Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 29, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleOppo anticipates AI features to boost smartphone demand in China and Europe, dismissing AI bubble fears. Young users drive interest in AI-enabled phones.
By Joan Faus
BARCELONA (Reuters) -Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is seeing signs of new artificial intelligence features in phones helping boost demand in China and is upbeat about growing in Europe, unfazed by the risk of an AI bubble in the industry, a top executive said on Tuesday.
Oppo's Chief Executive for Europe, Elvis Zhou, told Reuters its observation of the Chinese market had led it to believe that "AI will drive people to think about replacing their phones".
"So we believe that with AI, we will see that the overall market will also grow in the smartphone industry," he said, speaking in Mandarin through a translator. He spoke during a launch in Barcelona of its phone model Find X9 Pro, which includes AI features.
Zhou said company surveys were showing that users under 35 were particularly driven by AI features in their phones, including for translation and photo editing.
"I don't think it's a bubble for our industry," he said, referring to AI.
Announcements of multi-billion-dollar investments in AI have raised concerns among investors in recent months about the formation of a bubble reminiscent of the 1990s dotcom boom that subsequently crashed.
Zhou said Oppo saw the European market as second only to China in terms of growth potential. It would not be driven by prices, as Oppo considers it a market for high-end smartphones, but rather by phone features such as durability, he added.
In the second quarter of this year, Oppo ranked fifth among phone brands in terms of shipments to Western Europe, according to data provided by the company.
(Reporting by Joan Faus; Editing by Andrei Khalip, Aidan Lewis)
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn like humans. It encompasses various technologies, including machine learning and natural language processing.
A smartphone is a mobile device that combines cellular and mobile computing functions. It typically features a touchscreen interface, internet connectivity, and the ability to run applications.
Market expansion is a growth strategy where a company seeks to increase its market share by entering new markets or increasing sales in existing markets.
Consumer perception is the way consumers view and interpret a brand or product based on their experiences, beliefs, and attitudes. It significantly influences purchasing decisions.
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