Global smartphone market sinks to lowest Q3 level since 2014
However, shipments are unlikely to reach last year's levels, let alone pre-pandemic Q4 levels of over 400 million units.
Global smartphone sales to end users totalled 328.8 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 10.8 per cent year over year, a new report said on Wednesday.
According to a report by Gartner, overall global mobile phone sales grew 10.2 per cent despite supply constraints due to Covid-19 related production disruption and component shortages.
“Reinforced shelter-in-place instructions and factory shut-downs in India and Vietnam due to the second wave of Covid-19, along with closure of retail businesses and restrictions on online deliveries affected smartphone sales negatively in the second quarter after a strong start in beginning of 2021,” said Anshul Gupta, senior research director at Gartner said in a statement.
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Samsung expanded its 5G smartphone lineup at entry and midrange prices to target growth opportunities in 5G segments in the second quarter of 2021. The company maintained the number position among the top five global smartphone vendors.
Xiaomi’s worldwide smartphone sales overtook Apple in the second quarter, placing Xiaomi at the number 2 position for the first time. Xiaomi registered 80.5 per cent growth in its smartphone sales owing to a stronger online presence and fast expansion in the global markets beyond Asia/Pacific led by investments in retail channels and partnerships with communication service providers (CSPs).
While Apple sales grew 28.3 per cent year over year and its market share increased 2.1 per cent year-over-year.
Other Chinese smartphone vendors Oppo and Vivo grew 42.4 per cent and 41.6 per cent respectively, in the second quarter of 2021. Aggressively priced mid-tier smartphones, a wider distribution network and robust marketing campaigns in Western Europe boosted the growth of Oppo.
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