Tag: Chinese smartphone manufacturers

  • 3 Companies Halt Foldable Phone Projects, Says Tipster: Report

    3 Companies Halt Foldable Phone Projects, Says Tipster: Report

    Rumors are swirling that the foldable phone market, once hailed as the next major innovation in smartphones, may be facing some unexpected challenges. According to tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), at least three major brands have halted or significantly delayed their foldable phone projects.

    DCS reports that one of the top five smartphone manufacturers worldwide has completely suspended its foldable device efforts. Additionally, two more companies have put flip-style foldable phone projects on hold.

    Major Brands Facing Challenges

    The reasons for these project suspensions are not clear yet, and the specific brands involved have not been disclosed by the tipster.

    Currently, the foldable smartphone market is dominated by Android manufacturers. Samsung, for example, holds the largest market share and is reportedly working on its next iteration of Z-series foldable phones, including a triple-folding model.

    Market Developments

    Huawei is also said to be developing a triple-folding style phone. Oppo and Vivo are other major players, having released at least a couple of iterations of their foldable devices.

    However, a recent report suggested that both Oppo and Vivo have decided to withdraw from the foldable market. The decision for this is said to be due to a significant decline in their market share in this segment last year.

    However, there’s been no official statement from either brand, so it’s best to wait for further reports to understand the situation better.

    If these rumors are true, it could also impact OnePlus’ foldable efforts, as they have been heavily relying on Oppo and have only launched one foldable device under their brand name.

    Challenges Ahead

    In other news, Apple’s foldable iPhone project is also reportedly facing challenges due to fragile screen issues. While foldable phones offer unique form factors and possibilities, they remain expensive and some would argue, quite fragile.

    3 Companies Halt Foldable Phone Projects, Says Tipster: Report

    Details:

    • Samsung: Working on next iteration of Z-series foldable phones, including a triple-folding model.
    • Huawei: Developing a triple-folding style phone.
    • Oppo and Vivo: Reportedly withdrawn from the foldable market due to a decline in market share last year.
  • Meizu’s Campaign: Choosing New Chinese Name for Flyme OS

    Meizu’s Campaign: Choosing New Chinese Name for Flyme OS

    Meizu Initiates Polling Drive for Renaming Flyme OS

    Meizu, the prominent Chinese smartphone maker, is in quest of a fresh Chinese title for its Flyme OS and has kickstarted a voting campaign to cherry-pick the ultimate designation. On November 9, the company declared that it would solicit recommendations from the populace to christen its operating system anew.

    Four Iterations of Voting

    The polling initiative encompasses a total of 32 monikers and will unfold across four stages. At present, the inaugural round of voting is live, enabling users to select their favored name from the pool of 32 options.

    Post the first phase, the 16 titles garnering the maximum votes will progress to the subsequent round. This winnowing process will persevere until only four contenders remain poised for the final selection.

    Grand Finale at Media Briefing

    The culminating phase of voting is slated for a media briefing, where participants will cast their votes for their preferred title out of the quartet of finalists. The name securing the highest count of votes will be anointed as the fresh Chinese label for Flyme OS.

    Kickoff of Initial Round of Voting

    The ongoing primary round of voting is accessible within the Meizu community. Each user is entitled to a single vote per round. The deadline for the first round is set for today at 23:59:59 (GMT +8).

    As of now, the polling has drawn 5316 contributors. Although the exact count per name remains undisclosed, predominant Chinese news outlets indicate that a majority of users have rallied behind "无界" or "Unbounded" (translated).

    A Suited Appellation

    "Unbounded" is deemed a fitting title as Meizu recently introduced the catchphrase "New Generation, Unbounded Ecosystem" for Flyme OS 10. This choice aligns closely with Meizu’s ambition of engineering a "boundary-free" ecosystem.

    Local media sources hint that Meizu has also sought trademarks for "Unbounded Car" and "Unbounded Mobile Phone."

    Revelation of Ultimate Designation

    The ultimate title for Flyme OS will be unveiled by Meizu at an upcoming press event in the following weeks. Stay tuned for further updates on this enthralling progression.

  • Realme Exceeds 200 Million Phone Shipments Within 5 Years

    Realme Exceeds 200 Million Phone Shipments Within 5 Years

    Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme has reached a significant milestone by shipping over 200 million phones since its establishment just over five years ago. The company, which is a part of BBK Electronics, achieved this feat in the second quarter of this year.

    Realme has emerged as one of the top 10 smartphone brands out of the 250 brands currently in existence, according to data from Counterpoint Research. It is the fifth fastest smartphone maker to achieve this milestone, following Vivo, Huawei, Samsung, and Apple.

    One notable aspect of Realme's achievement is that the majority of its shipments were made in markets outside of China. This highlights the company's status as a global player in the highly competitive smartphone industry, and its rapid growth has positioned it among the top smartphone brands worldwide.

    Xu Qi, Chief Marketing Officer at Realme, expressed pride in the company's accomplishments, stating, "We came into existence when there were over 700 smartphone brands in the world. We are extremely proud that we have been able to be in the world's top 10 brands for the past five years."

    Counterpoint Research data also reveals a reduction in the number of phone brands from over 700 in 2017 to around 250 in September. Realme's ability to not only survive but thrive in this fiercely competitive environment highlights its strategic approach and adaptability.

    Currently, Realme is preparing to enter the premium smartphone segment with its upcoming release, the Realme GT 5 Pro. This device will be one of the first smartphones to feature Qualcomm's latest high-end chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, as well as Sony's new Lytia camera sensor.

    In comparison, Xiaomi recently unveiled the Xiaomi 14 Pro, which also runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. This demonstrates the intense competition and technological advancements within the smartphone industry. As Realme celebrates its achievement, it remains a dynamic player to watch in the ever-evolving smartphone market.

    This milestone underscores Realme's commitment to delivering quality devices and its ability to navigate the dynamic landscape of the industry, setting the stage for further accomplishments in the future.

  • After Two Years of Decline, Global Smartphone Market Exhibits Signs of Recovery

    After Two Years of Decline, Global Smartphone Market Exhibits Signs of Recovery

    October Global Smartphone Market Sales Break Two-Year Losing Streak, Path Set for Gradual Recovery

    The global economic crisis and inflation have taken a toll on technology companies, particularly smartphone manufacturers. With people being cautious about their spending and finding mid-range and entry-level phones sufficient for their daily needs, the demand for new smartphones has been stagnant. However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the industry.

    A recent study conducted by Counterpoint reveals a shift in the global smartphone market. For the first time since June 2021, global smartphone sales in October 2023 showed annual growth, breaking the 27-month-long downward trend. The sector experienced a 5% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

    The Middle East and Africa (MEA) emerged as the driving force behind this growth, closely followed by China and India. In China, there has been a significant increase in interest in smartphones, especially after the release of the Huawei Mate 60 series. The addition of the iPhone 15 series further fueled the rise, reminiscent of the fierce competition between Apple and Huawei in the past.

    Experts predict that this positive trend is just the beginning and anticipate further growth in the global smartphone market in the last quarter of 2023. This indicates that the impact of the economic crisis on phone manufacturers may be diminishing. It is worth noting that the Covid-19 pandemic was a prosperous period for technology companies, with record-breaking sales, revenues, and profit margins.

    The resurgence in smartphone sales has brought excitement to manufacturers like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei, and many others. While the road to recovery may still be gradual, the recent positive growth in the global smartphone market offers a glimmer of hope for an industry that has been struggling for the past two years.