Entering era of smarter homes

Chinese smartphone makers set for battle royal after defeating most of the international giants

The slowing growth in handset sales is unlikely to diminish overall buoyancy in the market this year, as local players, big and small, square up for what could be a battle royal, after effectively defeating the previously dominant overseas giants on the home front.

Under siege for more than a year now, embattled Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, especially, is set to lose its market lead to at least two Chinese brands, Xiaomi Corp and Lenovo Group Ltd.