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The Average Chinese Smartphone User Makes $12,698 Per Year

Smartphone usage in China has exploded over the past few years. This year, China finally blew past the US to become the biggest consumer of smartphones, making up 20.7 percent of the global smartphone market to America’s paltry 20.6 percent. But even though many of them are made in China, these phones don’t come cheap. A recent ProsperChina survey found that smartphone users in China, on average, make about 80,000 RMB per year ($12,698). Although that’s actually a pretty good yearly salary by Chinese standards, especially considering that smartphone users tend to be young, it might seem low to readers overseas. After all, an iPhone in China can run nearly $1,000 just for the device itself, depending in the model, options, and timing. But it’s worth noting that Chinese users typically pay much less for phone service than, say, Americans. Moreover, many Chinese smartphone users opt for cheaper 2G service rather than springing for pricier 3G plans. The number does indiciate that the expansion of smartphone use in China could run up against a wall when the wealthier market is thoroughly saturated and people with lower incomes can’t afford the devices. But with more low-cost, high-powered devices appearing each year (see: Xiaomi), it’s likely smartphone use will continue to grow, and the average yearly salary of smartphone users may start to shrink.