Gionee's M2017 on display at the product launch ceremony held on Dec 26, 2016 in Haikou, Hainan province. [Liu Zheng/chinadaily.com.cn]

James Yan, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, was optimistic about the product's performance in China, where Gionee has established its brand as a good option for middle-aged business people in recent years.

"Privacy protection and acceptable battery life are two of the key selling points for Gionee to meet the demands of the target buyers," Yan said.

He reckoned that the monthly shipments of the M2017 were likely to reach the range of 100,000 to 150,000 units.