally.[3][5][6] Honor sells its products mainly online through its own sites as well as via third-party online retailers. Some Honor products are available to purchase at stores in select markets.[7][8]

In November 2020, the Honor brand was sold to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology, a majority state-owned company controlled by the Shenzhen municipal government, to "ensure" its then-parent company, Huawei's survival, due to US sanctions against them.[9][2] U.S. sanctions restricted the sale of hardware components to Huawei by American firms.[10]

Timeline of international expansion

Honor began its international expansion in April 2014, launching the Honor 3C in Malaysia, followed by the release of the Honor 6 in Europe in October.[11] By June 2015, the brand had expanded into 74 countries, including in Europe, India, and Japan.[6]

Honor released the Honor 7 in July 2015,[7] and in October that year, announced its goal to increase revenue to $5 billion (double the previous year) with plans to focus on India.[4][12]

In 2015, Honor's Vmall online store, previously available only in China, launched in Europe and the United Kingdom, enabling direct purchases from the manufacturer.[13][14][15]

In late 2015, Honor confirmed plans to bring its smartphone range and wearable technology to the United States.[6][16]

Honor made its debut in the United States with the release of the Huawei Honor 5X at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2016.[1][7][17] Initially available for online purchase only, the Huawei Honor 5X was later made available at select brick-and-mortar stores.[1]

In August 2016, Recode reported that Honor had sold over 60 million products, generating over $8.4 billion in revenue.[18]

In January 2017 at CES, Honor announced that the Honor 6X, previously available only in China, would expand into thirteen new markets, including the United States.[19][20] The phone earned "best of CES 2017" accolades from several technology publications, including Android Authority,[21][22] Digital Trends,[23] Slash Gear,[24] and Talk Android.[25]

On 21 January 2021, Honor launched their first non-Huawei phone, the V40, after the notable blow to the production of Honor devices through the forced removal of Google's Android mobile operating system and lack of support from Huawei's R&D division.[26]

References
  1. Palenchar, Joseph (15 June 2016). "Huawei's Honor Brand Adds Brick-and-Mortar Sales". Twice. NewBay Media. ISSN 0892-7278. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. "Huawei selling Honor phone brand in face of US sanctions". Associated Press. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. Lai, Richard (16 December 2013). "Huawei's Honor brand challenges Xiaomi with 3X and 3C low-cost phones". Engadget. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. "Aiming to double profit, Huawei's Honor brand eyes India". The Economic Times. The Times Group. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. Stinson, Ben (22 January 2015). "Huawei Honor 3C review". TechRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  6. Kan, Michael (30 June 2015). "Huawei's Honor brand strives to become global". CIO magazine. International Data Group. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  7. Boxall, Andy (13 January 2016). "Huawei Honor 7 Review". Digital Trends. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  8. Ellis, Tomos (4 June 2015). "Honor 4X review". TechRadar. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  9. Livingston, Scott (11 December 2020). "Huawei, HONOR, and China's Evolving State Capitalist Tool Kit". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 20 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. Nakashima, Ellen; Whalen, Jeanne (19 September 2021). "Key security agencies split over whether to blacklist former Huawei smartphone unit". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  11. Boxall, Andy (29 October 2014). "Huawei tries something new, relaunches the Honor 6 smartphone without the Huawei name". Digital Trends. OCLC 810203593. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  12. Khan, Danish (10 October 2015). "Huawei planning to make smartphones in India". The Economic Times. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. "Huawei P8 Sells Out in One Day". PhoneArena. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  14. "Huawei Honor 7 to launch in the UK for less than £200". GSM Arena. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  15. Hanson, Matt (July 2016). "Honor 7 review". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  16. Brown, Mike (14 December 2015). "Huawei In America: Budget 'Honor' Smartphone Brand Expected To Launch In US". International Business Times. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  17. Nofuente, Kyle (18 December 2015). "Huawei Mate 8 and Honor 5X Debuting in US at CES 2016: Report". Tech Times. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  18. Fried, Ina (16 August 2016). "Despite its tiny U.S. market share, China's Huawei is launching a second brand here". Recode. Vox Media. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  19. "CES 2017: Huawei announces global launch of Honor 6x, priced at $249". Firstpost. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  20. Woollaston, Victoria (3 January 2017). "CES 2017: Honor unveils a £225 handset with a two-day battery life". Wired. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  21. Grush, Andrew (10 January 2017). "Best of CES 2017: the most impressive products from the show". Android Authority. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  22. Banerjee, Ankit (10 January 2017). "Interview with Honor VP Zack Zhang at CES 2017". Android Authority. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  23. "Digital Trends Top Tech of CES 2017 Award Winners". Digital Trends. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  24. Davies, Chris (8 January 2017). "The Best of CES 2017". Slash Gear. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  25. Herrick, Justin (9 January 2017). "Talk Android Best of CES 2017 Awards". Talk Android. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  26. Kharpal, Arjun (22 January 2021). "Honor launches first phone since being sold by Huawei after U.S. sanctions". CNBC. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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