When it comes to Chinese tech companies, many always compare them to Apple. Which is a bit unfair, but many of them do build smartphones that look very similar to the iPhone as well as forking Android to make it look like iOS. So the criticism is there for a reason. LeEco, who was LeTV not too long ago, announced a few new devices in Beijing last week. And also showed off their electric car, which is currently still a prototype, named the LeSEE. The company’s CEO, has been promoting the event as well as the products his company debuted at the event in recent interviews. Including one with CNBC where he called Apple “Outdated”.
LeEco’s CEO, Jia Yueting, spoke with CNBC and stated that the difference between his company and Apple is “very large”. Noting that “Apple is a mobile phone company focused on hardware and software”. While LeEco is “focused on the internet first, and only then on software and finally on hardware.” Remember, LeEco was known as the “Netflix of China”. So while they are looking to sell smartphones now, they do also sell content and do it very well. That’s actually how they plan to offset the cost of the LeSEE. Yueting also noted that “Apple only has individual apps. This was the right choice during the first generation of mobile net.” Adding on that we are “moving into the next era of mobile internet, these problems no longer exist.” And also called Apple outdated, in the interview.
Yueting also gave his insight on Apple’s slowing sales. Noting that “Apple’s innovation has become extremely slow”. Using the iPhone SE as an example, that “from an industry insider’s perspective, this is a product with a very low level of technology. We think this is something they just shouldn’t have done.”
Of course, Yueting isn’t expected to agree with Apple’s decisions. As Apple is a competitor of his, and he’d rather you buy his smartphones and not Apple’s. But he does make a rather valid point here. The iPhone hasn’t changed much since 2008, when the first iPhone launched. Apple has basically kept the same philosophy when it comes to their hardware and software. Keeping it nice and simple.