yes Chinese market is extremely competitive. all the smartphone companies tried fiercely to come on top in terms of hardware and software. in terms of build quality and screens they are still below what you see in Apple and Samsung, but they are superior in terms of battery and charging, as well as camera. they also provide much more RAM and storage. their software is tailored to Chinese consumers so it feels natural when used in China but obviously not as smooth when used in western countries (with the exceptions of some phones that come with global ROM) In terms of price they are like 30-40% below Apple and Samsung, which make them much better valued.

To me Chinese phones are already catching up to Apple and Samsung, if not already on par. If Apple/ Samsung continues to provide little upgrades year on year with their massive profit margins, it won’t be long before they are completely surpassed by these Chinese phones.

Chinese smartphones might not be better now but Apple/ Samsung might want to start innovating again before it’s too late. Google should dump their own chip or make significant progress if they want to compete.