Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competitive landscape in the smartphone industry, highlighting how companies are innovating in product design and technology integration to maintain market share and profitability amidst stagnating growth [5][10][17]. Group 1: Product Innovations - Xiaomi's 17 series and its unique back screen design sparked mixed reactions on social media, indicating a trend of creative product features among smartphone manufacturers [5][10]. - Realme's GT8 series introduced modular camera designs, showcasing the industry's push for aesthetic and functional differentiation [6][11]. - Honor's concept of the robot phone, which integrates a mechanical arm gimbal, represents a bold innovation, although it remains in the conceptual stage with plans for mass production next year [7][9]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The smartphone market is experiencing intense competition, leading manufacturers to explore innovative product designs as a means to create new premium pricing opportunities [10][17]. - Companies are increasingly focusing on vertical integration and self-research capabilities to gain control over core components, aiming to differentiate their products in a saturated market [18][19]. Group 3: Supply Chain and Technology Integration - The article emphasizes the shift from horizontal division of labor to vertical integration in the smartphone industry, driven by the need for manufacturers to reclaim "definition rights" over their products [26][32]. - Apple has been a leader in this trend, developing its own components like the C1 5G baseband chip and Wi-Fi chip N1, which significantly increases the proportion of self-developed parts in its products [16][33]. - The competitive landscape has forced companies to enhance their technological capabilities and redefine their relationships with suppliers, as seen in Apple's strategic moves to reduce reliance on external suppliers like Qualcomm and Sony [28][33].
手机市场进入整活时代