China’s Smartphone Makers Eye Premium Market in Europe

With brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Realme pushing their flagship models into Europe, will they successfully compete in the high-end market?

Bring it on! We need the competition. Oppo and Vivo are really upping their game in design and software. I hope the Find X8 Ultra makes it to Europe—it looks amazing.

Gray said:
Bring it on! We need the competition. Oppo and Vivo are really upping their game in design and software. I hope the Find X8 Ultra makes it to Europe—it looks amazing.

I hear mixed reviews about Chinese OSes. Xiaomi gets a lot of criticism.

@Tate
Xiaomi is banned in my country, so that’s not an issue here. But honestly, every OS has its flaws—Pixel users complain about bugs, Motorola lacks updates, and Funtouch OS isn’t great. It’s all about what works for you.

@Gray
True, but in my experience, Pixel’s OS is way smoother than Xiaomi’s. Still, I’d consider a Chinese phone if their software improved.

Tate said:
@Gray
True, but in my experience, Pixel’s OS is way smoother than Xiaomi’s. Still, I’d consider a Chinese phone if their software improved.

Fair point. Pixel is minimalist, whereas HyperOS is packed with features. It depends on your preferences.

Tate said:
@Gray
True, but in my experience, Pixel’s OS is way smoother than Xiaomi’s. Still, I’d consider a Chinese phone if their software improved.

I use a HyperOS phone, and while it’s not as refined as OneUI, it’s fine. My Poco F4 still feels new, unlike my Samsung A71, which lagged after two years.

@Joey
If only they allowed base Android on their phones—the hardware is already excellent.

What I like about Chinese brands is their bold innovation. Unlike Sony, which spreads features across multiple products, these brands go all-in on one device.

Chinese phones are leading in innovation. Non-Chinese brands seem content with incremental updates. I wouldn’t consider anything else, honestly.

Their push seems focused on Spain, Italy, and France. Germany and Austria are missing out.

Ezra said:
Their push seems focused on Spain, Italy, and France. Germany and Austria are missing out.

That’s due to patent issues with Nokia. Here’s more on that.

@Avery
Those disputes are resolved now. OnePlus is back in Germany as of this month.

There’s definitely a market for an alternative to the dominant brands, and it’s likely to come from China. Huawei was gaining traction before the sanctions.

Harlow said:
There’s definitely a market for an alternative to the dominant brands, and it’s likely to come from China. Huawei was gaining traction before the sanctions.

I’m happy with my Honor phone. Build and performance-wise, it’s the best I’ve owned.

> Realme from 4% to 10% market share in Europe within the next 5 years

Not happening, especially not in the premium segment.

Brook said:
> Realme from 4% to 10% market share in Europe within the next 5 years

Not happening, especially not in the premium segment.

They’ve violated multiple patents in the EU but still operate as a ‘standalone’ brand.