Close Menu
  • Briefing
    • Cover Story
    • Latest News
    • Counties
  • Politics
    • Society
  • Special Reports
    • Companies
    • Enterprise
    • Money
    • Technology
  • Columns
  • Dispatches from China
  • Member Content
    • Shop
  • Contact Us
    • About us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
Nairobi Business Monthly
Subscribe
  • Briefing
    • Cover Story
    • Latest News
    • Counties
  • Politics
    • Society
  • Special Reports
    • Companies
    • Enterprise
    • Money
    • Technology
  • Columns
  • Dispatches from China
  • Member Content
    • Shop
  • Contact Us
    • About us
Nairobi Business Monthly
Home»Dispatches from China»Chinese smartphones make a splash in overseas markets
Dispatches from China

Chinese smartphones make a splash in overseas markets

As China's smartphone industry matures, an increasing number of Chinese brands are venturing into overseas markets and gaining recognition from consumers worldwide.
TASSBy TASS26th December 2024No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Email
Tecno smartphones
Transsion's feature camera technology has thoroughly considered African people's skin tones and facial features, making its mobile phones very popular among African youth. (Photo provided by Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co., Ltd.)
Share
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram Email

By Gao Qiao

Global smartphone shipments reached 1.14 billion units in 2023, said a recent report released by the international market research firm Canalys. Three Chinese brands – Xiaomi, OPPO, and Transsion – made it into the top five.

As China’s smartphone industry matures, an increasing number of Chinese brands are venturing into overseas markets and gaining recognition from consumers worldwide.

The Nairobi Law Monthly September Edition

At the recently held Mobile World Congress 2024, the Magic 6 Pro smartphone developed by Chinese tech company Honor garnered attention for its AI-enabled eye tracking technology, which allows users to control the device with eye movements.

Earlier, Honor unveiled the foldable smartphone Magic V2 with a folded thickness of just 9.9mm, similar to that of regular phones – a first in the foldable smartphone segment.

Riding the wave of the prosperity of mobile internet around the world and relying on the robust development of its smartphone industry, China has become the world’s largest producer and exporter of mobile phones.

$308.41 billion

In the first two months of 2024, China exported mechanical and electrical products worth 2.22 trillion yuan (about $308.41 billion), up 11.8 percent year on year, accounting for 59.1 percent of its total exports. A total of 123.7 million mobile phones were exported during this period.

Canalys research manager Liu Yixuan said that currently, overseas markets, especially emerging ones, are crucial growth avenues for Chinese smartphone brands, with different brands focusing on their specific regions.

Xiaomi has made comprehensive efforts in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

OPPO and Vivo’s overseas markets are mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. Honor focuses on Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Seeking overseas business growth is a strategic choice for many Chinese mobile phone brands.

What has enabled Chinese smartphone brands to develop in overseas markets?

In an interview with People’s Daily, Bai Ming, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation summarized advantages of Chinese smartphones.

READ: Smartphone: Innovation has slowed but is yet to plateau

He said Chinese smartphones have high cost-performance and feature designs that cater to overseas markets. Besides, Chinese smartphones and communication technologies are well matched thanks to China’s infrastructure cooperation with many countries in telecommunications.

He said China’s domestic smartphone industry has diverse product segments, a complete industrial
chain, and frequent product iteration, so products that have weathered intense domestic competition would become competitive in overseas markets.

Honor smartphones

Take Honor smartphones as an example. Statistics from Canalys and Counterpoint showed that in the fourth quarter of 2023, less than two years after re-entering overseas markets, Honor ranked among the top five in terms of sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer has also established a global sales and service network covering over 70 countries and regions.

In an interview, George Zhao, CEO of Honor Device Co., Ltd., said that Honor maintained rapid growth amid the overall downturn in the global smartphone market by adhering to high-quality development, targeting users’ demands, strengthening global industrial chain cooperation, and transforming technological innovation into market-demanded products.

Additionally, Honor emphasizes localized strategies in different regional markets. It provides product portfolios tailored to local users, and strengthens communication and collaboration with local partners, so as to better enhance user experience.

According to recent data released by the international market research firm IDC, Chinese smartphone brands have consistently increased their market share of high-end smartphones with prices over $600 in the past five years. In 2023, their market share in this segment reached 27.4 percent, up 3.7 percentage points from 2022 and doubling that in 2019.

“As AI technology flourished in 2023, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation emerged, bringing both new opportunities and challenges for the global smart terminal market,” said Zhao.

According to him, Honor has invested over 10 billion yuan in AI research and development, obtained more than 2,000 AI-related patents, and applied platform-level AI technology to promote innovations such as cross-device collaboration and next-generation intent recognition in smartphones.

“With the emergence of more and more application scenarios and demands, as well as the development of AI and other new technologies, the iteration of Chinese smartphones in terms of functionality and technology is worth the wait,” said Bai.

The Nairobi Law Monthly September Edition
Dispatches from China smartphones Tecno
Follow on Facebook Follow on X (Twitter) Follow on WhatsApp
Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram
TASS

Related Posts

Chinese high-tech helps sweep world off its feet

20th November 2024

Xi Jinping to address China-Africa summit

5th September 2024

Program launched to promote Chinese tea worldwide

20th August 2024

EU sets ball rolling on regulating AI

12th August 2024
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

The Nairobi Law Monthly September Edition
Latest Posts

Fatal crash halts traffic on Nairobi-Mombasa Highway

30th May 2025

TIFA poll: Most Kenyans reject broad-based govt over cost of living concerns

29th May 2025

VAT shake-up in Finance Bill 2025 threatens businesses, economists warn

29th May 2025

AfDB sees Africa becoming the world’s second-fastest growing region

29th May 2025

DTB posts strong profit growth amid strategic shifts

29th May 2025
The Nairobi Law Monthly September Edition
Nairobi Business Monthly
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
  • About Us
  • Member Content
  • Download Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy policy
© 2025 NairobiBusinessMonthly. Designed by Okii

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.