Gionee unveils full-screen smartphone

A model takes photos with M7 at the product launch in Beijing. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shenzhen-based smartphone maker Gionee has unveiled its first-ever full-screen smartphone, in its push to scramble for a presence in China's fiercely competitive autumn smartphone war.

M7, as the new device is called, comes with a 6.01-inch AMOLED screen, which can deliver high-definition viewing experiences for consumers.

Unlike rivals such as Xiaomi Corp and Vivo, who are targeting young consumers, Gionee wants to impress businesspeople and professionals by highlighting its security functions.

The new handset, priced from 2,799 yuan ($421), comes with two built-in security encryption chips, one for protecting personal information and the other for ensuring mobile payment security.

M7 also features a large battery with a capacity of 4000mAh and a dual-camera setup, which the company said can take 3D photos.

A report from US telecom research company Strategy Analytics said that Gionee is among the top smartphone brands in China and ranked in the top 10 worldwide, with 30 million handsets sold last year.

Gionee is also stepping up efforts to expand its presence in India. It is one of five Chinese brands which collectively held more than half of India's smartphone market in the second quarter of this year, according to a report by Canalys.