The Asian handset market may be very attention-grabbing, with a considerably broader vary of units offered within the area than wherever else. You could have the same old 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 units that did not measure as much as their asking value, I did not run into any dangerous telephones as such. The one model that stood out essentially the most to me is Vivo. It delivered actually unbelievable cameras within the X100 Pro and X100 Ultra, and it made heady positive aspects within the mid-range with the V30 Pro and V40 Pro, delivering significantly better sensors.
Clearly, I am not the one one who appreciated the model’s progress, as Vivo managed to increase its lead in each China and India significantly. Vivo is more likely to proceed that momentum in 2025 on the again of the X200 Pro. As a lot as I just like the X200 Professional, I am ready to see what the X200 Extremely brings to the desk. Vivo does not really need to alter a lot with the system, but when it manages to retain the identical set of cameras whereas making the telephone accessible in no less than choose areas outdoors China, will probably be a monumental achievement.
Whereas the V collection is stronger than ever, the upgrades with the V40 Professional pushed it nearer to worth flagships, and Vivo must give attention to the Y collection 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 images because the X collection.
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 collection, and A collection units. Whereas I loved utilizing the Find X8 Pro fairly a bit, I do not assume OPPO has the cachet to steal market share from Apple and Samsung simply but, however its introduction in extra international markets ought to give OPPO a good platform on which to construct. The one concern I’ve with the X8 Professional is that it does 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 precise issues. Though the producer misplaced market share in 2024, its system portfolio is stronger than ever, and the upcoming international launch of the OnePlus 13 ought to permit the model to tackle Samsung and Google. What I like is that the R collection can also be offered globally, and with the OnePlus 12R nonetheless probably the greatest mid-rangers accessible at present, I am intrigued to see what the 13R can ship. I simply need to see the system 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 units just like the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus. In doing so, Xiaomi is successfully ceding floor to its rivals, and that is one of many the explanation why it’s now not within the high place in India. The model must rethink its technique and return to delivering funds telephones with sturdy worth — that simply hasn’t been the case within the final two years. Actually, Xiaomi must do an overhaul of its units, and rethink its technique. That is the one manner it may well retain its footing towards its rivals, however I do not see the model doing so in 2025.
I actually like what Honor is doing as of late; the Magic 6 Pro and Magic V3 are two of my finest telephones of the yr — with the latter being one of many best foldables round — and the model is taking a radically totally different technique to everybody else, positioning itself as a premium participant to face out. Whereas that won’t yield market share, Honor actually takes up a whole lot of thoughts share, and with the model regaining its foothold in India, 2025 must be a pivotal yr for its international ambitions. The Magic 7 Professional is launching shortly, and I might prefer to see the system 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 degree as Vivo.
I normally flip to a Pixel as my day by day driver, and that hasn’t modified in 2024. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a worthy improve, and whereas it prices extra, it has significant adjustments throughout the board and takes good images. The one concern with the system is that the {hardware} is not on par with its rivals, though that will change in 2025. Google is ready to modify away from Samsung’s designs and go together with MediaTek, which signifies that the Pixel 10 must be noticeably higher on this regard. The largest factor that Google wants to alter with the Pixel 10 is the inner {hardware}; the Tensor platform could also be good in mid-rangers, nevertheless it simply does not measure up towards what Qualcomm and MediaTek are doing within the high-end class, and Google must do higher. The most recent leaks level to the model doing simply that with the Tensor G5, however I need to get my palms on the system to see the way it really holds up.
As for Samsung, the model misplaced floor in India and different Asian markets this yr, and that is down to its own shortcomings. Whereas it constructed up an early lead in foldables, the dearth of any significant innovation has allowed Chinese language manufacturers to eat into its market share, and Samsung is dropping floor within the mid-range as nicely. What’s attention-grabbing is that the model is positioning the FE units as its value-focused fashions in main areas just like the U.S. as a substitute of conventional bestsellers just like the Galaxy A55, and I do not assume that is the very best transfer. Whereas high-end units 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 units 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 units, 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 all the time factor.
