Smartphone sales in China increased by 6% year-on-year in Q2 2024 (citing Counterpoint Market Pulse Service report) with vivo maintaining the top position. Through it this brand recorded a market share of 18.5% which was largely contributed by the X series premium devices. It becomes even more interesting when vivo is actually one of the mainstays of smartphones in China since its introduction in 1995.
In addition to being the best technology leader through unique technological capabilities. Among the successes that succeeded in raising Vivo's name on the world stage is being one of the first to offer a device with a 2K resolution display, a fingerprint scanner built under the screen and a camera system that uses an aperture of f/1.8 with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).
In conjunction with a recent visit to vivo's research and development (R&D) headquarters in Dongguan China, a group of media was given the opportunity to see for themselves how the process of producing a smartphone. At the same time given direct exposure to various technologies and vivo's achievements in the smartphone market as a whole. This article is a partnership for us to read together and is expected to be able to give a better understanding of this brand.
Before we examine further it is correct if we first share statistics that show that vivo has more than 18,000 employees globally until August last year. This includes about 13,000 of them who are staffed by the company's R&D center.
When it comes to important aspects of development, the brand is fully supported by the largest network of R&D centers across China with a focus on the latest cutting-edge technology. It includes 5G technology, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial design and others. vivo has also set up a smart manufacturing network with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. Then expanded its sales network to more than 500 million users in more than 60 countries and territories around the world.
Through its collaboration with ZEISS is also seen to continue to expand its global consumer segment with new standards to further advance the sophistication of professional mobile photography. In other words, putting photography capabilities that used to be accessible only to professional photographers is now in the hands of an ordinary smartphone user. With that comes the vivo X60 series which is the first device to offer an imaging system with ZEISS expertise.
Then the successor of the vivo X70 series has been improved with the unique vivo V1 imaging chip that works to optimize the power of the processing chip and capture night pictures. The excellence continued with the greatness of the V30 series device which also got the cooperation of ZEISS for its camera system. Efforts that do not know the meaning of fatigue will definitely bear fruit until now it is also offered on the upcoming device of the V40 5G series. In addition, it is confirmed that it will enter the Malaysian market soon.
In the long term, vivo has contributed a lot to the development of 5G in overseas markets. It includes SA's first 5G commercial network test outside of China in collaboration with leading regional mobile communications provider AIS in 2021. Next, collaborate with global organizations to support events and sports projects that are the user's favorite, such as football.
Continue this article with the smartphone manufacturing process. It is produced entirely with the capabilities of machines and humans with the latest technology in doubling production. Our early stages of manufacturing show how components are put together to produce a smartphone. It starts with the main frame which is then connected to the body, side frame, camera, battery and so on. It is also said that they are able to produce as many as 3400 units of smartphones per day with an average of 11.3 seconds for a device.
The completed device will also be tested through various tests that include being dropped from various heights until being tested to be bent. In addition, external components such as the power button and USB-C port will also be tested to ensure that the device is able to function properly before being commercialized. Through structural durability tests and drop tests, the aka device was dropped 18 times from various heights, angles and surfaces. All of their foldable devices also undergo heavy fold testing to withstand a maximum of 500,000 folds.
Then we were shown the process of making a motherboard, also known as a motherboard, which is the main system in a smartphone. Through it there are fourteen components included in producing the motherboard. A motherboard will be divided into four parts at a time after all the components have been assembled. The motherboard that has been created also needs to go through a number of tests that include software, WiFi, antennas and so on. If there is a problem found then the motherboard will not be used at all.
vivo also did not miss out on sharing the production process of healthcare devices such as smart watches. All health data is obtained from tests on a real human being which is then used as a reference for the production of the product. The most interesting is the sleep pattern test which also provides a special room complete with a bed for the test process to see the sleep cycle of a human being in real time.
For information, each R&D center focuses on the development of quality innovations that are specifically oriented to meet the needs of consumers. For example, the R&D center in Dongguan is focused on the hardware development sector. Every innovation that is produced is not only focused on technology but also the benefits for users. But it's more interesting when the center is more than a work space because they also provide a special residence for its employees and we had the opportunity to experience living in it which has a concept like a studio house.