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In 2009, a battle line was drawn. One that would create deep divides in the smartphone world, even within brands themselves, and will have a significant impact on the next phone you'll buy.\n
\nWhat happened back then? Smartphones got good. Processing power reached the point where you didn't have to choose between spending a year's salary and having a decent experience browsing the web on the go, opening up the tech to a wider range of users.
\n
\nAs you'd expect over the years, that performance has been built upon to give us octa-core handsets with more RAM than a over-zealous farmer, putting truly phenomenal power in our pockets.
\n
\nBut that line, the one that showed a baseline of 'acceptable smartphone performance' has translated into phones that cost hardly anything to produce and could lead to the biggest change in the smartphone market to date.
And it's not just the lesser-known brands that are championing this cause either: with the launch of the Moto E, Motorola<\/a> has proved that the bigger brands have realised the true value in making a smartphone that's within financial reach of as many as possible.
\n
Samsung<\/a> has a similar view: while the company is pushing hard to convince the world that its flagship Galaxy S5 is the phone most should own, the company is looking to launch its Tizen handsets into more developing nations like Russia and Tizen.
\n
\nThe reason for the shift is simple: the high end smartphone market is stagnating, with smartphone shipments actually starting to decline in countries like Japan (according to researcher IDC) as saturation levels kick in, users embedded in two year contracts who understandably don't need to buy another handsets.
\n
\nSo connecting the next wave of smartphone users has become crucial if sales are to continue – and the best way to do this is to entice users on price.
\n
\nThis is already happening, with the average price of a smartphone practically halving from $450 in 2012 to $260 by 2018 – which means the profit margins of the big brands are going to get hit hard. The only way to keep high revenues afloat is to increase the number of handsets sold, and that means attracting more and more users the smartphone pie.
\n
\nWhat is a cheap smartphone?<\/strong>
\nThere are two strands to the 'cheap smartphone' sector that will have a big impact on the success of brands like Samsung, HTC and Apple in the years to come.
\n
The first is the reasonably-priced smartphone for the developed nations with high smartphone penetration, something that offers a similar experience to the likes of the iPhone<\/a> 5S or Galaxy S5 but without the hefty cost.
\n
That's where companies like Motorola and Nokia<\/a> are targeting, and it appears to be working: Moto went from almost no presence in the UK to taking nearly six percent of the market according to Kantar World Panel with the Moto G, which offered impressive performance for a fifth of the cost of a top-end Android<\/a> handset.
\n
\nNokia's Lumia 520 managed a similar feat worldwide, proving popular in both Western and developing nations to become the top-selling Windows Phone on the market, and doing so at a price around 25% of the cost of a flagship phone.
\n
\nThis section of the market is going to get quickly filled with brands from Asia muscling in, able to offer low cost, high quality handsets thanks to a focus on specs over headline features.
\n
\"Motorola was nowhere in Europe before the Moto G launched in November last year, but the new model has since boosted the manufacturer to 6% of British sales,\" said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at analysts Kantar Worldpanel ComTech<\/a>.
\n
\n\"It highlights the speed at which a quality budget phone can disrupt a market. The same pattern can be seen in France with Wiko, which has 8.3% share, and Xiaomi in China with 18.5%.\"
\n
\nChina calling<\/strong>
\nOne of the leaders here is OnePlus, a Chinese brand that's brought out the OnePlus One, a phone with the spec list of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but dropped features like a super-bright AMOLED screen, heart rate monitor and waterproof casing to offer the One, a phone that costs half the price.
\n
OnePlus isn't alone: China has multiple brands selling millions of devices<\/a> in their home territory who are able to use these economies of scale to churn out decent phones internationally – this move has started, and is only going to continue.
\n
\nThese phones are still north of £200 \/ $350, which is a yearly salary to some people in developing nations. But this market features billions of users who don't just want a smartphone; the technology and connectivity it provides can open up new ways to conduct business, enabling rapid shifts in economy that simply weren't possible before.
\n
\n\"The Moto E may prove useful for first-time smartphone buyers in Europe and some parts of the Middle East, but it won't make a difference to first-time smartphone buyers in other developing markets such as Africa,\" said Amr Shady, CEO of Middle East and African telecom provider.
\n
\n\"Motorola needs to knock another £80 off the price tag before it can even begin to be attractive to most Africans. The belief that the 'budget' offering will continue the momentum that the Moto G handset built in developing markets when it was launched last year will not be realised on this continent for some time.\"
\n
\nRetro is in<\/strong>
\nAnd this is where the effort of five years ago come into play, as that same level of processor is being used to create a phone that could cost as little as $25 \/ £15.
\n
Mozilla<\/a>'s Firefox OS was announced in 2013, designed specifically to target this next wave of smartphone users. The idea was to offer low-cost handsets, low on specs but with acceptable functionality, in partnership with networks worldwide.
