Xiaomi leads India smartphone shipments despite 25 percent year-on-year dip: IDC
Smartphone shipments in India fell over 27 percent to 29.6 million in the October-December quarter of 2022 from 40.6 million in the same period a year ago, mainly due to inflationary pressures, market research firm IDC said on Friday.
The report said that weakening consumer demand due to high inflation remained a challenge throughout the year despite improved supply conditions.
Smartphone sales in the sub-$300 (approximately Rs. 25,000) price segment declined by 15 percent, while the mid-premium and premium price segments of $300-500 and above USD 500 (Rs. 41,000) grew by 20 percent and 55 percent, respectively, in 2022.
Entry-level smartphones, which cost less than Rs 12,500 each, fell to 46 percent from 54 percent a year ago.
IDC India, Research Manager, Client Devices, Upasana Joshi said that the lack of new launches in the sub-$150 (approximately Rs 12,000) smartphone segment was limiting its growth.
According to Navkendar Singh, Associate Vice President of Devices Research at IDC, rising prices and excess inventory will be a concern at least through the first half of this year.
“We should expect a difficult and prolonged recovery in the smartphone market as concerns over rising prices and excess inventory will remain a concern at least into the first half of 2023.
“Vendors and channel partners should rethink their plans for their entry-level portfolios and promote affordability of 5G devices with attractive trade-in programs and financing schemes,” Singh said.
Xiaomi was the market leader in the quarter and year-on-year with 18.6 percent and 21 percent market share, respectively, despite a massive drop in shipments year-on-year.
Xiaomi’s shipments declined by 38.3 percent in the December quarter of 2022 and by 25 percent year-on-year in 2022.
Apple maintained its lead in the premium segment with a 60 percent share, followed by Samsung with a 21 percent share.
Samsung smartphone shipments fell 22.6 percent in the December 2022 quarter and 6.6 percent during the year.
Samsung was again the second largest player in the market this quarter, with 18.4 percent and 18.1 percent of smartphones sold respectively.
A total of 201 million mobile phones were shipped in 2022, a year-on-year decline of 12 percent.
“Feature phone shipments totaled 57 million, down 18 percent year-on-year. Samsung, Xiaomi and Transsion were the leading companies in the total mobile phone market,” the report said.
