IDG Unveils the Lists of 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 5, 2017, Las Vegas witnessed the grand opening of the 50^th International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). On Jan. 6th, the Awards Ceremony for 2016-2017 Global Top Brands hosted by International Data Group (IDG) was held in Wynn Hotel Las Vegas. Mr. Patrick Kenealy, Managing Director of IDG Ventures USA unveiled the lists of 2016-2017 Global Top 20Smart Connected Devices Brands and Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands. Chinese smart phone brands such as Huawei, Lenovo, Xiaomi, ZTE, Coolpad, etc., together with Apple and Samsung, etc. were granted this honor.

Since 2007, Apple and Google released the first smart phone successively, smart connected devices and smart phones have entered a fast-growing golden decade. According to relevant statistics, the annual growth rate of smart connected devices was not less than 25% from 2009 to 2014. While due to the constant market saturation, consumers slowed down their demand for new mobile phones. Consequently, smart phone growth rate came to an inflection point in 2015 and declined to single digits in 2016. However, smart connected devices have achieved rapid technological development in during past decade, a series of innovations such as Touch Screen, Metal Chassis, Fingerprint Recognition, Type-C Interface and Force Touch. Meanwhile, transformation and development of smart connected devices have been constantly promoted by the mobile Internet and intelligent applications. Therefore, in the new era of intelligence, smart connected devices and smart phone brands can effectively improve their second growth only by continuous technical adjustments and active transformation to the Internet and intellectualization.

Although Apple and Samsung still remain the top two in the global smart connected devices and smart phones market, these well-known brands are gradually losing their strong appeal to users with the occurrence of Samsung Note 7 battery explosion accident and iPhone innovation ability decline. Coolpad, Huawei, ZTE, OPPO, vivo and other domestic high-end smart phones begin to dominate the market gradually and are accepted by more users. Thus, there are still opportunities for smart connected devices and smart phones market in the future. Only by continuous development of innovative technology and products, making hardware design panders to consumers' habits and conforms to the kinesiology principles, software applications with more humanization and operating comfortableness, can manufacturers give more vitality and competitiveness to their brands. Campaigns like 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands are carried out to encourage intelligent terminal device enterprises and smart phone companies to conduct technological innovation actively, foster innovative products and promote industrial innovation and upgrading of intelligence.

It is reported that the lists of Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands are the fruition of the IDG and IDC's co-operation. According to authoritative survey data from IDC, lists gave the comprehensive collation and evaluation to the industrial development of global smart connected devices and smart phones in 2016. Eventually, Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Lenovo, OPPO, Vivo, LG, HP, Xiaomi, ZTE, Dell, Asus, TCL-Alcatel, Gionee, Letv, Acer, Motorola, Coolpad, HTC and Micromax topped the list of 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands. Samsung, Apple, Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, LG, Xiaomi, ZTE, TCL-Alcatel, Gionee, Lenovo, Letv, Motorola, Coolpad and HTC had their names on the list of 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands. In the Individual Award aspect, Cool Changer S1 won the award of The Best Overall Performing Smartphone of 2016, ROBOO won the Annual Global "A.I. Robot for Kids" Gold Award.

Mr. Patrick Kenealy said at the awards ceremony, "The year of 2017 will usher in the first decade of the development of smart connected devices and smart phones. Under the stimulus of innovative technology, smart phone and terminal industry now are undergoing drastic changes. The global smart phone market is basically captured by Apple, Samsung and a number of Chinese brands. We can see that with the trend of intellectualization, smart connected devices manufacturers headed by Chinese brands are constantly accelerating transformation and upgrading and striving for innovation. Based on the innovation of smart connected devices and smart phone manufacturers in terms of technology, design, interaction and user experience, these selection activities comprehensively analyzed and evaluated the development of global smart connected devices and smart phone industry in 2016, thus creating a better future for smart connected devices and smart phone companies."

"It is a great honor for Coolpad to be named again on the lists of 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands, and Cool Changer S1 won the award of The Best Overall Performing Smartphone of 2016," Coolpad Group said, "The explosive development of mobile Internet and intelligent technology in recent years has created an unprecedented opportunity for Coolpad. Last year, it took us a whole year for strategic transformation, from product R&D to top-quality products, as well as more emphasis placed on brand influence. In the future, Coolpad will be more dedicated and professional to strive for excellence and provide products with more elegant appearance and better performance. Meanwhile, we will continue to focus on superior product strategy to introduce more ecological hardware platforms and intelligent hardware related products.

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. remarked, "We are happy that Huawei has been included into the list of 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands. It indicates that the smart & connected industry and users have recognized Huawei's efforts over the years. Now Huawei Mate 9 and other flagship phones of Huawei with a series of new technologies like Leica dual camera, topnotch security solutions, and EMUI 5.0 OS can provide a more intuitive user experience. In the future, Huawei, by virtue of its advantages in 5G technology, will continue to reform and innovate to further develop information and communications technology, strengthen its industry leading position, strive to build itself into a smartphone brand winning more extensive recognition from consumers worldwide, and build a better connected world in an all-round way."

Samsung Group noted, "Despite the fact that Samsung develops virtual reality and produces screens and processors for VR headsets based on its hardware manufacturing background, Chinese manufacturers offering low prices might pose a threat to it in price in a year or two. Samsung hopes to build a whole ecosystem through various ways where ordinary consumers can make their own content easily and communicate with friends via VR. Samsung is trying to provide the best user experience for customers, based on which it will make necessary improvements and innovations."

Driven by innovative technology in the era of intelligence, global smart connected devices and smart phone industry will usher in a new leap once again, bringing a new round of development opportunities to brands and enterprises. Let's bear witness to the birth of the 2016-2017 Global Top 20 Smart Connected Devices Brands and 2016-2017 Global Top 15 Smart Phones Brands, make a comprehensive understanding on the development process and pattern evolution of global smart connected devices and smart phone brands in the past ten years, and experience the power of technological innovation together.

SOURCE IDG China