In a surprising twist of tech industry sentiment, Ren Zhengfei, the founder and CEO of Chinese tech giant Huawei, has professed his admiration for Apple, his company’s American rival. Speaking at the Huawei-sponsored International Collegiate Programming Contest, Ren revealed his respect for Apple and its products.

Ren’s unexpected statement emphasized his stance against xenophobia towards foreign brands. He spoke highly of Apple, stating, “We often explore why Apple’s products are so good, and we can also see the gap between us and Apple. I’m very happy to have a teacher who gives us the opportunity to learn and compare. In that sense, it would not be an exaggeration to call me an Apple fan.”

This surprising revelation comes amidst fierce competition in the world’s largest smartphone market, where Huawei’s latest flagship 5G handsets are going head-to-head with Apple’s offerings.

Huawei, once the world’s largest smartphone hardware maker, faced a significant setback in 2019 when it was placed on the Entity List by then-US President Donald Trump. This move led to a series of challenges for the company, including the withholding of critical chips and the loss of access to Google apps and services, which significantly impacted its Western market presence.

Despite these challenges, Huawei has recently made a surprising comeback with the release of the premium Mate 60 phone. Notably, the Mate 60 is powered by Huawei’s own HiSilicon Brin 9000S system-on-chip, a move reminiscent of Apple’s approach to designing its own chip.

As Huawei continues to innovate and compete with Apple, Ren Zhengfei’s unexpected praise serves as a reminder of the global tech industry’s interconnectedness and the valuable lessons that can be learned even in the midst of intense competition.

Related:

• China accuses U.S. of hacking Huawei servers, alleges Cyber Espionage Campaign
• Huawei to unveil 98-inch Smart Screen V5 Pro on September 25
• Portugal takes firm stance on Huawei, excludes equipment from 5G networks amid legal battle

(via)

The post Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei admires Apple amidst 5G smartphone competition appeared first on Gizmochina.