The hidden cost of affordable high-end phones in China

"Affordable high-end phones."

This phrase sounds like a self-contradicting mix of words, but it is exactly what flagship phones in China seem to be. Launching at prices severely undercutting high-end phones like Samsung Galaxies and especially Apple's iPhones in the West, these devices claim to have an identical set of features and hardware, just for a lower price.

But there is a catch.

One of the big stars of the Chinese smartphone market is Xiaomi, a poster child for the "affordable high-end ...