The Asian handset market could be very attention-grabbing, with a considerably broader vary of gadgets offered within the area than anyplace else. You will have the standard Chinese language contingent of Vivo, OPPO, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Honor dominating gross sales, however Samsung and Google additionally promote most of their merchandise in Asian markets, and Apple is slowly constructing momentum with the iPhone.
I used over 70 telephones over the course of 2024, and whereas there have been gadgets that did not measure as much as their asking worth, I did not run into any dangerous telephones as such. The one model that stood out probably the most to me is Vivo. It delivered really unimaginable cameras within the X100 Professional and X100 Extremely, and it made heady positive factors within the mid-range with the V30 Professional and V40 Professional, delivering a lot better sensors.
Clearly, I am not the one one who preferred the model’s progress, as Vivo managed to increase its lead in each China and India significantly. Vivo is prone to proceed that momentum in 2025 on the again of the X200 Professional. As a lot as I just like the X200 Professional, I am ready to see what the X200 Extremely brings to the desk. Vivo would not really need to vary a lot with the machine, but when it manages to retain the identical set of cameras whereas making the cellphone out there in at the very least choose areas outdoors China, will probably be a monumental achievement.
Whereas the V sequence is stronger than ever, the upgrades with the V40 Professional pushed it nearer to worth flagships, and Vivo must concentrate on the Y sequence to keep up its mid-range presence. I am excited to see what’s in retailer with the V50 and V50 Professional, and whether or not they can ship the identical caliber of pictures because the X sequence.
Though OPPO misplaced floor in China, it solidified its place because the second-largest handset model in India on the again of the Reno 12, Ok sequence, and A sequence gadgets. Whereas I loved utilizing the Discover X8 Professional fairly a bit, I do not suppose OPPO has the cachet to steal market share from Apple and Samsung simply but, however its introduction in further world markets ought to give OPPO a good platform on which to construct. The one subject I’ve with the X8 Professional is that it would not have the very best cameras the model makes, and that can inevitably debut on the X8 Extremely someday in Q2 2025. Similar to with Vivo, the X8 Extremely must launch globally to make the cameras accessible by a wider viewers.
OnePlus, in the meantime, is doing all the best issues. Though the producer misplaced market share in 2024, its machine portfolio is stronger than ever, and the upcoming world launch of the OnePlus 13 ought to enable the model to tackle Samsung and Google. What I like is that the R sequence can also be offered globally, and with the OnePlus 12R nonetheless probably the greatest mid-rangers out there as we speak, I am intrigued to see what the 13R can ship. I simply need to see the machine proceed to ship the identical value-focused ethos, and with the producer confirming a class-leading 6000mAh battery, it has the potential to do extremely nicely.
Xiaomi continues to do nicely due to its budget-focused portfolio, however that narrative has modified in recent times because it shifted to the mid-range with gadgets just like the Redmi Observe 14 Professional Plus. In doing so, Xiaomi is successfully ceding floor to its rivals, and that is one of many the explanation why it’s not within the prime place in India. The model must rethink its technique and return to delivering finances telephones with sturdy worth — that simply hasn’t been the case within the final two years. Actually, Xiaomi must do an overhaul of its gadgets, and rethink its technique. That is the one means it may possibly retain its footing towards its rivals, however I do not see the model doing so in 2025.
I actually like what Honor is doing today; the Magic 6 Professional and Magic V3 are two of my finest telephones of the 12 months — with the latter being one of many finest foldables round — and the model is taking a radically completely different technique to everybody else, positioning itself as a premium participant to face out. Whereas that won’t yield market share, Honor definitely takes up numerous thoughts share, and with the model regaining its foothold in India, 2025 ought to be a pivotal 12 months for its world ambitions. The Magic 7 Professional is launching shortly, and I would prefer to see the machine delivering higher cameras; whereas the 6 Professional was nice in its personal proper, it did not fairly measure as much as the X100 Professional, and Honor must be on the identical stage as Vivo.
I often flip to a Pixel as my every day driver, and that hasn’t modified in 2024. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is a worthy improve, and whereas it prices extra, it has significant modifications throughout the board and takes sensible pictures. The one subject with the machine is that the {hardware} is not on par with its rivals, though which will change in 2025. Google is about to modify away from Samsung’s designs and go along with MediaTek, which implies that the Pixel 10 ought to be noticeably higher on this regard. The largest factor that Google wants to vary with the Pixel 10 is the interior {hardware}; the Tensor platform could also be good in mid-rangers, however it simply would not measure up towards what Qualcomm and MediaTek are doing within the high-end class, and Google must do higher. The newest leaks level to the model doing simply that with the Tensor G5, however I need to get my fingers on the machine to see the way it truly holds up.
As for Samsung, the model misplaced floor in India and different Asian markets this 12 months, and that is right down to its personal shortcomings. Whereas it constructed up an early lead in foldables, the shortage of any significant innovation has allowed Chinese language manufacturers to eat into its market share, and Samsung is shedding floor within the mid-range as nicely. What’s attention-grabbing is that the model is positioning the FE gadgets as its value-focused fashions in main areas just like the U.S. as an alternative of conventional bestsellers just like the Galaxy A55, and I do not suppose that is the very best transfer. Whereas high-end gadgets contribute to Samsung’s backside line, it is the mid-range the place the model sees a bulk of its gross sales, and it must carry its finest gadgets to all areas.
Like a lot of the final decade, value-focused telephones will dominate gross sales in 2025, however there’s a rising demand for mid-range and even high-end gadgets, and that is encouraging to see. With all main producers introducing their merchandise sooner than earlier than, we do not have to attend as lengthy to see what’s in retailer with the very best 2025 telephones, and that is at all times an excellent factor.
