Global smartphone sales dropped 20.2 percent year-on-year to 299.1 million units, according to Gartner. The global shelter-in-place orders combined with the economic uncertainty brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic led to demand for smartphones collapsing, as consumers stopped spending on nonessential products during the first quarter, the market researcher said.
All of the top five smartphone vendors recorded a decline in unit sales in the first quarter of 2020, except for Xiaomi. Strong sales of Redmi devices in international markets and aggressive online channel focus led Xiaomi to achieve better than expected sales of 27.8 million units, good for a market share of 9.3 percent, or 2 percent points more than a year earlier.
Market leader Samsung’s smartphone sales declined 22.7 percent to an estimated 55.3 million units. Its market share of 18.5 percent was down from 19.1 percent in Q1 2019. Number two Huawei fell to a share of 14.2 percent from 15.6 percent a year ago, as its sales dropped 27.3 percent to 42.5 million units.
Apple outperformed the market, limiting the drop in sales to 8.2 percent. As a result its market share rose to 13.7 percent from 11.9 percent in Q1 2019.
Oppo was in fifth place in the market, with an 8.0 percent share, little changed year-on-year. Its unit sales were down 19.1 percent to 23.9 million.
