Fierce Market Competition Among Android Smartphone Manufacturers in China: An In-depth Analysis of the Number of Active Models from the Top Five Domestic Brands in 2024

Fierce Market Competition Among Android Smartphone Manufacturers in China: An In-depth Analysis of the Number of Active Models from the Top Five Domestic Brands in 2024The Android and Apple iOS ecosystems exhibit significant differences in product strategies. Apple typically releases a small number of models each year, maintaining a relatively low number of active models

Fierce Market Competition Among Android Smartphone Manufacturers in China: An In-depth Analysis of the Number of Active Models from the Top Five Domestic Brands in 2024

The Android and Apple iOS ecosystems exhibit significant differences in product strategies. Apple typically releases a small number of models each year, maintaining a relatively low number of active models. In contrast, Android manufacturers generally employ a "sea of models" strategy, releasing numerous models annually, resulting in a vast number of active models. This article delves into the number of active models in 2024 for the top five Chinese Android smartphone brands vivo, iQOO, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor and interprets this phenomenon. Data is sourced from industry insider "RD Observation."

vivo and iQOO: Extensive Product Lines

vivo boasted a staggering 41 active models in 2024, spanning the Y series (10 older + 8 newer models), X series (7 models), foldable series (4 + 1 vertical folding model), and S series (11 models). Its sub-brand, iQOO, also maintains a large product line with 21 active models, including the iQOO numbered series (4 models), Neo series (9 models), and Z series (8 models). Together, vivo and iQOO account for a significant portion of the total number of active Android models from Chinese manufacturers, reaching an impressive 62 models. This strategy aims to cover a wider range of market segments, catering to diverse consumer needs and budgets.

Huawei: Maintaining Stability While Still Significant

Huawei had 35 active models in 2024, slightly fewer than vivo and Xiaomi, but still a considerable number. Its product line encompasses the Mate series (8 models), Mate X series (4 models), P and Pura series (6 models), nova series (10 models), and Pocket series (1 model). Leveraging its strength in the high-end market and accumulated technology, Huawei strives to offer competitive products across various price points while maintaining a controlled product portfolio.

Xiaomi: Multiple Series Covering the Entire Price Spectrum

Xiaomi had 42 active models in 2024, comparable to vivo. Its product line is incredibly diverse, including the numbered series (7 models), vertical folding screen (1 model), large horizontal folding screen (2 models), Civi series (2 models), Redmi K series (9 models), Note series (14 models), Turbo series (1 model), and Redmi numbered series (6 models). Xiaomi's multi-series strategy covers the entire price range, from entry-level to high-end flagships, attempting to satisfy the diverse needs of various consumers. While this increases product line complexity, it also provides a strong competitive advantage.

Honor: Targeting Multiple Market Niches

Honor had 38 active models in 2024, a figure close to Huawei and OPPO. Its product line includes the Magic series (9 models), Magic V series (4 models), vertical folding screen (1 model), numbered series (9 models), GT series (2 models), V Purse series (1 model), X series (7 models), Play series (1 model), and Play series (4 models). Honor employs a market segmentation strategy, launching products aimed at specific user groups, such as the performance-focused GT series and the cost-effective Play series.

OPPO and OnePlus: Synergistic Development, Covering Diverse User Groups

OPPO had 35 active models in 2024, with its product line including the Find N series (1 model), vertical folding screen (1 model), horizontal folding screen (1 model), Find X series (6 models), Reno series (9 models), and K series (6 models). Its sub-brand, OnePlus, had 11 active models, comprising the numbered series (2 models) and Ace series (9 models). The synergistic development of OPPO and OnePlus allows them to cater to a broader user base, offering choices from high-end flagships to cost-effective models.

realme: The Rising Star Demonstrates Competitive Strength

Of note, the second-tier brand realme surprisingly had 27 active models in 2024, showcasing its strong market competitiveness. Its product line includes the numbered series (11 models), GT series (4 models), V series (7 models), and Neo series (5 models). realme's rapid growth highlights the intense competition in the Android smartphone market, where new players can quickly emerge and secure a foothold.

The Relationship Between Multi-Year Sales and the Number of Active Models

It's important to note that the number of active models doesn't entirely equate to the number of models released in a given year. Many models are sold across multiple years; for example, the Xiaomi 14 series was sold for over two years. This partly explains the large number of active models for Android manufacturers.

Conclusion

Analysis of the number of active models from the top five Chinese Android smartphone brands in 2024 reveals the widespread adoption of the "sea of models" strategy by Android manufacturers to cover a broader range of market segments and meet diverse consumer demands. While this strategy leads to extensive product lines and increased management complexity, it provides a significant competitive advantage. Each brand's product strategy has a different focus: Huawei emphasizes the high-end, Xiaomi covers all price points, and vivo and OPPO expand their market through multi-brand strategies. realme's rapid rise foreshadows even fiercer competition in the Android market. The challenge for Android manufacturers will be finding a balance between the "sea of models" approach and product streamlining.