> they really don't need Apple other than as a brand
I'd say that alone makes Apple worthwhile to China. I don't think China will be able to make a global brand like Apple in my lifetime.
I'd say that alone makes Apple worthwhile to China. I don't think China will be able to make a global brand like Apple in my lifetime.
In my part of Europe (and whenever traveling in Africa), I see more Huawei ads in the street on any given day than Apple ones. Apple is a global brand, but it is also a premium global brand, meaning it is only visible where salaries are high enough for people to afford it. Huawei and Xiaomi, on the other hand, are both global and affordable to even the developing world.
This is interesting. It's the opposite in most of the Americas, and I never saw anything like that in Europe. But I admittedly know very little about Africa and East Asia.
> millions and millions of people have never even seen an Apple device nor any advertising for it, while Chinese products are their world.
I'm not saying Chinese products aren't ubiquitous, I'm saying they can't build a globally dominant brand like Apple. These people also associate this stuff with being cheap, and once they have the means they will want to switch to a more premium product, aka Apple. If anything this sounds like an argument for Android over Apple and I think it's backwards. Android is everywhere but Apple (I realize I'm being a little loose with iOS vs Apple) is still the premium brand.
Anyway, I think we should just agree to disagree. Cheers.
Huawei’s range of products and reputation continues to grow. It is no longer seen, as it once was, as a low-end brand in much of Europe (that would be Xiaomi). So, by the time that developing-world populations are able to afford Apple solutions, Huawei would have already covered the higher-end segment and become known for quality.
I strongly encourage you to see Africa and Asia firsthand before making claims about Apple versus other brands.
But you have a point. I have blind spots. I could be wrong. Ultimately this is just my opinion.
Once Hauwei actually builds innovative operating systems and creates new product spaces that aren't ripped off copies of western models, they can start acquiring the reputation of making good products.