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Plastic iPhone appears key to emerging markets as iPhone falls to 7th place in China

New figures from analysts Canalys show that the iPhone fell from 5th to 7th place in its Chinese market share in the last quarter, being overtaken by local companies Huawei and Xiaomi. Apple now has 4.8 percent of the smartphone market in China … 

The news appears to underline the rationale behind Apple’s plastic iPhone. While Apple would never have the desire to compete at the budget end of the market – Xiaomi’s latest Hongmi handset is priced at just $130 – China’s emerging middle class offers a key target for what is expected to be a mid-market product.

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Comments

  1. RP - 11 years ago

    An iphone 5c is equivalent is two years past due, but its good to it finally appear. Good for margins, emerging markets and absolutely necessary here as the entry level device. Selling past models as entry level devices was always nuts.

    • PMZanetti - 11 years ago

      No, it wasn’t. It was never “nuts”. It was never anything but wildly successful. Refer to the numbers.

      However, the 5C is indeed an even better idea, and yes it will fly high in the US and abroad.

  2. rettun1 - 11 years ago

    Everyone in china probably knows that the big wireless company, and the people who want an iPhone probably know to wait. That’s why they’re holding off maybe

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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