I don't know how many netizens still remember their first mobile phone? The current young generation, living in an era of material abundance, their first mobile phone may be Apple, or Huawei. But the author still clearly remembers that his first mobile phone was only a 100-yuan machine. From today's point of view, the author was really cheated when he bought a mobile phone, but that product helped the author open the door to the Internet and learn about the wonderful digital industry, which is of great significance.
Although the price of the 100-yuan machine is not eye-catching, it occupies an indispensable and important position in the market and is the first choice for many ordinary consumers.
When it comes to the well-known brands in 100-yuan mobile phones, the Redmi brand may immediately come to mind in many people's minds. However, if viewed from the perspective of sales, vivo and OPPO, the two major domestic brands, have a more significant influence in the 100-yuan machine market by virtue of their perfect offline sales network. It's just that the user base of the Redmi brand may be relatively young and has a louder voice on the network, so it makes such an impression.
However, whether it is OPPO, vivo, or Redmi, they may not be aware that the current domestic 100-yuan mobile phone market is quietly changing, and an inconspicuous manufacturer is preparing to show its strength in this market. And all this is happening quietly and inadvertently with many consumers.
Chilled hundred-dollar market
China's smartphone industry is notoriously involuted, just this April, Redmi, iQOO and realme real me three major brands in the mid-range market "big fight", executives in Weibo and other major platforms passion "mouth cannon" at the same time, Redmi Tubro 3, iQOO Z9 Turbo and realme real me GT Neo6 SE three new phones are also competing on the same stage, plus the previously very popular OnePlus Ace 3V. Consumers in the mid-range mobile phone market are truly dazzled and have a wealth of choice.
However, despite the bustle of the market next door, the 100-yuan machine market seems deserted. This is not deliberately ignored by major manufacturers, the 100 yuan mobile phone itself represents the "entry", "economy" and "small profits", and sometimes may even affect the brand image. For brands focusing on the high-end market, it is reasonable to deliberately reduce the influence of their own 100-yuan machines.
Even Redmi, which is known for its cost performance, is now focusing more on the K series and Note series, and the 100 yuan products of the digital series such as the Redmi 12 get relatively few resources. What's more noteworthy is that even though Redmi 12 is already the most entry-level product in the Redmi brand, its starting price has reached 999 yuan, which is a bit far-fetched to call it a 100-yuan machine. For most consumers, the Redmi Note series after the price reduction tends to offer a better configuration and experience at the same price point, and in comparison, the Redmi 12 is indeed less attractive.
In this case, the author has noticed that recently a manufacturer seems to attach great importance to the 100-yuan product, but many people do not know much about it, it is called ZTE.
Quietly tried, but failed to surprise everyone
At the beginning of this year, a model with the model number "ZTE Changxing 40 SE" quietly landed in the mobile phone market. Although ZTE did not hold a new product launch conference for this product, there are still many digital enthusiasts who have paid attention to this product. Judging from the light of many netizens in the digital circle, ZTE Changxing 40 SE may be a very mediocre mobile phone - UNISOC SC9863A processor, 4GB running memory, 3000mAh battery, 10W charging, single camera, water drop screen, it is inevitable that people suspect that ZTE has moved out of the warehouse a few years ago. But even the most discerning netizens may not be sneering at the ZTE Changxing 40 SE, because it costs less than 280 yuan.
In ZTE's 100-yuan machine camp, in addition to this ultimate entry-level Changxing 40 SE, there is another product that is also worth paying attention to. Not long ago, ZTE's Nubia brand held a press conference, and one of the 2999 yuan folding screen mobile phones attracted many eyeballs. But at the same time, a model called "Nubian Maverick" was also quietly unveiled. Unlike the "Promise" of the Changxing 40 SE, the Nubian Maverick is a sincere creation. It comes with a large 5000mAh battery, 256GB of storage for starters, a 100-million-pixel main camera, a 5G network, a 120Hz high-swipe screen, and a four-year warranty.
From the product level, ZTE is now very attentive to the 100 yuan market. Models like the Changxing 40 SE and Nubia Maverick are enough to make ZTE and Nubia one of the top choices for 100-yuan machine consumers. However, the competition for market share is often not solely determined by the competitiveness of the product. As the saying goes, "the aroma of wine is also afraid of deep alleys", taking Jingdong's self-operated platform as an example, the number of evaluations of ZTE Changxing 40 SE and Nubia Maverick is only 5000+ and 2000+ respectively, which may also reflect the importance of market publicity and promotion. Obviously, ZTE is not a company that is good at marketing.
It's not the product that makes money that matters
Today, Pinduoduo has become one of the domestic e-commerce giants. However, many users will always encounter some puzzling situations when using the platform, such as a down jacket with a price tag of only 10 yuan, or a TV set in the early 100 yuan. These seemingly incredible products are not uncommon on Pinduoduo, which makes many netizens laugh when they first see them. However, when they dig deeper into the comment section, they tend to get lost in thought. Because the real purchase history and the positive feedback from users prove that there are indeed many people who need such low-priced products. The same is true for the ZTE Changxing 40 SE, which, despite its price of just over 200 yuan, carries a deeper meaning for many.