Why did you pay so much for expensive Smart Phone?

There was a time when it would have seemed farfetched to carry computers in our pockets – but today, it has become commonplace to have a smartphone on us at all times. But why do we carry expensive iPhones and Galaxies, when some Chinese-brand phones offer remarkable specs at a fraction of the price?

When the first quarter phone sales figures for 2017 were announced in May, it came to light that the worldwide smartphone market grew 9.1 percent. Leading sales in North America were Apple and Samsung, and this comes as no surprise. These companies have a long history of marketing their products to North American buyers, and from a psychological perspective, the more a consumer is exposed to ads for a certain product, the more likely they are to buy them. But Chinese manufacturers like LeTV/LeEco and Doogee are rarely seen in the hands of Americans. This is because Chinese manufacturers have yet to tap into the potential of the American market.

The Letv Le 3 Pro, for example, has an MSRP of around $350. The phone comes equipped with 64GB memory, a 16MP rear camera with 4K video recording, an 8MP front-facing camera, and a high resolution screen. Compare this to the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, which has an MSRP of around $769. This $769 model has a mere 32GB memory, a 12MP rear camera, a 7MP front-facing camera, and a high resolution screen. For a fraction of the price, you can get twice the memory and a better camera – so why aren’t American consumers flocking in droves to buy a LeEco smartphone?

Basic Comparison	Letv Le 3 Pro	Apple iPhone 7 +
Storage Memory	64GB	32 GB
Rear Camera	14MP	12 MP
Front Camera	8MP	7 MP
Processor and RAM	4x core, 4GB RAM	4x core 3GB RAM
Screen Size/resolution	5.5″ FHD (1080P)	5.5″ IPS (1080P)
Cost in US Dollars*	$349*	$769*

There are factors other than specs that play a role in Americans purchasing Apple and Samsung phones. The iPhone has been seen in the hands of celebrities, and has received endorsements from many famous faces – the recent The Rock X Siri ad showed the power of Siri in the hands of one of this year’s biggest stars, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Clever marketing aside, there is also stigma surrounding smartphones (as crazy as that sounds.) FOMO, or fear of missing out, plays a large role in the minds of consumers – if all your friends are talking about the iPhone 7, what incentive do you have to purchase a phone from a Chinese manufacturer?

Companies like Apple and Samsung rely on a simple fact – Americans are slaves to advertising. It’s not like the websites for Chinese smartphone makers such as Xiomi, ZTE, and Huawei are hidden. Americans are simply unaware there is anything out there but their iPhone or Galaxy.

Disclaimer: Phone specs/cost may vary and change at any time post article release.