China sees an increase in 5G smartphone shipments

China's 5G smartphone shipments registered a significant increase in May, underscoring the accelerating adoption of 5G technology in the country, according to the latest report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

A total of 25.53 million 5G phones were shipped in China, marking a 26.6 percent year-on-year growth and accounting for 84.2 percent of the total mobile phone shipments during May, the report said.

From January to May 2024, the cumulative shipment of 5G smartphones reached 102 million units, reflecting a 20.3 percent year-on-year increase and comprising 83.9 percent of the total mobile phone shipments.

The report also highlighted the performance of domestic brands. In May 2024, shipments of domestically branded mobile phones stood at 25.3 million units, up by 12.8 percent year-on-year and representing 83.4 percent of the total mobile phone shipments.

The surge in domestic brand shipments highlights the competitive and dynamic nature of the Chinese mobile phone market. This trend is expected to continue as consumers increasingly upgrade to 5G-enabled devices, driven by enhanced network infrastructure and innovative offerings from manufacturers, experts said.

Eyeing the opportunities, Chinese smartphone companies are stepping up their push to unveil new products to attract consumers. For instance, the Chinese smartphone brand iQOO, unveiled its latest device, the Neo9S Pro+ mobile phone to target gaming enthusiasts in Beijing on Thursday night.

Equipped with the self-developed Q1 gaming chip and the third-generation Snapdragon 8 dual-core processor from the US chip company Qualcomm, the Neo9S Pro+ is designed for high performance and ensures a smooth and responsive user experience, especially for gamers, iQOO said. Meanwhile, this phone supports ultrasonic 3D fingerprint unlocking, which is more advanced than ordinary optical fingerprints, the company said.