Smartphone maker Xiaomi plans to launch more than 10 5G phones in 2020, CEO Lei Jun said on Sunday.
Lei’s remarks come as the company faces intense competition in its home market from rival Huawei Technologies. Last month Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, the company’s first 5G-enabled phone for the domestic market, Reuters reported.
According to Lei, demand for the phone exceeded the company’s expectations and led to supply chain issues. The device’s reception has prompted Xiaomi to launch 5G models for the high, middle, and low-end price tiers next year.
“People in the industry fear that next year 4G models won’t sell, this is a step you have no choice but to take,” Lei said. “So we hope that operators can speed up their expansion of 5G base stations.”
Xiaomi had 11.8 percent of China’s smartphone market in the second quarter of 2019, down from 13.9 percent one year prior according to research firm Canalys.
All other top Chinese brands suffered declining sales volumes as consumers flocked to Huawei, driven in part by patriotism. The Shenzhen-based handset maker became the center of U.S.-China tensions in May when Washington effectively called for U.S. companies to cease supplying parts to it.
Xiaomi has enjoyed success in Europe, where it remains a new player in the continent. The company’s market share in the region during the second quarter of 2019 hit 9.6 percent, up from 6.5 percent the year prior.
