ZTE, Huawei, Coolpad and Lenovo to sell 50 million smartphones each in 2014

China’s top smartphone makers - ZTE, Huawei, Coolpad and Lenovo - could sell more than 200 million smartphones (combined) next year.

DigiTimes is quoting ambiguous, but often reliable Taiwan-based supply chain makers to say that each of the four Chinese companies is expected to sell at least 50 million smartphones in 2014 (needles to say, most of these will be Android-based). The four smartphone makers should see their sales grow thanks to China Mobile’s 4G TD-LTE expansion, as well as to their efforts to conquer overseas markets. For those who may not know, TD-LTE is China Mobile's own 4G technology (developed since late 2007, but only now being ready for end users).

China Mobile is planning to release numerous affordable TD-LTE smartphones in the first half of 2014 (priced at about $165 - or 1,000 CNY in local currency), and most major Chinese handset manufacturers are looking to benefit from that. It’s said that TD-LTE smartphones could account for 30% - 40% of all handsets shipped in China next year.

In Q3 this year, Huawei has ranked third (for the first time) in the global smartphone market, just ahead of South Korea’s LG. Lenovo has managed to snag the fifth place during the same quarter.

Other two Chinese players, Xiaomi and TCL (maker of Alcatel smartphones and tablets) are expected to sell 40 million handsets each throughout 2014. Thus, we’re looking at around 300 million smartphones that will be shipped by established Chinese companies next year, both in China and in global markets. Sure enough, none of them will get even close to Samsung, which is planning to sell 330 million smartphones in 2014.

source: DigiTimes