Despite the coronavirus threatening to bog down smartphone production, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun confirmed that the company is pressing ahead with its plan to launch 10 5G phones this year. Jun reiterated the company’s commitment to this goal during the Thursday launch of the Mi 10, Xiaomi’s latest flagship phone and the most expensive in the Mi series to date thanks to 5G connectivity.
Smartphone makers are already facing shortages due to the deadly new coronavirus spreading through China. Asus reported delays on the ROG Phone II in India and Xiaomi’s sub-brand Realme announced that several of its models were affected in China. Chinese companies Lenovo, Xiaomi and Oppo could also face manufacturing issues, as could Apple.
This week, Lei Jun urged China’s smartphone industry to return to work as soon as possible. Xiaomi is competing with Huawei, Samsung and various mid-range local brands to grab up 5G market share. Vivo has proven to have an early advantage in 5G phone sales thanks to its more affordable options. It’s planning to offer a new 5G handset this year for the paltry price of US$280. Oppo spinoff Realme announced it’s giving up on phones without 5G altogether.