\n
\nInstead of resource intensive apps, HTML5 would be used to access to the same services on the web, enabling simple tools which perform vital services.
\n
\nThe project seems to be bearing fruit, as there are a number of handsets on the market from low-cost phone manufacturers ZTE, Alcatel and Huawei, with the likes of Sony and LG promising to deliver phones in the future.
\nAccording to analysts Ovum, \"there have been 425,000 unique visitors to the Firefox OS Marketplace since July 2013\" which is a strong uptake for a platform that's only been going for a year, highlighting the growing need for devices in this category.
\n
While these phones still retail for around $80, a deal between Mozilla and Chinese processor manufacturer Spreadtrum<\/a> to enable 75% cheaper phones by creating a reference design for a chip to use in all Firefox OS-powered handsets.
\n
\nThis will enable faster and cheaper production of phones, and will increase the ability to bring smartphones to developing nations dramatically.
\n
\nWhat does this mean for me?<\/strong>
\nWell, if you're someone who likes to use high-end smartphones, the good news is you'll probably be paying less in the short term or getting a better device.
\n
\nThe Galaxy S5 was cheaper on average than its predecessor in a bid to maintain attractiveness, where other brands are extolling the virtues of more technologically advanced features to keep those wth more disposable cash interested in buying phones that command a better profit margin.
\n
\nApple, the most notorious brand for high margins, has already been forced to clip these slightly in bringing out the iPhone 5C, and there's every indication that the iPhone 6 will have a larger screen and all-new design – and enabling this tech will either eat into the company's profits or force an even higher premium on one of the most expensive phones on the market.
\n
\nAnd it's not just Apple that's reacting – HTC has been pushing hard at making attractive, but expensive, casings for its One range and LG is set to bring a QHD screen on the G3 in a bid to convince consumers that the latest tech is still worth paying for.
\n
\nThe rise of the mid-range phone will directly impact the price and performance of 2015's flagship models, forcing brands to compete with the likes of OnePlus on cost or offer genuinely attractive features that warrant the extra pressure on this pocket.
\n
\nThe next half-decade will see more of a push into both cheap and ultra-cheap smartphones to enable more users to join the smartphone revolution – as the battle for your pocket space intensifies, ultimately, it's the consumer who's going to win.\n\n<\/body>","next_sibling":[{"msid":35216248,"title":"Samsung Galaxy Note 4 could have flexible screen","entity_type":"ARTICLE","link":"\/news\/devices\/samsung-galaxy-note-4-could-have-flexible-screen\/35216248","category_name":null,"category_name_seo":"devices"}],"related_content":[],"msid":35243412,"entity_type":"ARTICLE","title":"Soon, 'supercheap' smartphones to rule mobile market","synopsis":"The only way to keep high revenues afloat is to increase the number of handsets sold.","titleseo":"devices\/soon-supercheap-smartphones-to-rule-mobile-market","status":"ACTIVE","authors":[],"Alttitle":{"minfo":""},"artag":"Techradar","artdate":"2014-05-17 10:40:53","lastupd":"2014-05-17 10:43:12","breadcrumbTags":["Motorola","Nokia","Samsung","iPhone","android","Business Partnership","Mozilla","Devices","ComTech","Spreadtrum","Affordable Smartphone","Super Cheap Smartphone"],"secinfo":{"seolocation":"devices\/soon-supercheap-smartphones-to-rule-mobile-market"}}" data-authors="[" "]" data-category-name="Devices" data-category_id="12" data-date="2014-05-17" data-index="article_1">
2009年,行了。会创建深将在智能手机领域,甚至在自己品牌,并将产生重大影响下一个电话你会买。当时发生了什么?智能手机有好。处理能力达到了顶点,你没有选择花一年的薪水和有一个像样的经验浏览网页,开放的技术更广泛的用户。
正如你所期望的那样,这些年来,表现建立在给我们octa-core手机比狂热的农民有更多的RAM,把真正非凡的力量在我们的口袋里。
但这条线,一个显示一个基线的可接受的智能手机性能的转化为手机,几乎没有任何生产和成本可能会导致在智能手机市场最大的变化。
而且不只是支持这项事业的不太知名的品牌:推出的E摩托,摩托罗拉证明,更大的品牌已经意识到真正的价值在一个智能手机,尽可能多的在金融达到。
三星也有类似的观点:在公司努力让世界相信旗舰星系S5是手机最应该拥有,该公司正考虑推出Tizen手机更Tizen和俄罗斯等发展中国家。
转变的原因很简单:高端智能手机市场停滞不前,与智能手机出货量实际上开始下降在日本这样的国家,(据研究公司IDC)饱和水平发挥作用,用户嵌入两年合同的人可以理解,不需要买另一个手机。
所以连接下一波的智能手机用户已经成为至关重要的如果销售继续,最好的方法就是在价格上吸引用户。
这种情况正在发生,智能手机的平均价格几乎减半到2018年从450年的2012美元到260美元——这意味着大品牌的利润率会重创。为了保住高收入的唯一途径是增加手机销售的数量,这意味着吸引越来越多的用户智能手机派。
一个廉价的智能手机是什么?
