CHINESE SMARTPHONE BRANDS
OnePlus names Robin Liu as India CEO
The smartphone maker also reappointed Ramagopala Reddy as vice president for India region. He will be spearheading product strategy efforts. The reshuffle also saw Samrudh Pai, head of retail expansion, move on from the company.
Foxconn’s Bharat FIH is facing turbulence due to top-level exits
Foxconn group company Bharat FIH is in a rough spot, with three of its independent directors having exited its board in the past three months. Interglobe Aviation chairman Venkataramani Sumantran, Sify Technologies cofounder Ramaraj R and former IT and telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan have resigned. Sources cited the company’s lack of direction as the main reason for the resignations.
Bharat FIH plans factory reset on board, order woes
Foxconn group's Bharat FIH is facing challenges as it loses key directors and considers closing its Sri City facility due to reduced orders from Xiaomi, its main client. The company's dependence on Xiaomi has led to a decline, with industry watchers noting a lack of diversification. Bharat FIH struggles to pivot to other sectors and compete with PLI benefits offered to competitors like Dixon.
Should you be rushing to pick up the latest AI smartphone?
Samsung leads the smartphone industry with cutting-edge genAI features, while Apple introduces the groundbreaking Apple Intelligence. Sundar Pichai unveils the innovative Gemini AI assistant, and Craig Federighi presents Apple Intelligence, reshaping the future of smart devices with powerful generative models.
Apple's iPhone shipments in China surge 40% in May amid aggressive discounting
Shipments of foreign-branded phones in China increased by 1.425 million in May to 5.028 million units from 3.603 million a year earlier，calculations based on the data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) showed.
Apple supplier Foxconn rejects married women from India iPhone jobs
A former human-resources executive at Foxconn India said the company's executives verbally convey the recruitment rules to its Indian hiring agencies, which Foxconn tasks with scouting for candidates, bringing them in for interviews and employing them.
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Polls and weather take a toll on smartphone sales in June quarter
The smartphone market in the June quarter is likely to be tepid due to the impact of elections, heatwaves, and floods, leading some market experts to lower their growth outlook for 2024 smartphone shipments. Analysts expect a slowdown in Q2 shipments compared to Q1 due to fewer launches and adverse weather conditions. Counterpoint Research forecasts a 3-5% decline in Q2 shipments, with a revised annual forecast of 152 million units, reflecting a 3% year-on-year growth, down from the initial 5% growth prediction.
Spoilt for choice: How changing consumer preferences & tech advancements driving upgrades in electronics and car
Hyundai Motor India introduced the third upgrade to its flagship SUV, Creta, in January, followed by the performance-focused Creta N Line variant in March. Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone in yellow color. Kia India's senior VP highlighted the reduced product life cycles in the automotive industry.
Online phone sales pick up in April, may hot up in summer
Online smartphone sales surged in April after a dip in Q1 2024, driven by Chinese brands shifting focus to online channels, as reported by Counterpoint Research.
Heatwave: How to protect your smartphones in extreme heat environment
Amid soaring temperatures, smartphone users must protect their devices from overheating. Brands like Apple and Samsung recommend temperatures up to 35°C; Xiaomi claims up to 40°C. Tips include avoiding sunlight, using thermal cases, updating software, and monitoring temperature to prevent slowdowns and battery damage. These precautions are crucial to maintain smartphone performance and safety during the heatwave.
Vivo set to open ₹3,000-cr India facility in July
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo is set to inaugurate one of India's largest mobile phone manufacturing facilities next month, with an annual capacity of 120 million devices. The facility is being set up with an investment of over ₹3,000 crore.
Industry executives a worried lot: Why India-China tensions are equal to a big headache for electronics makers
Indian electronics manufacturers have suffered $15 billion in production losses and 100,000 job cuts due to escalating tensions with China. Visa delays for Chinese executives are hindering the industry's expansion plans, leading to a $10 billion export opportunity loss and $2 billion in value addition loss. Government probes into Chinese companies operating in India have further impacted the sector.
Chinese smartphone brands drive AI proliferation in 2024, led by Oppo
The second half of 2024 will see a surge in generative AI use in smartphones, spearheaded by Chinese brands like Oppo, Nothing, and Vivo. Analysts predict more AI features in lower-priced models, expanding beyond premium flagships. Oppo leads with over 100 AI capabilities and 5,399 AI patents. With AI phones projected to make up 11% of the global market, the segment will see significant growth, particularly in sub-$1000 models, driven by aggressive innovation from Chinese manufacturers.
Will Apple's folding iPhone create havoc in market? Expectations of tech geeks raised high. Details here
Apple iPhone has been leading the world market for a significantly long time, with the iPhone 15 being one of the bestsellers in the global market in the previous years. However, the folding iPhone is expected to break all records, according to research companies.
Vivo to take on Samsung with locally-made foldable launch
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo is set to launch its first foldable smartphone, XFold3 Pro, aiming to penetrate the premium segment and compete with Samsung and Apple by offering an enhanced user experience. Assembled in India with local materials, the device will hit shelves in early July. It will be priced above Rs 1 lakh, as Vivo looks to expand its market share and cater to discerning customers seeking trust and innovation in their smartphone choices.
