News
OPPO still tops market share in China, rivals quickly catching up
There’s a fierce competition going on right now in China for smartphone market share dominance. OPPO is currently leading the pack, but Chinese rivals are breathing down their necks.
Counterpoint’s latest monitoring report reveals an 18.9 percent shipment market share for OPPO in the third quarter of 2017. That’s a significant increase from the 16.5 percent during the same period last year, but other brands are doing just as well.
Huawei and Vivo are in a virtual tie for second, and any slight shift could mean either of them could overtaking OPPO for the top spot. The two Chinese tech giants have covered lots of ground since their showing last year; Huawei, in particular, gained a 3.7 percent year-on-year growth.
Xiaomi also had a strong third year thus far, posting a 13.8 percent shipment share, which is way above last year’s 10.3 percent and enough to keep Apple away from the top four.
Counterpoint claims that the R11 was the best-selling phone of the quarter, helping OPPO propel itself past the competition. Although Huawei doesn’t have a clear money maker, their balanced offering across all price points has been beneficial for them.
Xiaomi’s strong performance, on the other hand, was boosted by high demand for both their lower-end Redmi 4 series and higher-end Mi 6 flagship. Their renewed presence in offline channels also created a solid impact.
The graph for shipment growth above proves how important the US$ 300 to US$ 399 segment is becoming. This is where OPPO, Vivo, and Huawei flourish the most, and is also the reason why Apple is having a difficult time raising its market share in China.
This could all change once the more premium handsets, such as the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Apple iPhone X, begin rolling out across Asia. Consumer spending would also rise in the final quarter of 2017 once the holidays trickle in.
SEE ALSO: Samsung, Xiaomi remain on top of smartphone race in India
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vivo has officially announced the global launch of the X300 Ultra, marking the first international debut of its top-tier imaging flagship.
The device introduces the ZEISS Master Lenses Collection, featuring triple prime focal lengths at 14mm, 35mm, and 85mm. It supports up to 200MP output across key focal lengths and can extend reach to 200mm and 400mm using optional telephoto extenders.
A 200MP 85mm telephoto camera with gimbal-level stabilization and 60fps AF tracking enables detailed long-range shots. Meanwhile, the 35mm camera uses a large Sony LYTIA sensor for natural perspective and improved low-light performance.
For video, the X300 Ultra supports multi-focal 4K 120fps recording in both 10-bit Log and Dolby Vision formats. It also introduces Pro Video mode with LUT support and compatibility with ACES workflows for advanced color grading.
The phone runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with a dedicated imaging chip. It packs a 6600mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging.
Other features include a 2K ZEISS Master Color Display, quad-mic audio recording system, IP68/IP69 durability, and up to five years of OS updates.
Pricing and availability will depend on the region.
Enterprise
Allbirds suddenly turns into an AI company
Allbirds is an odd shoe company. Though it already enjoyed a cult following in some circles around the world, the brand suddenly expanded its reach everywhere, offering a lighter and more environment-friendly alternative to the usual suspects of the shoe world. Now, getting even odder, Allbirds is ditching the shoes and going barefoot into the world of AI.
It’s one of the oddest transitions in the corporate world. In an official statement, Allbirds has confirmed that it will pivot fully into a “fully integrated GPU-as-a-Service and AI-native cloud solutions provider.” From Allbirds, it will be known as NewBird AI.
It’s not an incredibly abrupt change, though. The shoe brand and its stores won’t disappear overnight. The company will still hold a shareholder vote on May 18. If approved, they will transition into the new brand gradually.
The transition to AI, itself a gremlin of a keyword in today’s financial world, has resulted in the company’s stock value rising up. However, its long-term viability is in question, especially for a company with no experience in a world already drowning in AI.
From last year to today, AI has been the darling child of investors and a plague to consumers. While the former salivates over the short-term gain of AI adoption, the latter ruminates on the technology’s projected effects on the world.
SEE ALSO: Lenovo accelerates production-ready enterprise AI with NVIDIA
vivo has announced the vivo X300 FE, a compact flagship built around pro-grade imaging, long battery life, and extended software support.
The device features a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, led by a 50MP Super Telephoto camera with up to 200mm equivalent focal length via the all-new Telephoto Extender Gen 2. It also includes a 50MP main camera alongside a 110° ultra-wide lens.
This camera system is designed for flexible shooting across travel, concerts, and street photography.
AI imaging powers much of the experience, with features like AI True Clarity Engine, Stage Mode for low-light concerts, and AI editing tools such as AI Erase and AI Image Expander. Video capabilities go up to 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps.
The X300 FE adopts a compact flat design with a 6.31-inch display, weighing 191g and measuring 7.99mm thin. It comes in Mist Purple, Glow White, Luxe Black, and Urban Olive colorways.
Powering the device is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. You should not confuse it though with the more superior Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Moreover, it has a 6500mAh battery paired with 90W wired charging plus 40W wireless charging that the newer V70 series lacks.. It also features a vapor chamber cooling system for sustained performance.
The phone runs OriginOS 6 with cross-device features and promises five years of OS updates, seven years of security patches, and long-term smooth performance.
The vivo X300 FE also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Pricing and availability will depend on the region.
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