There Is An Army Of Low-Cost Chinese Companies Ready To Eat Samsung's Lunch
I spent the morning and afternoon walking around the floor. I only saw half of what's on display, and I've walked five miles. This place is huge.
Two takeaways: Android is everywhere, and there is an army of low-cost smartphone makers selling phones that look just like Samsung phones.
On Android, it's just amazing to see all these no-name companies taking Android and making their own OSes. (Bigger companies, like Nokia and Yandex are doing the same thing.)
I can't help but think of Microsoft, and how it totally whiffed on mobile. Billions of people are going to be using Android in the future.
As for Samsung ... Coming from the U.S. I expected to see a bunch of Apple knock offs. Apple is the leading company in the U.S. But so far, I've only seen a relative few Apple clones. It's the Samsung look that's all the rage for copying.
Why so many Samsung knock offs? If I had to guess, I'd say that it's easier to replicate the Samsung design and still have a decent product than it is to replicate the iPhone design and still have a decent product.
Seeing all of these phones that look just like Samsung phones boosted my respect for the company.
In a world of smartphones that all pretty much look the same, and are approaching feature parity, that all have the same software (Android) it's really impressive that Samsung has built a standout smartphone brand.
All these phones are a little, scary though. The high end of the market seems to be saturating. Samsung has no desire to compete in the low-end. And even if it did, the low end is crowded with companies selling $100 smartphones that look just like Samsung's $500 phones.
Looks and performance are two different things, of course. The phones on the floor worked well. The cameras weren't great, but overall they seemed fine enough.
Here's a look at some of the phones that are copying Samsung:
This is the Grand S II from ZTE. That "S" looks a lot like the S in Samsung's S4 logo. The plastic backing on this phone also looks a lot like old Samsung plastic.
Business InsiderThis is the S4 logo. See the similarity to the logo above?
Business InsiderAnd here's the back of an older Samsung phone that looks like that ZTE phone.
Steve Kovach, Business InsiderThis is a big phablet from a company we never heard of called Umeox. We couldn't get a price on this phone. If we had to guess it will sell for $150-$200. Take a look at how it copies the stitching that Samsung is doing with its Note III.
Business Insider Business InsiderFor comparison, this is the Note III, with its faux leather backing and stitching.
Steve Kovach/Business InsiderUmeox also did the Samsung phone cover thing where it has a window that shows the front of the phone.
Business InsiderThe S4 case with window.
This was at the booth of JZH, a company that's doing 1 million in sales on a monthly basis. (Or so it tells me.) Its phones sell mostly in South America and cost $50-$90.
Business InsiderIf that font looks familiar... it's because it's a straight rip from Samsung.
ScreenshotThese are more phones from JHZ. As you can see, they look a lot like Samsung's phones.
Business InsiderThis was Konka, a Shenzen-based company, taking Samsung's stitching backing style.
Business InsiderMore from Konka. This is the generic look/design of a Samsung. It's also all over the place here at MWC.
We didn't see this phone on display from Konka. It's an attempt to copy Apple and Samsung.
Business InsiderIn closing, here's the real thing. A Samsung tablet.
Business InsiderAnd the Samsung Galaxy Note III.
Business Insider BONUS: While I said there weren't many Apple rip offs, I did spot this one. The guy at this company said, "Frankly, this isn't our best phone."