Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has entered the Hong Kong market with the launch of its latest model, the X20.

It will soon also take its products to Taiwan, Singapore and Russia, followed by a push into Africa early next year.

With sharp growth in the past year, Chinese smartphone brands now hold a record 48 per cent of global share, says technology research company Counterpoint. Vivio’s V7+ is already attracting strong sales in India, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

“Since our first entry into the international markets in 2014, we have been dedicated to understanding the needs of consumers through in-depth research,” says Vivo senior VP Alex Feng.

US research company Gartner says Vivo ranked fifth in global smartphone sales for the second quarter of this year in terms of volume, with 6.6 per cent  market share.

Founded in 2009, Vivo is known for its innovative phone cameras and was the first brand to launch a smartphone with a dedicated Hi-Fi chip. It is the official sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.