Annabel Yao, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, participated in promoting the company's newly launched Pura X foldable smartphone.
Appearing on Huawei's official Weibo account, Annabel Yao was introduced as a "new best friend" of the Pura brand. This is the first time that Ren Zhengfei's youngest daughter has joined her father's company as a brand ambassador.
In the comments section, Yao's image was positively received. "Oh, I thought Anna would advertise Huawei smartphones sooner or later," wrote one Weibo account. "Finally, Huawei's own brand has found a child to represent it," wrote another.
Annabel Yao, or Anna Yao, Yao Siwei, was born in 1998. She is the daughter of Mr. Ren and his second wife Yao Ling and took her mother's surname. She graduated with a degree in Computer Science from Harvard University in 2021, then entered the entertainment industry, but was not considered outstanding.
According to China Fund News, in 2021, Huawei registered some trademark information related to "Yao Anna", "Yao Siwei" and "Annalbel Yao". However, the registration status is still "processing application".
Before appearing with the Pura brand, Yao was the global spokesperson for car company Avita. She once posted on Weibo that the Avita 07 model is equipped with Huawei's Qiankun intelligent driving technology. Huawei and Avita have a strategic partnership.
Huawei unveiled the Pura X foldable smartphone on January 20 at an event in China. The device is introduced as "a combination of a clamshell and a book-shaped smartphone", with a 16:10 aspect ratio instead of 22:9 like the Galaxy Z Flip6, meaning the width when opened will be larger than most clamshell smartphones on the market.
When folded, users feel like they are holding a small book. When opened, it looks like a small tablet. According to Android Headlines, the Pura X is "the strangest clamshell phone ever seen".
In terms of configuration, the Pura X uses a 6.3-inch main screen with a resolution of 2,120 x 1,320 pixels, and a 3.5-inch external secondary screen with a resolution of 980 x 980 pixels. Both use OLED panels, with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Huawei says users can make calls, play games, use messaging apps, and more with the outer display. Meanwhile, the inner display can be used to watch videos, read web content, read books, or present slides.
Similar to smartphones launched in recent years, Huawei did not announce the processor chip. The device uses 12/16 GB RAM, 256GB/512GB/1TB memory, 4,720 mAh battery supporting 66W wired fast charging and 40W wireless fast charging. The camera includes a 50-megapixel main sensor, 40-megapixel ultra-wide and 8-megapixel telephoto, along with a separate color sensor called Red Maple.
The Pura X starts at 7,499 yuan. Meanwhile, the special Collector's Edition with a more colorful case costs 9,999 yuan. The product is available for pre-order in China. Huawei did not mention international sales.