Huawei Mate 9 release date, new: Mate 9 to launch in December with Kirin 960 chip and dual-camera setup?

Although Huawei has yet to unveil its highly anticipated new smartphone, the Mate 9, rumor has it that the Chinese tech giant's new offering will feature a Kirin 960 processor and a dual-camera setup with Leica optics, among various other upgrades.

According to Android Central, after Huawei used the Mate 8 to show off HiSilicon's Kirin 950 processor last year, the company will soon introduce the Kirin 960 chip via the upcoming Mate 9. The Kirin 960 chip will reportedly be the first to incorporate ARM's Cortex-A72 core design. However, there has also reportedly been talk that the Kirin 960 could upgrade to ARM's new Cortex-A73, which is more powerful than the previous model.

On top of the Huawei Mate 9 getting an upgraded processor, Android Central also suggests that the phone could feature a more powerful and efficient battery, as well as a bigger display. The phone could also ship with the EMUI 5 interface as well as the Android 7.0 Nougat. The website notes that based on the leaks of the EMUI 5, the software has been updated with tweaks in its lock screen, notification shade and app-switching areas.

One of the most talked about possible upgrades to Huawei's Mate lineup is the addition of a rear-facing dual-camera setup featuring Leica optics. The Mate 9's cameras could also come with analog zoom, optical image stabilization and laser autofocus.

There have been rumors that the Mate 9 will likely carry Leica tech just as Huawei's P9 did.

"There has been significant technological collaboration between Huawei and Leica around many aspects of the camera, including optical design, imaging quality, image data processing, optimization, and the mechanical construction of the camera module to the graphic user interface," Leica and Huawei said earlier this year in a press release about the Huawei P9.

Last month, leaked images purported to show the Mate 9 chassis. Apart from revealing a more streamlined look, the photos seemed to confirm the rumors of a rear-facing dual-camera configuration. It also showed that the Mate 9 will have two speaker grills on both sides of the USB port on the bottom portion of the phone.

According to Android Authority, given that the Huawei Mate 8 was released in November 2015 and the Huawei Mate 7 in October 2014, it is expected that the Mate 9 will be launched sometime later this year, possibly in December.

Huawei has not announced the official launch date for the Mate 9.