On August 22, market research firm Canalys reported that Chinese smartphone brands continued to expand rapidly worldwide in the second quarter of 2025, achieving notable breakthroughs in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Xiaomi (小米) shipped 42.4 million units globally, up 12% year-on-year, maintaining its position as the world’s third-largest smartphone vendor. Transsion Holdings (传音控股), driven by strong growth in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, shipped 24.6 million units, entering the global top five for the first time with a market share of nearly 9%.
Southeast Asia remained the core growth engine for Chinese brands. Xiaomi shipped 4.7 million units in the region, regaining the top spot with a 19% market share. Transsion followed closely with 4.5 million units and an 18% share, marking a 17% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, vivo and OPPO strengthened local marketing and expanded offline retail networks, delivering steady performance in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In other emerging markets, Chinese brands also stood out. Xiaomi continued to grow its presence in Brazil and Mexico, leveraging its value-for-money strategy and robust supply chain, while Transsion maintained its dominance in Africa with a 51% share and actively expanded into Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
The overseas competitiveness of Chinese smartphone makers is rooted in flexible pricing, diversified product portfolios, and deepened distribution channels, along with innovation in AI-powered photography and foldable devices. Overall, despite slight fluctuations in the global smartphone market in Q2, Chinese brands are consolidating their global footprint and increasingly competing head-to-head with Samsung and Apple in emerging markets.