Huawei gains more Chinese customers as it competes internationally. (Photo : Getty Images)
Technology giant Huawei is gaining more success due to the increased patronage from Chinese consumers, now that the company is gearing up for a wider global audience.
The Chinese company's sales are escalating and are posing a major threat to major smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung.
"Huawei has a special quality that it dares to challenge Western high-tech giants and defeat them," says Tian Yiyan, a mobile-app developer in Shanghai.
However, getting a major market share in China is not a simple feat. Many Chinese consumers favor imported brands, as seen in the food sector.
Huawei is spending heavily in research and development. In the past three years, Huawei has spent $9.2 billion in R&D, compared to Apple's $8.1 billion.
The company's position to take on companies from other countries is what is believed to get the patronage from Chinese buyers.
"Huawei is a name that inspires pride in Chinese and Chinese companies," wrote business commentator Jiang Bojing.
Many consumers prefer Huawei smartphones because of its cheap price and high-end specifications. A P9 Plus sells at 4,388 yuan or $657 compared with Apple's iPhone 7 Plus at 7,188 yuan.
In the global arena, Huawei is also gaining traction as shipments rose 44% to 106 million units last year, with about 40% sold outside China. Sales in America is only around 960,000 units but is gaining in other countries.
However, in the U.S., Huawei is nonchalant. The company claims that the although their sales in the U.S. is small, they are big in other places.
Ge Chuanfeng, a geological engineer, said, "It represents the Western world's attempts to rein in China's growth and rise.
In his social media, Ge encouraged consumers to stay loyal to Huawei. He posted, "Buy Huawei, support Chinese brands and dump Apple."
