Huawei

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei met with Prime Minister Bill English this week to discuss the company's expansion across New Zealand, with Ren saying Huawei is interested by the country's attitudes towards trade, as well as the opportunities for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity

"New Zealand's open and fair trade environment, and its emphasis on developing new technology, facilitates our ongoing commitment," Ren said.

The firm reported 245.5bn yuan ($37bn, £28bn) in revenues, up from 175.6bn yuan for the same period last year.

It did not disclose its net profit but said the operating margin was 12%, down from 18% in the first half of 2015.

Huawei is the third-biggest smartphone vendor in the world behind Samsung and Apple and one of the world's largest telecommunications firms.

Originally known for its low-cost smartphones, Huawei has now moved into higher-end models.

The company said it had seen steady growth across all its business sectors.

The new phone is expected to feature enhancements including the force touch display, a better camera and a faster processor.

Apple may also unveil a new version of the iPad -- a 12.9-inch "Pro" model, according to a report by John Paczkowski of BuzzFeed.

A company spokesman declined to comment.

With the 13-megapixel shooter usually slotted into the rear of the 5.2-inch device, when the need for a selfie strikes, users can simply flip the camera housing up so that it's forward-facing - clever, right?

Further boosting your vanity shots, the camera features an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm wide-angle lens and a dual-tone LED flash.

More than a party piece device, the Honor 7i, which has just launched in China ahead of an expected global release later in the year, features a decent, if not ground-breaking array of specs.