Smartphone shipments in China in 2020 dropped by 20.4% from 2020, according to data from the Chinese government. The released data shows that the number of handsets delivered to consumers dropped to 296 fell from 372 million in 2019.
The China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT), a state-backed think tank, attributed the reason for the drop; as due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the supply chain and demand. Because of slowing income and slowing supply, the ongoing trend for consumers to keep their phones for longer before upgrading to a new model.
Already from 2019, smartphone shipments had declined by 4% from 2018 according to data from CAICT. According to handset vendors had entered 2020 with the hopes that sales would pick up as consumers purchased new phones compatible with China’s rapidly-expanding 5G networks.
Also read:
– Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 480 5G Processor For Budget Smartphones
– Samsung To Launch New Galaxy Smartphones On January 14, 2021
– HP Announces The Elite Dragonfly G2 And The Elite Dragonfly Max
According to Reuters, domestic brands Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi Corp each saw steep shipment declines while Huawei; the leading Chinese brand at the high-end, had continued to increase its market share in the first half of 2020.
However, Huawei began experiencing declining sales due to trade restrictions by the Trump administration. The restriction crippled Huawei’s supply of critical components upsetting its supply.
Apple released its first 5G-enabled handsets in China in 2020. Analysts continue to be optimistic about its reception as loyal iPhone owners who once delayed upgrading can purchase the new phones.
Smartphone makers shipped 25.2 million smartphones to consumers in China in December 2020. This marks a 12.8% year-on-year decline, according to CAICT data.
For your daily dose of tech, lifestyle, and trending content, make sure to follow Plat4om on Twitter @Plat4omLive, on Instagram @Plat4om, on LinkedIn at Plat4om, and on Facebook at Plat4om. You can also email us at info@techtalkwithtdafrica.com and join our channel on Telegram at Plat4om. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.