Australian Oppo distributor OMC Electronics, who are loaded with debt, is tipped to quit the premium smartphone market, due to poor sales and delisting by retailers claim insiders.
The exception will be the new Oppo Find N2 foldable device which will shortly have to contend with new foldable smartphones from arch-rivals Samsung and Motorola.
ChannelNews has been told by a former senior manager, that the business which recently saw several directors replaced, including Yuchen Hou the Group CEO of the local business.
Yuchen Hou
He owns a separate business Harmony United, that loaned the distributor $30m last year.
“The premium market is primarily going to Samsung and Apple and Oppo is not seen as a premium brand other than by some Chinese nationals living in Australia. The exception is their new Find N2 Flip” they said.
“This is the reason that they are exiting the premium market” they claimed.
The Oppo Find N2 Flip which was launched in March at Mobile World Congress, is a flip phone and a smartphone. Its folding screen puts it in the same category as Samsung’s Galaxy Z series phones, and side by side with Samsung’s Galaxy Flip, both of which are set to be replaced with new models in July.
Also coming is a brand new Razr foldable from Motorola.
Michael Tran who claims he is the worldwide Marketing Director of Chinese brand Oppo has not responded to our questions re the business which witnessed a 23% fall in sales last financial year.
ChannelNews understands that the business will continue to compte in the value and mid market.