有两股的廉价智能手机的部门将在品牌的成功有很大的影响像三星、HTC和苹果在未来几年。
第一个是同时智能手机智能手机普及率高的发达国家,这提供了一个类似的经历的喜欢iPhone5 s或星系S5但没有高额的成本。
这就是像摩托罗拉这样的公司诺基亚目标,它似乎工作:摩托从几乎没有出现在英国采取近百分之六的市场据坎塔尔世界面板与摩托G,这提供了令人印象深刻的性能高端的成本的五分之一吗安卓手机。
诺基亚流光(Lumia) 520全球管理类似的壮举,在西方国家和发展中国家受欢迎,成为市场上最畅销的Windows Phone,而且这样做代价的旗舰手机的成本的25%左右。
这部分的市场会很快充满了来自亚洲的品牌挺进美国市场,能提供低成本、高质量的手机由于关注规格在整体功能。
“摩托罗拉之前在欧洲进行G在去年11月启动,但是新模型已经提高了制造商6%的英国销售,“多米尼克Sunnebo说strategic insight分析师Kantar Worldpanel主任科通公司。
“它强调预算质量的速度手机会扰乱市场。可以看到同样的模式与Wiko在法国,在中国拥有8.3%的市场份额,小米有18.5%。”
中国称
这里的领导人是OnePlus之一,一个中国品牌的拿出OnePlus,手机和三星Galaxy S5的规格清单,但下降的特点像一个AMOLED屏幕,心率监测器和防水套管提供一个,电话成本价格的一半。
OnePlus并不孤单:中国有多个品牌销售数百万设备在本国领土的人能够使用这些规模经济在国际上制造出像样的手机——这已经开始移动,和只会继续下去。
这些手机仍以北£200 / $ 350的年薪,有些人在发展中国家。但是这个市场特性数十亿的用户不只是想要一个智能手机;它所提供的技术和连接可以打开新的方法来开展业务,使经济快速变化,根本不可能。
“摩托E首次智能手机买家可能是有用的在欧洲和中东的一些地区,但它不会改变首次在非洲等发展中市场的智能手机买家,“Amr的说,中东和非洲的电信提供商的首席执行官。
“摩托罗拉需要把另一个£80的价格甚至可以开始之前对大多数非洲人的吸引力。相信“预算”将继续提供动力,Moto G手机在发展中国家市场去年推出的时候不会意识到在这个大陆上一段时间。”
复古的
这就是五年前的努力发挥作用,与相同级别的处理器是用于创建一个电话,可能花费25美元/£15。
MozillaFirefox的操作系统在2013年宣布,专门针对智能手机用户的下一波。想法是提供低成本的手机,低规格,但可接受的功能,与全球网络。
而不是资源密集型应用,HTML5将用于在网络上获得同样的服务,使简单的工具执行至关重要的服务。
项目似乎是开花结果,因为市场上有很多手机从低成本手机制造商中兴,阿尔卡特和华为,索尼和LG承诺在未来提供手机。
据分析师卵子”,Firefox已经有425000独立访客操作系统市场自2013年7月以来”这是一个强烈吸收一个平台,只是持续了一年,突显出这类设备的日益增长的需求。
虽然这些手机仍然零售价约80美元,Mozilla和中国之间的协议处理器制造商展讯启用手机便宜75%通过创建一个参考设计的芯片使用Firefox os驱动手机。
这将使更快、更便宜的生产手机,并将大大增加把智能手机带给发展中国家的能力。
这对我意味着什么呢?
好吧,如果你喜欢使用高端智能手机,好消息是你在短期内可能会支付更少或得到一个更好的设备。乐动扑克
银河系S5是便宜的比其前身,以保持吸引力,其他品牌在哪里歌颂的美德更先进的特性来保持这些搭配更多的可支配现金兴趣购买手机,命令一个更好的利润率。
苹果,最臭名昭著的品牌高利润率,已被迫夹这些稍微把iPhone 5 c,和有很多的迹象表明,iPhone 6将有一个更大的屏幕和全新设计,使该技术将侵蚀公司利润或迫使一个更高的溢价市场上最昂贵的手机。
,不仅仅是苹果的反应——宏达电一直在努力使有吸引力,但昂贵的,外壳的一个范围和LG将带来原屏幕的G3为了说服消费者,最新的技术仍然是值得付出的。
中档手机的崛起将直接影响2015年的价格和性能的旗舰车型,迫使品牌与OnePlus成本或提供真正有吸引力的功能,保证这口袋上的额外的压力。
未来5年将会看到更多的进军廉价和超低价智能手机,使更多的用户加入智能手机革命——口袋空间之争加剧,最终,消费者谁会赢。
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