Exploring China’s Android Ecosystem: The Key Players, Platforms and Markets

In this blog post, you will explore the history and current state of China’s Android ecosystem, one of the most innovative and diverse mobile markets in the world. You will learn about the key features, trends and challenges of this dynamic ecosystem, and how you can tap into its potential for your business or personal interests.

Brief history of Android in China

Android is the leading mobile operating system in China, with a market share of 76%. However, Google has had a complicated relationship with China due to censorship issues. In 2010, Google stopped providing its services to China, including the Google Play Store and other Google services. This meant that Chinese smartphone manufacturers would have to develop their own versions of Android. Xiaomi was one of the first Chinese smartphone manufacturers to develop its own version of Android called MIUI. In 2014, Google announced that it would return to China with a new version of Android designed specifically for the Chinese market.

Here's the brief history of Android in China:

• In 2009, China Mobile announced that it would develop its own mobile operating system called OPhone based on Android. OPhone was designed to compete with Apple's iPhone and was based on Android 1.5.
• In 2010, Google stopped providing its services to China due to censorship issues. This included the Google Play Store and other Google services.
• In 2011, Google announced that it would no longer provide support for Android in China. This meant that Chinese smartphone manufacturers would have to develop their own versions of Android.
• In 2012, Xiaomi launched its first smartphone running MIUI, a custom version of Android. MIUI is known for its user-friendly interface and is popular among Chinese smartphone users.
• In 2014, Google announced that it would return to China with a new version of Android. This version of Android would be designed specifically for the Chinese market and would include features such as support for Chinese characters and integration with local services.

Overview of the current state of Android in China

Android is the leading smartphone operating system in China, with a market share of over 80 percent as of July 2021. However, Android in China is not the same as Android in other markets, as it has been heavily customized and localized by different smartphone manufacturers and service providers.

One of the main reasons for the fragmentation of Android in China is the lack of Google services and apps, which are blocked by the Chinese government. This means that Chinese users cannot access the Google Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and other popular Google products on their Android devices. Instead, they have to rely on alternative app stores, such as Tencent’s MyApp, Baidu’s Mobile Assistant, Huawei’s AppGallery, and Xiaomi’s Mi Store, which offer different selections and quality of apps.

Another reason for the diversity of Android in China is the competition among domestic smartphone brands, such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Realme. These brands have developed their own versions of Android-based operating systems, such as EMUI, MIUI, ColorOS, FuntouchOS, OxygenOS2, and Realme UI, which have different features, interfaces, and optimizations. Some of these operating systems are also available for their overseas markets.

A third reason for the variation of Android in China is the emergence of a new mobile operating system called COS (China Operating System), which was unveiled by the Chinese government in 2014. COS is designed to compete with Android and iOS by offering a more secure, stable, and compatible platform for Chinese users and developers. COS is based on Linux and supports various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearable devices.

The current state of Android Operation System in China reflects the complex and dynamic nature of the Chinese smartphone market. It also poses challenges and opportunities for both local and foreign players who want to tap into this huge and growing market.

Android Market Share in China

Android is the leading smartphone operating system in China, with a market share of over 74 percent as of September 2022. This is followed by iOS, which has a market share of about 24 percent. The remaining share is occupied by unknown or other operating systems, such as SymbianOS, Samsung and Windows.

Android's dominance in China can be attributed to several factors, such as the availability of a wide range of devices from different vendors, the customization and localization of the Android platform by Chinese developers, and the lower cost of Android devices compared to iOS devices.

However, Android's market share in China has declined slightly from over 80 percent in 2021, due to the increasing popularity of iOS devices among Chinese consumers, especially the iPhone 12 series. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, iPhone 12 was the best-selling smartphone model in China in the first quarter of 2022, followed by three models from Huawei.

Huawei is the leading smartphone vendor in China, with a market share of over 30 percent in the first quarter of 2022. However, Huawei's sales have been affected by the U.S. sanctions and the lack of Google services on its devices. Other major smartphone vendors in China include Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi and Apple.

Android's market share in China is expected to remain stable or increase slightly in the future, as more Chinese consumers adopt 5G technology and as Android vendors launch more innovative and competitive products. According to a forecast by IDC, smartphone shipments in China will grow by 6.7 percent year-on-year in 2022, driven by 5G demand and product upgrades.

Android App Market in China

China has a unique and diverse app market that differs from the rest of the world. Due to the ban on Google and its services, including the Google Play Store, Chinese Android users have to rely on various third-party app stores to download and update their apps. There are now more than 400 third-party app stores in China, with local tech powerhouses (Tencent, Alibaba, Qihoo, Baidu), smartphone suppliers (Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo/Vivo) and mobile network providers (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) holding over 80 percent Android app market share in China.

Among these app stores, Huawei AppGallery is the top Android app store in China with a market share of about 44 percent as of May 2022. Huawei is a massive smartphone manufacturer in China and the leading Android app store. Huawei AppGallery offers a variety of apps and services for Huawei device users, such as Huawei Music, Huawei Video, Huawei Wallet and Huawei Cloud. Huawei AppGallery also supports HMS Core, which is Huawei's alternative to Google Mobile Services (GMS), providing basic services such as push notifications, location services, analytics and in-app purchases for app developers.

The second largest Android app store in China is Tencent MyApp, with a market share of about 16 percent as of May 2022. Tencent is another major tech company from China, known for its popular social media and gaming platforms such as WeChat, QQ and Tencent Games. Tencent MyApp is integrated with these platforms, allowing users to access their apps and mini-programs within the app store. Tencent MyApp also provides various features and benefits for app developers, such as traffic distribution, monetization support, user feedback and data analysis.

