Huawei aims to be No 3 with new phones in 2017

Michael Jing, director of Huawei Consumer Business Group Thailand, said the company was confident of the high potential for growth in Thailand despite the sluggish economy. 
“Thailand has huge potential and it is the fastest-growing market for us in the region. Thai consumers love to spend on special and premium products. Therefore, we will introduce the Porsche Design Huawei Mate 9 smartphone priced at Bt49,000. Only 800 units will be available,” Jing said.
He said the firm is also doubling investment in marketing, retail channel and services. 
Huawei is currently ranked No 4 in terms of smartphone market share, behind Samsung, Apple and Oppo. The firm expects to jump to No 3 next year with double-digit market share. The firm will also introduce next-generation wearable gadgets such as smart watches in the market next year.
Tossaporn Nisthanon, deputy director of Huawei Consumer Business Group Thailand, said the firm now has smartphones available in three segments: premium smartphones priced at above Bt15,000, mid-range smartphones, priced in the Bt5,000- Bt15,000 range; and low-end smartphones, priced below Bt5,000.
The premium and mid-range phones each account for 40 per cent of sales while low-end phones account for the balance 20 per cent.
“Thailand is the only country in the region where the new Huawei 9 series, priced at Bt23,000, and the Mate 9 Pro, priced at Bt27,900, will be available. The Huawei P9 series, a premium smartphone, is already one of the top-sellers in the market,” said Tossaporn. The firm has also launched the new Huawei GR5 2017 priced at Bt8,900.
The Mate 9 high-end smartphones will feature supercharge, a 2x optical zoom and the Leica dual-camera. Meanwhile, the Huawei GR5 2017 smartphone designed for the mass premium market will have a dual-camera.