Chinese Giants Meet India’s New Contender

Nepal’s smartphone market is on an upward trajectory, with annual imports growing by 10-15%. The past fiscal year has been record-breaking. In 2024/25, Nepal imported over 2.18 million smartphones worth Rs 35.54 billion—the highest in four years, marking a 19% jump in volume compared with the previous year.

China continues to dominate the market, supplying over 70% of the country’s smartphones. Brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, HMD, Vivo, Infinix and realme are locked in fierce competition for budget and mid-range consumers, particularly students and first-time buyers.

August witnessed a wave of Chinese product launches, followed by Apple’s arrival in late September with the iPhone 17 series and the feather-light iPhone Air. October, however, introduced a new challenger, India’s Ai+ smartphones, with a focus on affordability, privacy, and domestic tech pride. The same month, Xiaomi, HONOR, and Vivo rolled out fresh line-ups spanning budget, mid-range and flagship segments.

Here are some of the new launches of the past month.

Vivo Y21D: Durable, Affordable, and Feature-Rich

On October 5, Vivo refreshed its Y-series lineup with the Y21D, targeting students, travelers, and everyday users seeking a robust yet stylish device. Priced at Rs 21,499 (6GB+128GB) and Rs 23,499 (8GB+128GB), the Y21D emphasizes durability without compromising on features. IP68/69 dust and water resistance, dedicated underwater photography mode, and One-Tap Water Ejection and Dust Removal functions are some of the features of the new phone. A 6,500mAh battery paired with 44W FlashCharge offers up to 21.6 hours of YouTube streaming and charges from 20% to full in about 75 minutes. The Y21D delivers smooth performance with 6GB or 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and features such as Circle to Search with Google, Passkey, AI Screen Translation, Face Unlock compatible with masks and helmets, and Glove Mode. Its 6.6-inch Dotch display provides up to 1,000 nits brightness, a 90Hz refresh rate, Blue-Light Certification, and Eye-Protection Mode. Dual 400% large-volume stereo speakers enhance audio output.

Photography is handled by a 50MP HD main camera with AI Photo Enhancement, Multi-Style Portraits, and Night Filters.

Xiaomi 15T: Flagship-Level Photography and AI Performance

Xiaomi’s new 15T, launched on October 6, brings Leica-grade optics and advanced AI capabilities to Nepal’s premium segment. Its triple-camera setup co-engineered with Leica includes a 50MP main lens, a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. A 32MP front camera handles selfies and video calls.

Weighing 194 grams and measuring 7.5mm thick, the phone features a matte finish and rounded edges. Performance is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra chipset, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage. HyperOS 2 runs on the device, with an upgrade to HyperOS 3 planned.

The 6.83-inch AMOLED display offers 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. A 5,500mAh battery with 67W HyperCharge ensures all-day usage, and IP68 certification with Gorilla Glass 7i protection adds durability. Priced at Rs 64,999, the Xiaomi 15T is available in Black, Grey, and Rose Gold across authorized retailers.

HONOR X7d: Premium Features on a Budget

Unveiled in Nepal on October 14, the HONOR X7d caters to consumers seeking value without compromising design and functionality. Globally unveiled in August 2025, the X7d combines durability, security, and performance at an attractive price point.

The device features SGS Gold-level Five-Star Drop Protection and IP65 water resistance, making it resilient to accidental drops and splashes. Photography enthusiasts can leverage its 108MP main camera with AI tools such as AI Out Painting, AI Cutout, and AI Eyes Open.

With 8GB RAM (expandable to 16GB) and 256GB or 512GB storage, the X7d runs on MagicOS 9 based on Android 15. A 6,500mAh battery supports 35W fast charging. Prices range from Rs 26,999 (256GB) to Rs 30,999 (512GB), with flexible financing options and promotional gifts like Honor Choice Earbuds X7e Active.

Vivo V60 Lite: AI Portraits and TravelReady Design

On October 16, Vivo introduced the V60 Lite, marketed as a “Travel Portrait Perfect Partner”. Available in 4G and 5G variants, it targets photography enthusiasts and everyday users. The device’s AI Aura Light Portrait 3.0 provides lighting 73 times softer than standard flashes, with smart controls adjusting to ambient conditions. AI tools including AI Four-Season Portrait, AI Erase 3.0, and AI Enhance streamline editing.

Vivo has equipped the V60 Lite with a 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 32MP front camera. The design features a Titanium Blue or Elegant Black finish, transparent camera module, ultra-thin bezels, and a slim body. Performance is handled by MediaTek 7360 Turbo 5G (5G variant) or Snapdragon 685 (4G variant), with RAM options of 12GB+12GB extended for 5G and 8GB+8GB for 4G. The phone comes with storage of 256GB. The 6.77-inch AMOLED display offers 120Hz refresh, and dual stereo speakers deliver immersive audio. Pricing is Rs 39,999 (4G) and Rs 48,999 (5G).

Ai+: India’s Homegrown Challenger

October marked the arrival of Ai+, India’s latest smartphone brand, with devices emphasizing affordability, performance, and privacy. Introduced by NxtQuantum in India on July 8, Ai+ claims to be the country’s first fully “authored” smartphone—designed, built, and operated domestically. Its NxtQuantum OS, based on Android 15, prioritizes secure Indian data storage and a zero-trust security framework.

Nepal sales began on October 16 with two series: Pulse and Nova, both featuring 6.7-inch HD+ displays. Pulse supports a 90Hz refresh rate, while Nova 5G offers 120Hz, a rarity for budget smartphones. The phones feature minimalist designs with rectangular rear camera modules, side-mounted fingerprint scanners, and premium finishes.

Performance comes from Unisoc T615 (Pulse) and T8200 (Nova 5G) processors, paired with 4GB–8GB RAM. Both models feature a 50MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, a 5,000mAh battery, dual SIM, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Privacy-first tools include NxtPrivacy Dashboard, NxtSafe Space, and NxtMove App. Ai+ promises Android 16 updates and three years of security patches, positioning itself as a budget-friendly, secure alternative to Chinese rivals.

This article was first published in the November 2025 edition of New Business Age magazine.