Top 10 Best Chinese Smartphone Brands Today

Huawei is a telecommunications and electronics company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Huawei ventured into the mobile phone business in 2003 and produced its first phone, the Huawei C300, in 2004. The company's mobile phone division was one of the first to use Google's Android operating system. In 2012, the company's first Android-powered smartphone, the Huawei U8220, was unveiled at the annual Mobile World Congress technology event. Collaborating with Google, the company launched the Huawei Nexus 6P in 2015.

Huawei is the largest smartphone manufacturer in China and the second largest in the world, behind only South Korea's Samsung. Huawei mobile phones are widely popular, not only in China but also in developing and developed countries. Huawei phones have been so popular that the only company they've been compared to is Samsung, the world's largest company. In 2020, the company achieved this by shipping more phones than Samsung in the second quarter. Over the years, the company has released hundreds of phones under various brand identities, including Ascend, GR series, T series, etc. Most of these have been discontinued.

Huawei has deployed its products and services in more than 170 countries and regions. The Huawei P-series of phones is very similar to Samsung's Galaxy S series. The P series represents the best of the brand when it comes to smartphone consumers in general. Unless you have very specific user needs or are looking for a device geared more towards business, a P series phone is likely designed for you. If the P series is similar to the Galaxy S series, then the Mate series is like the Galaxy Note series. These are Huawei's most powerful, innovative, and expensive smartphones. The Nova series caters specifically to young photo enthusiasts, with the Nova 9 featuring a quad-camera system with a fairly powerful main sensor.

Website: https://www.huawei.com/

Vivo was founded in 2009, originally only selling its phones in China. However, in 2014, as the company expanded its operations to several countries, mainly in South Asia. The brand released its first smartphone in Europe in 2020 and is currently selling its devices in some countries on this continent including the UK, France, Italy, and Spain. The company also has a presence in some non-Asia-Europe countries, specifically Colombia, Chile, and Australia. Vivo is also associated with the BBK Electronics technology conglomerate.

The flagship smartphone line of Vivo is the X series, with mobile phone models like the Vivo X60. These phones have the highest technical specifications but are usually priced in the mid-range. They often come with camera improvements such as a physical gimbal sensor on the main camera to enhance optical image stabilization. Additionally, Vivo has the Y series of phones, such as the Y70 and Y20, which are reliable and affordable smartphones. There are also the S and V series that Vivo has been selling in China for a long time.

Vivo manufactures many other phones that are not sold in all countries. Notable among these is the iQOO, a line specifically for high performance, primarily for gaming, although it has gradually introduced more models for the global market since its inception. One factor that sets Vivo apart from other new Chinese phone companies is that it sells its mobile phones through carriers. In addition to its smartphone lineup, Vivo also sells audio devices like the Vivo TWS Neo earbuds, designed for use with the company's phones.

Website: https://www.vivo.com/

OPPO is a Chinese consumer electronics company headquartered in Dongguan, Guangdong, a part of the giant multinational conglomerate BBK Electronics. Oppo is widely known in the smartphone market for producing the thinnest Android smartphones, closely following Huawei in smartphone market share and being one of the best-selling smartphone brands in China. OPPO is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, with a variety of smartphone models at different price points to appeal to various buyers.

OPPO was founded in 2004, with its initial products focusing on the audio equipment market. The company continued to have a finger in the audio pie and home theaters. In 2008, Oppo introduced its first mobile phone, a unique device with a smiley face on the back. This was followed by the company's first smartphone in 2011. The brand has continued to grow since then, now selling products in about 40 different countries worldwide.

Similar to OnePlus and Vivo, OPPO also has ties to the BBK Electronics technology conglomerate, and we often see OPPO releasing products very similar to OnePlus' offerings. In most countries, OPPO sells handheld devices under three main lines: budget phones, mid-range phones, and high-end flagship devices. OPPO has the premium Find mobile phone line with models like the Pro, Neo, and Lite, phones with top-of-the-line screen specifications, Sony's dedicated camera sensors, and usually high prices. Next is the mid-range Reno smartphone line, taking the specifications and features of the Find X line but in more affordable handset bodies. Lastly, there's the OPPO A series phones with fairly sized screens, decent battery life, and low prices.

