Due to the second Kovid-19 wave and associated state-wide lockdown, India could see a significant 15-20 percent drop in smartphone shipments in the April-June period (Q2) 2021.
What's more, supply chain disruptions and component shortages will continue to test smartphone brands, according to market intelligence firm CMR.
"That said, with remote work and e-learning continuing to gain permanence, it potentially bodes well for smartphone industry prospects in H2 2021. While current market conditions remain turbulent, we remain cautiously optimistic of the smartphone industry prospects going forward,” pointed out Anand Priya Singh, Analyst- Industry Intelligence Group, CMR.
Meanwhile, CMR’s India Mobile Handset Market Review Report for Q1 2021 said that total smartphone shipments in India in the three months ending March grew 23% YoY, with strong demand for 4G smartphones. In Q1 2021, 4G smartphone shipments grew 14% YoY.
Xiaomi (28%), Samsung (18%), and Vivo (16%) captured the top three spots in the smartphone leaderboard in Q1 2021. Oppo shipments grew by 16% YoY. OnePlus led the 5G smartphone segment with a 33% market share followed by Realme at 14%.
The 5G smartphone shipments accounted for 7% of the overall smartphone shipments in Q1 2021, said the report.
The feature phone segment increased 21% YoY primarily driven by Jio’s new 4G Feature phone. The 2G feature phone segment grew 9% YoY, with itel (20%), Samsung (20%), and Lava (19%) capturing the top three spots.
Shipra Sinha, Analyst-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR, said: “Q1 2021 recorded the highest-ever shipments in three years. It also marked an extended good run for the smartphone market, on the back of continued pent-up consumer demand driven by continued everything-from-home context. Xiaomi remained on top in smartphone shipments, and POCO’s remarkable growth bodes well for Xiaomi. It is facing tough competition from the likes of Samsung and Vivo. During Q1, OPPO continued to build on its growth momentum, with new 5G-capable offerings.”
