Nokia Officially Exits the Chinese Smartphone Market: C31 Delisting Marks the End of an Era

Nokia Officially Exits the Chinese Smartphone Market: C31 Delisting Marks the End of an EraOn January 18, 2023, IT Home reported that JD.com, a major Chinese e-commerce platform, has delisted the Nokia C31 from its self-operated flagship store, following HMD Global's official cessation of production for all Nokia-branded smartphones

Nokia Officially Exits the Chinese Smartphone Market: C31 Delisting Marks the End of an Era

On January 18, 2023, IT Home reported that JD.com, a major Chinese e-commerce platform, has delisted the Nokia C31 from its self-operated flagship store, following HMD Global's official cessation of production for all Nokia-branded smartphones. Launched in October 2022 and sold until early January, the C31 became the last Nokia smartphone released by HMD Global in the Chinese market. This marks the official departure of the once globally dominant Nokia smartphones from China.

The delisting of the Nokia C31 wasn't a sudden event but rather the inevitable consequence of HMD Global's strategic adjustments. Nearly seven years have passed since HMD Global launched its first Nokia-branded smartphone, the Nokia 6, in January 2016. These seven years witnessed the ups and downs of the Nokia brand in the smartphone market and the dramatic transformation of the Chinese smartphone market itself. Nokia, once the undisputed king of feature phones, failed to seize the opportunities presented by the early days of smartphones, ultimately missing the chance to become an industry leader. While HMD Global later attempted to regain ground by launching smartphones across various price points, it ultimately failed to achieve its desired market share in the face of intense competition and the rise of domestic Chinese brands.

The discontinuation of the Nokia C31 signifies the official end of HMD Global's smartphone business in China. Although HMD Global stated it will continue selling Nokia-branded feature phones for a period, these phones will carry both "HMD" and "Nokia" branding, unlike the purely "Nokia" branded phones of the past. This signals Nokia's complete withdrawal from the smartphone arena. For many users with fond memories of Nokia, this marks the end of an era.

Looking back at Nokia's journey in the Chinese market reveals both triumph and adversity. Once, Nokia phones held absolute dominance, their durable and reliable quality winning the hearts of countless consumers. However, with the advent of the smartphone era, Nokia failed to adapt to market changes, lagging behind competitors in operating systems and technological innovation, consequently losing market share. Despite HMD Global's efforts to revitalize the brand and launch new products, it couldn't reverse the decline.

It's noteworthy that HMD Global's Nokia brand licensing agreement expires in March 2026. This means that even if HMD Global continues producing and selling Nokia-branded feature phones, it will face the challenge of license renewal in a few years. This foreshadows a gradual weakening of the brand's influence, a brand deeply ingrained in the memories of many.

The delisting of the Nokia C31 is more than just the end of a single phone; it's a farewell to an era and a once-glorious brand. This evokes not only consumer regret but also prompts reflection on the rapid iteration and brutal competitiveness of the tech industry. Even giants can fade from view in the tide of time, a seemingly inevitable law of technological development. For those who used Nokia phones, the C31's discontinuation might evoke memories of the past and spur thoughts about future technological trends. Regardless, Nokia's story in the Chinese market has concluded. In the coming years, we may witness the fall of more giants and the rise of new brands the ever-evolving dynamism of the tech industry.