China’s mobile internet develops rapidly, and mobile internet users in the four-tier cities begin to rise according to a recent report from TalkingData.
By Q3 2015, China is expected to see 1.24 billion active smartphones. From Q4 2014 to Q3 201, the number of mobile devices at the end of each quarter is 1.0615, 1.1315, 1.1815 and 1.2415 billion respectively, but the growth is slowing.
The post-80s, post-90s, and post-00s, combined account for over 72% of the total mobile internet users. Young people under 25 years old account for more than 36.6%.
The growth of China’s mobile users in tier-1 cities is 35.5%; tier-2 33.2% and tier-3 and lower tiers 41.5%.
Users in first-tier cities install and open the most number of mobile apps (43.6).
Brand concentration of mobile devices declines, and domestic smartphone brands continue to gain market share. There is no doubt that Apple is still the leading brand although its market share dropped slightly, followed by Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei.
In January 2015, China’s mobile internet users with Wi-Fi connection account for 56.9% of total; in July 2015, it dropped to 54.9%,. In contrast, 4G network users increase from 5.2% in January 2015 to 11% in July 2015.
Mobile internet users tend to spend less time on traditional apps but more engaged with lifestyle apps. Usage of online gaming apps fell from 34.7% to 34.1%. Social communication, video player, online shopping apps saw different levels of decrease in usage time. Education, healthy care, news, traffic navigation and finance apps gained more usage time. This part of the data presents a very clear development direction of mobile internet to investors and developers.
Among the top 20 mobile apps by the number of monthly users, WeChat accounts for 76.3%, QQ 76.1%, Taobao 40.2%, Alipay wallet 35%, Sogou mobile input 31%.
Also read: China Mobile Shopping in Counties Over $32.16B in 2014