Local smartphone maker Lava rejigs board
Lava International has restructured its board, elevated leadership members, and added two independent directors. The move follows co-founder Hari Om Rai's resignation from the board following the Vivo money laundering case. The company plans to raise Rs 500-600 crore in the next fiscal, aiming to challenge Chinese domination in the smartphone market.
Smartphone Co HTech plans to raise $100 million to diversify operations
"We've already ploughed in $10 million into the business and are now looking to raise another $100 million, of which $20 million will be raised in the next six months," Madhav Sheth, chief executive officer of HTech, told ET. The smartphone player will be looking to dilute equity in the company - in which Sheth is now a majority shareholder - to raise the funds. "When you are doing something for the first time, having an equity partner will ensure the scale of growth is much faster," the executive said.
Dixon ropes in Realme, plans to manufacture display modules for mobile phones: MD
Dixon Technologies, an Indian contract manufacturer, has secured Realme, a Chinese smartphone brand, as a new client. They intend to commence production of display modules for mobile phones, tablets, and notebooks, with a targeted capital expenditure of $30 million, excluding costs related to land and buildings.
Chinese smartphone companies looking to expand their footprint face a loud adversary—Indian retailers
Chinese smartphone brands face retailer backlash in India over low margins, delayed payments, and stock issues. Retailers demand higher margins and timely settlements, impacting brands' offline expansion plans in a shifting smartphone market.
For phones, Indians think China again
Chinese smartphone brands, including Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, Transsion, and Motorola, have seen their cumulative market share rise to 75% in the March quarter, despite government scrutiny. This growth is attributed to a shipment rebound by top brands like Xiaomi and Vivo after a few tepid quarters in 2023 due to low demand and inventory bottlenecks. Smaller brands like Motorola and Transsion have also expanded their footprint in the market.
Chinese smartphones rely on Reliance counters for better India presence
Chinese smartphone firms are increasingly relying on Reliance Retail's distribution arm to reach stores in the hinterlands due to a slowdown in online sales. Xiaomi's sub-brand Poco has forged a strategic partnership with Jio Mart Digital to distribute its devices to around 80,000 retail stores across the country. This comes as offline retail channels accounted for 61% of sales in the first quarter of 2024, up from 56% in the previous three-month period. Xiaomi and Transsion saw the fastest growth in the quarter to March.
OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi and other top Chinese smartphone brands are testing GenAI waters on their flagship devices
"By collaborating with Google to integrate both Gemini and Google Cloud AI into smartphones, and by forming alliances with other industry pioneers for a variety of AI experiences, we are thrilled to ambitiously broaden the scope of mobile AI innovations," said Nicole Zhang, general manager of AI product for OPPO and OnePlus.
Oppo, Realme and OnePlus to have separate sales operations
China's BBK Group, the largest smartphone manufacturer, is breaking its sales structure for three brands, Oppo, Realme, and OnePlus, to de-risk the business under increased government scrutiny. The plan is to allow individual brands to have their own sales and marketing teams, ensuring they are not clubbed together in case of further government action.
Foldable phone shipments expected to double in 2024; Chinese brands challenge Samsung's dominance
Shipments of super premium foldable phones are expected to double in 2024, with new Chinese players entering the market to challenge Samsung's dominance. Samsung's market share decreased to 83% in 2023, with Motorola, Oppo, and OnePlus also in the foldable smartphone competition. Chinese brands are focusing on innovation and pricing strategies to compete with Samsung's established presence in the market.
Smartphone market's long tail may grow longer in '24
According to Counterpoint Research, Google Pixel smartphones grew their market share in India by 111% on year in 2023 while Lava grew its share by 36%, Transsion by 31%, OnePlus by 33%, and Motorola by 13%. Apple iPhone sales increased 46% last year to reach a record 10 million units.
Samsung India nears another milestone in smartphone business
The company accelerated sales spurred by premiumisation with average handset selling prices rising by 22%, higher than the industry average of 17%. The share of no-cost EMI purchases has also increased from 54% to 60% during the year, said Akshay Rao, mobile experience business general manager at Samsung India. Tenure for no-cost EMI schemes too rose to 18 months from 12 months earlier.
Chinese handset companies in a fix over leadership hiring in India
While the Indian government is nudging these brands to add local executives in top decision-making leadership roles, many are apprehensive to come on board due to the limelight and scrutiny that comes along with the job in a Chinese company. Officials aware of the details told ET that the government is hopeful that Chinese brands will soon hire local talent for key leadership roles in their Indian operations, like what they did for distribution and marketing.
Smartphone makers turn wary of calling Chinese execs to India
Smartphone manufacturers in India exercise caution in calling for Chinese nationals due to recent arrests and geopolitical tensions. Indian government is cautious in issuing visas. Trust deficit among Chinese component makers. Chinese brands ousted Indian smartphone companies. Government aims to prevent entry-level work in distribution and marketing from being ceded to Chinese nationals. Indian talent base for such roles.
Dial M for margins: Chinese phone companies offer higher share to retailers
Since last year, Chinese brands, especially Xiaomi and Realme, have been focusing on offline retail, which is more conducive for selling premium products and supporting their push towards expanding into appliances and other Internet of Things products. "Higher margins will encourage retailers to take time educating customers about the brand and products," said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.
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