![](/static/253f0d9b/assets/icons/icon-96x96.png)
![](https://lemdro.id/pictrs/image/6d56629c-a7b1-465d-8b58-ad77926e3a41.png)
I don’t think SMIC refuses to sell to non-Chinese companies. Nokia mostly uses Unisoc chips, which are made in China (not sure if by SMIC).
But if they did, it would be a pretty serious problem, since I don’t think SMIC even has a viable competitor in the entry-level smartphone chip market.
It could be a different stratum of society. Maybe like politicians and businessmen. They say ~5% of Indians have iPhones, but I only know two people with iPhones (and one was second-hand).