As Huawei returns, China's Oppo and Transsion focus on Southeast Asia

As Huawei's return increases competition, a few of China's top smartphone manufacturers are betting that their push into Southeast Asia will open the door for a sales rebound in the upcoming year.

For the first time in ten years, Oppo chose Singapore as the location for the global launch of two high-end foldable smartphones, the Find N3 and N3 Flip, which was held there last month.

According to Elvis Zhou, chief marketing officer of Oppo's overseas division, foldable phones are crucial to revitalizing the crowded handset market over the next few years. Oppo is the fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world.

Smaller rival Tecno, which is owned by Transsion Holdings, has begun to gain traction in Southeast Asia despite having long concentrated on entry-level devices for Africa. It intends to expand its footprint in the area by releasing its most recent flip-foldable smartphone in Singapore.

Foldable smartphones that flip Like conventional clamshell feature phones, they fold down and unfold to reveal a bigger smartphone. Larger, book-style foldable phones open to resemble a tiny tablet and fold down to the size of a typical smartphone. Oppo produces both looks.

Reporters were informed by Andy Shi, president of Oppo's Asia Pacific division, that Singapore was a major center with considerable political and economic sway over the area. There was a sizable population there that moved frequently. These high-end phone users were important regional influencers. Andy continued by saying that they were starting in Singapore in order to take advantage of this edge and expand their market share.