Sino Market Research data recently revealed that Chinese mobile phone brands topped last year's aggregate sales lists, with Dongguan-based Oppo on top.
The report recorded that Oppo's total shipments in 2018 reached 76.37 million units. These figures allowed Oppo to knock off other brands, including Cupertino-based Apple. Following close behind is Vivo, Huawei, Honor, and finally, Apple, according to China Daily.
4G mobile phones from Chinese brands, including those from Xiaomi, accounted for 94.5 percent of the overseas shipments. Total sales racked up to 391 million 4G-powered units.
Furthermore, Sino's data revealed that sales figures for Samsung, Apple, and Meizu dropped in 2018. Apple, in particular, said in its latest quarterly report that demands in China declined in the last year.
Meizu dropped by 46 percent, Apple saw a 5 percent dip, while Samsung sales plummeted by 32 percent. Xiaomi, Vivo, Huawei, and Honor all showed shipment growth over the past year.
One of the biggest news that the report delivered is data that showed Honor overtaking Apple shipments. Huawei's Honor claimed the fourth spot in shipment records as the smartphone brand saw a 13 percent hike.
2018 was a tough year for smartphones as demands dropped amid the China-U.S. trade dispute. Despite an overall economic slowdown, Chinese smartphone brands thrived to deliver on global terms.
Oppo continues to expand as it entered the British market on Tuesday. Multiple outlets confirmed that the Chinese smartphone maker has started selling the Oppo Find X in the U.K.
According to the Evening Standard, Oppo is scheduled to open an International Design Centre in London later in 2019 as part of its expansion in the European region. The company has already entered other European states including Spain, France, and Italy.
China's Oppo is collaborating with the Carphone Warehouse, a British mobile phone retailer that has over 2,400 stores spread across Europe. Carphone Warehouse is now accepting pre-orders for a number of Oppo devices, including the RX17 Pro.
Analysts are expecting the global smartphone industry to initiate a race on 5G network services. Huawei and ZTE are among the Chinese brands who first announced plans for 5G smartphones. Oppo is also joining the race as it is set to compete with South Korea's Samsung and other Chinese smartphone makers.
Oppo's VP, Alen Wu, has also hinted on other projects that will encourage consumers to explore options with the Chinese tech giant. Wu said the company is considering "smart home appliances" in the near future.
