Huawei GX8 Now Available From GetHuawei.com And Amazon

Huawei is really pushing its smartphones hard in the US, despite not yet having a flagship-level device that everyone can get behind. Its latest entry is the Huawei GX8, a version of the G8 fit for the US market and its network bands. Practically a mid-range phablet that, strangely enough, might compete with the Honor 5x in the US, from Huawei's own sub-brand. Regardless, Huawei has expanded the availability of the GX8, which was formerly only on Amazon, to Best Buy, Newegg, as well as its own GetHuawei.com website.

This isn't the first time Huawei has brought its smartphone to the US but, compared to other foreign OEMs, it has has been fairly reserved, both for economic as well political reasons. In July 2013, Huawei and ZTE were the target of some US government mudslinging, accusing them of spying for the Chinese government.

Huawei's first notaable US smartphone, the Ascend Mate 2, was initially received warmly but entered into some controversy when it was initially revealed that the device won't be upgraded from Android Jelly Bean to Android 4.4 KitKat, which the company later rescinded. The Huawei P8 lite was launched June last year and came with a two tempting propositions: a $250 price tag and a warranty program to convince buyers to purchase unlocked devices.

So far, however, Huawei hasn't made any of its high-end flagships available in the US market, and the GX8 is, sadly, another case. The 5.5-inch phablet at least sports a Full HD screen though the Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 running underneath proves its character. There is 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, thankfully expandable. A 13 megapixel camera decks the back while a 5 megapixel shooter is available for selfies.

That said, the Huawei GX8 isn't without its interesting traits. Rare would you find a mid-range smartphone with a premium looking full metal body. That list is growing slowly, but for now, the GX8 is a rare breed. It also has a fingerprint scanner at the back that does more than just unlock your smartphone. It accepts swipes and taps to initiate some handy actions, a feature you won't find in either Samsung's or Apple's implementations.

Huawei is trying to compete with the big players and it is doing so in price as well. the Huawei GX8 goes for $350 and can no be bought directly from Huawei as well as from Best Buy and New Egg. Color options include Horizon Gold, Space Grey, and Mystic Champagne.