Website: https://www.oppo.com/

OnePlus is a smartphone brand with a passionate fan base, lively online communities on tech forums. OnePlus was founded in late 2013, with the company releasing its first phone, the OnePlus One, in early 2014. The brand quickly expanded, launching in new regions in 2014 and subsequently releasing new phones every year. Part of the reason behind OnePlus' rapidly increasing popularity is the 'invite' system to purchase OnePlus smartphones, where you have to sign up to receive an invite to buy the phone.

Along with Oppo, Vivo, and Realme, OnePlus is owned by the BBK Electronics technology conglomerate. That's why OnePlus has access to Oppo's various infrastructure. This has helped OnePlus create cost-effective products because they don't need to invest fully in their own R&D, manufacturing facilities, etc. OnePlus' flagship phones are numbered: for example, OnePlus 7 and 8. In recent years, OnePlus phones have had 'Pro' versions alongside the standard models, allowing the brand to cater to premium, mid-range, and standard markets upon release.

Today, the OnePlus brand is becoming increasingly renowned as a global giant in the smartphone industry. In 2020, OnePlus launched the OnePlus Nord smartphone line. These are mid-range devices, aimed at capturing the market segment that the OnePlus brand once held. In addition to its smartphones, OnePlus also manufactures wireless earphones, such as Bullets Wireless and Buds. They are designed to be used with OnePlus phones and are usually quite affordable.

Website: https://www.oneplus.com/

Lenovo is an experienced brand in the smartphone industry. The brand has produced some powerful mobile devices with advanced processors and reasonable price screens. Overseas, Lenovo phones are not popular and are often hard to find. Lenovo is gradually improving its smartphone lineup with the acquisition of Motorola. One of Lenovo's main advantages is that their phones often have lower prices than phones from brands like LG, Samsung, and Google with equivalent specifications.

Lenovo has actively pursued a strategy to replace Samsung as mainland China's leading smartphone manufacturer. They spent $793.5 million in Wuhan to build a factory capable of producing 30 to 40 million phones per year. Data from Analysis International shows that Lenovo's smartphone sales in China grew significantly in 2012. Lenovo smartphones are sold in the market under the name 'LePhone' in mainland China and 'IdeaPhone' overseas.

LePhone is offered at relatively low prices and is customized for the Chinese market. LePhone benefits from strong support from Chinese mobile networks and content providers such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent. Lenovo smartphones are top-of-the-line devices in the industry. Whether you want the best camera experience or the longest talk time, Lenovo has a smartphone that will enhance your life. They feature powerful multi-core processors, access to the latest apps through Android, and unparalleled display technology.

Website: https://www.lenovo.com/

Coolpad is a Chinese telecommunications company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Coolpad is one of the largest smartphone companies from China. Coolpad is known for producing affordable yet high-quality smartphones, utilizing sophisticated technology. Coolpad was the first smartphone brand to use 'dual-mode' technology, allowing users to own two phone numbers on the same device.

Coolpad initially was the smartphone brand of Yulong. Coolpad has established itself as one of the leading smartphone brands in China with a range of quality smartphones. Coolpad supplied Metro PCS, now Metro by T-Mobile, with its first 4G LTE device in 2012. Over the following years, Coolpad introduced phones on both prepaid and postpaid packages for T-Mobile as well as Cricket. Coolpad currently competes with other domestic brands like Lenovo, Huawei, and ZTE.

Those unwilling to spend a large amount on a top-tier flagship phone may consider a Coolpad smartphone. While the specifications may not be as high-quality as the latest iPhones or Galaxies, Coolpad phones are still good options for many users as Coolpad emphasizes style and design. Coolpad smartphones come with numerous sensors to enhance the user experience.

Website: https://www.coolpad.com/

Xiaomi was established in 2010, releasing its first smartphone in 2011: the Xiaomi Mi 1. The brand's Redmi line began in 2013, with the Pocophone following in 2018. Xiaomi's gaming smartphone subsidiary, Black Shark, was also first seen that year, and both Black Shark and Redmi are owned by Xiaomi, both companies strongly downplaying the connection. Xiaomi started selling its phones in Australia in 2014 and in the United Kingdom in 2018.

The Xiaomi Mi smartphone line is the company's flagship product, featuring high specifications and new camera advancements. Additionally, the Xiaomi brand tends to release 'Lite' and higher-end versions of their main phone model. The Pocophone is Xiaomi's latest handheld device line and is often classified as 'high-end budget devices.' They boast impressive specs with a high refresh rate screen at a lower cost. The Redmi Note, much like the Pocophone, is known for providing top-notch specs at a low price. The Redmi A series introduces super affordable phones for those who don't need top-notch specs and just want a cheap device.

