[citation][nom]rantoc[/nom]Seems the Chinese goes for functionality and choice rather than shiny![/citation]
No they go by price. Their average income is factions compared to North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. Those with the income go for the higher end products like Apple.
If you ask people if they want an iPhone in India and China the answer would be yes, if you ask them can they afford it the answer is no.
Average person in China makes $5000 a year. Average American makes $40000.
a $700 iPhone costs an American 1.75% of their Gross. For the Average Chinese its 14%.
That's like an iPhone costing $5600 in the USA. Obviously the market share is going to be smaller, but the actual Gross and Net income made by Apple is significant with a small market share in China.
The Demand curve is very high for iPhone in China considering the cost of it.
Nothing to do with "functionality and choice rather than shiny!". Its all about cost and affordability.