Other notable Android app stores in China include Oppo Software Store, Vivo App Store, Xiaomi App Store, 360 Mobile Assistant and Baidu Mobile Assistant. These app stores are mainly associated with specific smartphone brands or internet companies, and offer similar functions and services as Huawei AppGallery and Tencent MyApp. However, they also have their own characteristics and advantages that appeal to different segments of users and developers.

For example, Oppo Software Store is the default store installed on all Oppo phones sold in China, which are one of the leading smartphone brands in China with a growing market share of 21.72 percent in 2022. Oppo Software Store provides a rich selection of apps and games for Oppo users, as well as exclusive content and promotions. Oppo Software Store also supports ColorOS, which is Oppo's customized version of Android that offers enhanced performance and user experience.

Similarly, Vivo App Store is the default store installed on all Vivo phones sold in China, which are another leading smartphone brand in China with a market share of 17.22 percent as of May 2022. Vivo App Store offers a variety of apps and games for Vivo users, as well as exclusive content and promotions. Vivo App Store also supports Funtouch OS, which is Vivo's customized version of Android that offers improved functionality and user experience.

Xiaomi App Store is the default store installed on all Xiaomi phones sold in China, which are one of the most popular smartphone brands in China with a loyal fan base. Xiaomi App Store offers a wide range of apps and games for Xiaomi users, as well as exclusive content and promotions. Xiaomi App Store also supports MIUI, which is Xiaomi's customized version of Android that offers innovative features and user experience.

360 Mobile Assistant is one of the oldest and most established Android app stores in China, owned by Qihoo 360, a leading internet security company in China. 360 Mobile Assistant offers a comprehensive selection of apps and games for Android users, as well as security and optimization tools. 360 Mobile Assistant also supports 360 OS, which is Qihoo 360's customized version of Android that offers enhanced security and performance.

Baidu Mobile Assistant is one of the most influential Android app stores in China, owned by Baidu, the largest search engine company in China. Baidu Mobile Assistant offers a vast selection of apps and games for Android users, as well as search and recommendation features. Baidu Mobile Assistant also supports DuerOS, which is Baidu's voice-based artificial intelligence platform that offers voice interaction and smart services for app developers.

As can be seen, the Android app market in China is complex and dynamic, with different app stores competing and cooperating with each other. For app developers who want to succeed in the Chinese app market, it is essential to understand the characteristics and preferences of each app store and its users, and to adapt their apps and marketing strategies accordingly. It is also advisable to publish their apps on at least the top 10 or 15 app stores to reach the majority of the Chinese Android users. However, this also poses challenges such as complying with different app store policies and regulations, managing multiple app store accounts and updates, and optimizing app performance and compatibility across different devices and platforms.

Therefore, it is recommended to work with a professional and reliable partner who can help with the app localization, distribution and promotion in China. NextAppMarket is one such partner who has extensive experience and expertise in the Chinese app market. NextAppMarket can help app developers with the following services:

• App localization: NextAppMarket can help app developers to translate their app content and interface into simplified Chinese, as well as to adapt their app design and functionality to suit the Chinese user behavior and expectations.
• App distribution: NextAppMarket can help app developers to publish their apps on the top Android app stores in China, as well as to manage their app store accounts and updates. NextAppMarket can also help app developers to obtain the necessary licenses and certificates required by the Chinese authorities for app publishing.
• App promotion: NextAppMarket can help app developers to increase their app visibility and downloads in China, by using various online and offline marketing channels and methods, such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing (SMM), influencer marketing, app store optimization (ASO), paid advertising, press releases, events and more.

If you are interested in publishing your Android app in China, or want to learn more about the Chinese app market, please contact NextAppMarket today for a free consultation. We can help you to achieve your goals and grow your business in China.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided an overview of the Android ecology in China, covering the topics of Android market share, Android app market and Android app development. We have seen that China has a unique and diverse Android landscape, with various challenges and opportunities for app developers who want to enter and succeed in this market.

Some of the main points we have discussed are:

• Android is the dominant mobile operating system in China, with a market share of over 74 percent as of September 2022.
• China has a fragmented and competitive Android app market, with more than 400 third-party app stores and different smartphone brands and internet companies holding significant market shares.
• The top Android app stores in China are Huawei AppGallery, Tencent MyApp, Oppo Software Store, Vivo App Store, Xiaomi App Store, 360 Mobile Assistant and Baidu Mobile Assistant.
• Each Android app store has its own characteristics and advantages that appeal to different segments of users and developers, such as exclusive content and promotions, customized versions of Android, voice-based artificial intelligence platforms and security and optimization tools.
• To succeed in the Chinese app market, app developers need to understand the characteristics and preferences of each app store and its users, and to adapt their apps and marketing strategies accordingly.
• It is advisable to publish apps on at least the top 10 or 15 app stores to reach the majority of the Chinese Android users. However, this also poses challenges such as complying with different app store policies and regulations, managing multiple app store accounts and updates, and optimizing app performance and compatibility across different devices and platforms.
• It is recommended to work with a professional and reliable partner who can help with the app localization, distribution and promotion in China. NextAppMarket is one such partner who has extensive experience and expertise in the Chinese app market.

We hope that this article has given you a comprehensive and insightful overview of the Android ecology in China, and has inspired you to explore this exciting and lucrative market. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.

Published at January 10th, 2023