Last October proved to be a particularly bustling month in the smartphone industry, with flagship models from leading manufacturers making their grand debuts in a display reminiscent of a divine battle. Wang Teng, a former Xiaomi employee and ex-general manager of the REDMI brand, who has extensive experience in the smartphone sector, shared his insights after personally testing various devices.

“The product experiences and functional configurations of each brand are continuously improving, with products becoming more and more refined. However, they are also increasingly resembling each other, from size proportions to back layouts,” he remarked. It is evident that Wang Teng not only recognizes the significant advancements made by domestic smartphones but also highlights an uncomfortable industry reality: increasing homogenization. It is worth noting that despite being unemployed for an extended period, his ability to provide professional and insightful commentary remains unaffected.

As Wang Teng pointed out, major players in the industry still need to make substantial efforts in differentiation to achieve continuous upward breakthroughs. However, he can no longer be a part of this process and will only observe the development of domestic smartphones as an ordinary user. Incidentally, his Weibo profile indicates that Wang Teng is already using the newly released REDMI K90 Pro Max. His strong preference for REDMI is entirely understandable.

Subsequently, he changed the topic and revealed his latest plans. Wang Teng disclosed that he had recently received job offers from several companies. However, considering non-compete restrictions and personal interests, he decided to bid farewell to the smartphone industry. “Starting from November, I plan to explore new fields. The general direction is the technology + health sector, with specifics still under development,” he hinted that he would completely exit the smartphone circle and embark on an entrepreneurial journey in the technology + health field.

Wang Teng's major decision to leave the smartphone industry is closely linked to his abrupt departure from Xiaomi two months ago. At that time, Xiaomi revealed a shocking scandal: Wang Teng, an employee in the China Market Department, leaked confidential company information and engaged in serious violations, including conflicts of interest, leading to his dismissal by Xiaomi. This Wang Teng is none other than the well-known general manager of the REDMI brand, who also held the position of general manager of the Xiaomi China Market Department.

The news quickly trended on Weibo's hot search list, with outside speculation about the true reasons for Wang Teng's departure and the emergence of various rumors. In response, he personally stated on Weibo, “I feel ashamed and apologize to everyone. I made some mistakes in the past and accept the consequences.” Wang Teng also expressed his gratitude to Xiaomi's leader Lei Jun and various company leaders for their cultivation and trust over the years, expressing his reluctance to leave. He assured that he would continue to support Xiaomi and REDMI as always in the future. “Thank you to many friends for their support. I'll take a break before starting anew!”

Now, after nearly two months of rest, Wang Teng should have had enough time to recharge, and it's time for him to embark on a new journey. His revelation about the existence of non-compete restrictions preventing him from joining other smartphone manufacturers to continue his career is not surprising. After all, although Wang Teng is not a Xiaomi executive (at the vice president level), he belongs to the middle and upper management and can be considered a leading figure among the younger generation. Finding a good job in the smartphone circle would be relatively easy for him, with positions like product director or even general manager within reach.

Obviously, Xiaomi could not allow such a talented individual to join competitors and compete against them while working for them. Naturally, they would require Wang Teng to sign a non-compete agreement upon his departure. This means that we will no longer see the interesting and insightful Wang Teng at smartphone product launch events, which is truly regrettable! In other words, even if he wanted to continue in the smartphone industry, restricted by the non-compete agreement, it would be nearly impossible for him to work normally at his next job without being recognized. After all, the smartphone circle is relatively small, and any movement of middle and upper-level talent would be known through inquiries, making it impossible to hide.

Given this harsh reality and driven by personal interests, Wang Teng can only choose to go it alone and start a business in the technology + health field at his next stop. Entrepreneurship is not easy; it's more like embarking on an adventure. Lei Jun once said that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted but for those willing to take risks. I deeply bless Wang Teng and hope he can carve out his own path in his prime years, with vast opportunities ahead.

Perhaps, Wang Teng will officially announce his entrepreneurial project soon, at which time he may also disclose financing progress. By the way, Wang Teng has worked with Lei Jun for many years and has a good private relationship. One can boldly speculate whether Xiaomi or Shunwei might invest in Wang Teng's entrepreneurial project. If they do, it would mean the two sides have reconnected in a different form and can still collaborate harmoniously.

Go Wang Teng! We look forward to him bringing more innovations to the health sector. Let's wait and see what unfolds.