Xiaomi also brings many non-smartphone products to market, including the Mi Pad tablet line, Mi NoteBook laptops. These product lines are not sold in all regions. For wearable devices, the company has the Xiaomi Mi Band product line featuring affordable fitness trackers and the Mi Watch smartwatch collection, the latter of which was only introduced in 2020.

Website: https://www.mi.com/

ZTE is a global company in the telecommunications industry. It has been around since 1985, not only producing phones but ZTE also has its core business in telecommunications, not consumer hardware. It actually has a network of towers providing phone and internet services in China. ZTE is one of the pioneers of 5G networks. ZTE ranks as the world's fourth-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with its phones sold to over 160 countries and regions worldwide. Its premium smartphones have a notable market share in the Western world.

ZTE is reputed to be a company that brings some of the most interesting smartphones to the market. Many of ZTE's devices come with unique features, quirky designs, or tools that make it a brand worth watching in the smartphone market. For example, the company's Axon 20 is the first phone with an under-display selfie camera. Its Nubia Z20 features a display on the back of the device as well as on the front.

The company's most notable subsidiary brand is Nubia, established in 2012. The Nubia Red Magic is the most advanced model as it has 5G connectivity capability. The Nubia Red Magic features an AMOLED touch screen. The phone uses 256GB for storage with 8GB of RAM. ZTE is a good Android-running phone brand. However, ZTE phones pale in comparison to the quality of Samsung and Apple. It also can't compete with Huawei. ZTE is best sold in the market for simple business use. It cannot be sold in the market for children as it lacks the durability and reliability of other major brands.

Website: https://www.zte.com.cn/

Meizu is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer from Chu Hai, Guangdong Province, China. The company was established in 2003, and their main products are smartphones and MP3 players. They design and produce smartphones that provide a simple and intuitive mobile experience for customers. The Meizu MX series is the company's star product and also one of the best-selling smartphones in China. The company has its own operating system called Flyme.

The main focus of Meizu is to develop innovative and user-friendly smartphones for customers. The company has established around 600 retail stores and has a presence in many international markets. The key features of Meizu phones are light, comfortable design, best sound quality, simple user interface, and high-resolution camera. The company expanded into the smartphone market in 2008 and has committed to developing premium smartphones. Due to their excellent technology in products, Meizu is considered one of the leading smartphone brands in China.

Meizu has some standout models such as the Meizu 16s Pro, which is the company's flagship produced in 2019 and provides everything you expect from a premium phone, such as a powerful processing package supported by ample RAM and storage as well as a good battery. Meizu also has some great mid-range devices in its smartphone lineup like the Meizu 116Xs. The Meizu 116Xs features a gorgeous Super AMOLED display, a good camera, and impressive battery life, however, the 16Xs is slightly cheaper than most competing rivals in terms of features.

Website: https://www.meizu.com/

Based in Shenzhen, China, Tecno Mobile is a Chinese mobile phone manufacturer. Established in 2006, it is a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings. Primarily operating in Africa and South Asia, it also has a massive market in Latin America. In 2016, Tecno Mobile entered the Middle East and achieved remarkable success in the region. Tecno Mobile is present in over 60 emerging markets worldwide. Tecno Mobile sells most of its smartphones through e-commerce channels, including its own platform.

Smartphones were previously seen as devices for the wealthy due to their premium prices. However, this is no longer a barrier as now one can own a smartphone for as low as $66. Tecno has helped many people fulfill their dreams of owning a smartphone. Tecno stormed the market in 2012 with their first smartphone, the T1, a dual-SIM phone running on the Android operating system. Since then, Tecno has produced a series of smartphones all running on the Android operating system with dual-SIM functionality.

The latest smartphone from Tecno is the Tecno Phantom A2, a dual-SIM smartphone running on Android 4.2. Tecno smartphones are quite affordable compared to equivalents from other manufacturers. For example, the Tecno A2 offers similar features to the Samsung Galaxy S4 at only about 40% of the price of this smartphone. Tecno smartphones come with two SIMs, and both can be on standby mode. This feature helps you save the burden of spending extra money to buy another phone if you have two SIM cards.

Website: https://www.tecno-mobile.com/