The demand for high-quality smartphones equipped with the best, quality features in the market then is often correlated to its price point. This means that if you are looking to purchase a high-quality smartphone, you need to shell out a lot of money to own one. The trend then was to purchase smartphones at big-named companies like Apple, Samsung, LG, Blackberry and Nokia.
In China, however, it has been observed that many consumers have now shifted their preferences to local companies. Considering the fact that China has climbed its way up to become one of the best smart phone producers, and that the same big-named companies either have production companies set up in the mainland or have supplier relationships with Chinese original equipment manufacturers, consumers are now turning to locally-made phones that not only offer them at low prices, but also offer the same or similar quality like their branded counterparts.
China Daily has named this year's top smartphone producers in China that are also making waves globally. Some of these mobile giants are even expected to surpass the two market leaders, US-based Apple Inc. and Korean company Samsung Electronics Co. who has long been dominating the mobile communications industry for the past several years.
1. Huawei
Based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Huawei is now the third-largest smartphone maker in the world after its share market went up to 6.8% during the second quarter this year. During the first quarter, the company has shipped 34.27 million smartphones. That's almost half of their 80 million shipment annual target. Shao Yang, VP of Marketing Business Consumer Group, told Reuters that they have recorded a rapid increase in overseas demand in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America year-on-year.
2. ZTE
Another Shenzhen-based multinational telecommunications company is on the lead as one of China's top smartphone providera is reportedly investing on high-end smartphones that would increase their global shipment from 40 million last year to 60 million this year. ZTE Executive VP Zeng Xuezong said in a separate interview with Reuters, "After our efforts in the past two years, I believe our brand awareness and approval rating from customers could rival those of Apple and Samsung in China."
3. Xiaomi
Despite coming in as a new player in the smartphone industry at only 4 years-old, the Beijing-based company surprisingly acquired a top spot on the list. Xiaomi recently earned a 5.1% in total global market share, making it the fifth-largest smartphone maker in the world according to Forbes. Currently, the company has made 15.1 million shipments during the second quarter of this year, which only covers neighbouring Asian countries. Strategy Analytics Director Woody Oh was quoted by CNet as saying that the company will continue expanding in Asia and is eyeing the European market.
4. Coolpad
The third Shenzhen-based smartphone vendor, Coolpad, makes this list. The company is reportedly targeting 60 million global shipments this year. The company, which was established by Yulong Computer Telecommunications Scientific, has been in the industry for 20 years and currently ranked as the seventh the largest smartphone maker by IDC. Coolpad General Mager Li Jun told a Chinese news outlet, "It's a good opportunity for us to improve our brand awareness and expand market share in the 4G era,"
5. Lenovo
From manufacturing PCs, notebook and tablets, Lenovo has successfully ventured into the smartphone business. Gaining a total market share of 5.4% in the second quarter according to MacRumors, the company secured the post of being the fourth-largest smartphone maker in the world. If their reported plans of acquiring Motorola should materialize, Lenovo will be able to boost their presence in the international market.
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