Why your next smartphone should be Chinese

It wasn't long ago that the phrase 'Chinese smartphone' conjured up images of dodgy iPhone rip-offs and an inaccessible world of strange-looking devices that we'd never be able to buy. But that's all changing now, with several manufacturers looking to conquer the American market and take on established giants Apple and Samsung. 

Chinese smartphones already account for more than a third of the global market and that number looks set to grow, with companies like Huawei, Lenovo and Xiaomi consistently featuring in the top 10 worldwide sales lists. So why are they becoming so popular and why should your next smartphone be Chinese?

They are cheaper than the competition

We're starting with an obvious reason, but the value for money offered by Chinese smartphones is undoubtedly the main reason for their recent success. You could pick up an Honor 7, which has comparable specs to the US$650 HTC One M9, for a shade over US$400. Surely there's no contest.

This isn't a one-off either. At almost every level of the market, Chinese phones are showing up the prices of their counterparts from the US or Korea. From the Xiaomi Mi4c, which we described as "the half-price Nexus 5X", to theHuawei P8, a genuine flagship phone at an incredible price, there is all sorts of choice out there. 

They offer something different 

Which brings us neatly on to our next point. Most of us crave a bit of individuality but when it comes to smartphones, individuality is becoming rarer and rarer. As a result, we've lost that element of shock and wonder when someone pops an unusual device down on the table.

Chinese phones are becoming increasingly well designed. Just look at the Meizu Pro 5 or the Lenovo Vibe P1. Manufacturers are no longer taking their cues from existing devices but offering something truly different. And that has to be worth something.

The brands are growing and targeting you

The growth experienced by Chinese manufacturers over the last decade shows little sign of stalling and that could be good news for consumers. Traditionally companies like Huawei and Xiaomi have concentrated on their domestic market but, with some stagnation in China, they have their sights firmly focused on Western markets.

One big problem Chinese brands traditionally faced was a lack of brand recognition, particularly important in the UK and US. But in recent years, there have been attempts to counter this. One example is Lenovo buying Motorola Mobility from Google for US$12.5 billion in 2012 and then the Motorola handset business for nearly US$3 billion two years later.

Releasing its phones (the Moto G, for example) under the more-recognized Motorola name has helped increase Lenovo's market share massively – and has given consumers a much better choice at the lower end of the price scale.

But it's not just the lower end of the price spectrum that has been affected. Phones like the Huawei Honor 7 are definitely targeting the premium market, but still carry much more affordable pricetags. Could this lead to the established big guns in the US and the UK lowering their prices to compete? You'd have to think it's possible.

They look pretty damn good

Appearances are always subjective, but there are some good looking Chinese smartphones out there these days. TheHuawei P8 and the OnePlus 2 are up there with anything else on the market.

In addition, the build quality tends to live up to the design. A lot of foreign manufacturers have been making their phones in China for some time and that expertise shows.

They give you more freedom

As the rise of Chinese smartphones shows, the world is becoming a smaller place, and travelling is much easier than it's ever been. But while people can easily move between countries, their mobile phones often can't.

Most Chinese phones address this problem with a dual SIM slot, meaning that if you live in one country but have to travel to work in another, you can switch between two SIMs easily

In addition to this, virtually all the Chinese smartphones available abroad come totally unlocked and carrier-free. This means you can pick a phone tariff that works best for you and leave when you want, a big advantage for many people.

Are you tempted by a Chinese smartphone? Have we missed any advantages? Share your views in the comments.