OPPO beats out Apple for the top spot in China amid Huawei's US drama

OPPO Reno 5 Pro Plus (Image credit: OPPO)

What you need to know

OPPO has overtaken its competitors in China, making it the largest OEM in the region.
The new development comes amid ongoing drama between the U.S. and Huawei, which was undoubtedly a catalyst.
OPPO is expected to launch the Find X3 Pro next week, which will undoubtedly boost the company's position.

As of January 2021, OPPO has risen to become the leading smartphone manufacturer in China, beating out its closest "competitor" Vivo and giants like Apple and Huawei. It's an impressive feat given how large China's market is, which was not too long ago dominated by Huawei. OPPO has taken the helm thanks to Huawei's ongoing U.S. sanctions, giving the company just the room it needed to propel ahead.

A look at OPPO's market share from Counterpoint Research (via 9to5Google) shows the recent trends in the company's growth relative to Huawei's decline. OPPO's 5G offerings saw a sharp rise around the same time Huawei began to drop following the loss of its powerful HiSilicon chips. Given OPPO's access to powerful U.S. chips like the recent Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, the company has been able to provide a powerful alternative for Chinese consumers.

Counterpoint Oppo China Marketshare — Source: Counterpoint Research (Image credit: Source: Counterpoint Research)

Varun Mishra, the Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research, attributed the growth to OPPO's strong offerings for premium mid-range smartphones like the OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G, which offer compelling alternatives to some of the best cheap Android phones:

OPPO has been successfully able to reposition its product lines in 2020. The rebranding of the Reno series and launching a more capable device at a lower price point than its predecessor helped OPPO capture the affordable premium segment.

OPPO has likewise managed to capture plenty of attention with its rollable phone concept, which still has no commercial release set but has appeared in recent hands-on videos and looks quite impressive. The company is also preparing to launch its 2021 flagship smartphones next week, and the upcoming Find X3 Pro will likely help boost OPPO's share of the 5G market in China, which currently sits at #2.

Derrek is the managing editor of Android Central, helping to guide the site's editorial content and direction to reach and resonate with readers, old and new, who are just as passionate about tech as we are. He's been obsessed with mobile technology since he was 12, when he discovered the Nokia N90, and his love of flip phones and new form factors continues to this day. As a fitness enthusiast, he has always been curious about the intersection of tech and fitness. When he's not working, he's probably working out.