Smartphone sales drop sharply due to epidemic

Text by: RFI Follow

The smartphone industry has not escaped the shock wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Sales fell more than 20% in the first quarter globally, the largest decline ever experienced by the sector according to the firm Gartner which publishes the figures, even if everyone is not in the same boat.

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Four of the five biggest smartphone brands have seen a significant drop in sales. Huawei took the full wave selling 27% less in the first quarter of this year than in the first three months of 2019. Samsung and Oppo are not outdone while Apple has limited the case registering a drop of 8%. Only Xiaomi is doing well with growth of 1.4%.

If Huawei is the most affected, it is mainly because of its high exposure to the Chinese market, confined earlier than the others. Apple is doing better, says Gartner, because the brand had a good start to the year with its new line and is less present in the middle empire. It will therefore be necessary to monitor its performance in the second half when Europe and the United States are in turn confined.

The specialist advisory group IDC expects a contraction for the entire sector of 25% in value in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Beyond the coronavirus, in the coming years, brands will have to face the growing interest in second-hand phones. IDC forecasts growth in this segment of 13% per year until 2023.

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• Coronavirus