Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun shows the new features at a launch ceremony of Xiaomi Phone 4 in Beijing yesterday.
Reuters/Beijing
Xiaomi launched its flagship Mi 4 smartphone at a glitzy event in Beijing, where the Chinese budget handset maker’s chief executive sought to challenge larger US rival Apple Inc.
The Mi 4 comes as budget handset makers in China are competing more aggressively on price and generous features, with even high-end manufacturers feeling the pressure.
South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said this month that its disappointing smartphone shipments were due to poor sales in China, which had 1.27bn mobile subscribers in June.
Dressed in a black T-shirt and blue jeans, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun took aim repeatedly at iPhone maker Apple during the presentation yesterday, comparing the design and manufacturing process of his new 4G handset to the US firm’s more expensive offerings.
“Our product really is better than the iPhone,” said Lei.
“Our white version is also better than their white version,” he joked. “Even our white colour is whiter!”
Apple was not immediately available to comment.
The forthright Jun spent nearly an hour on stage describing the Mi 4 phone’s construction – particularly its bevelled metal rim whose similarity with Apple’s phones drew murmurs of “iPhone” from the journalists at the event.
The Mi 4, which goes on sale July 29 for 1999 yuan ($320), has a 5 inch, 1080p screen and a Qualcomm Inc Snapdragon 801 2.5 Ghz processor. An equivalent iPhone 5s costs $650.
Analyst Neil Shah at technology consultant Counterpoint said that while Xiaomi was gaining swiftly in emerging markets, it did not pose a real threat to Apple just yet.
“Right now it’s more a big talk rather than real threat to Apple,” said Shah.
“In emerging markets they are growing in leap and bounds, attracting buyers who aspire to Apple but they can’t afford to buy Apple.
“But if tomorrow Xiaomi raise their price to Apple levels, they won’t sell. They’re trying to build that brand equity by comparing themselves to Apple.”
Founded in 2010 by Lei and seven others, Xiaomi seeks to cut costs by eschewing brick-and-mortar stores in favour of web-based distribution and word-of-mouth marketing.
Xiaomi became the world’s sixth-largest smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2014, according to data firm Canalys, after repeatedly doubling its sales. The company was valued at $10bn last year, drawing industry speculation that the fast-rising company could threaten Apple and Samsung, which dominate the premium market.
Xiaomi sold 18.7mn smartphones in 2013 and yesterday maintained a 60mn sales target for 2014. For comparison, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd has said it is targeting 80mn smartphone sales for the year.
