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Tag: Smartphones

  • Apple to Unveil First Foldable iPhone as Sector Shipments Grow 30%

    Apple to Unveil First Foldable iPhone as Sector Shipments Grow 30%

    Apple is expected to unveil its maiden foldable iPhone at its Cupertino headquarters later on Wednesday, entering a product category where Asian rivals hold a combined 70 per cent share.

    Samsung leads the global foldable smartphone sector with a share of about 40 per cent, followed by Huawei with 30 per cent, according to research firm Counterpoint.

    The new handset is expected to adopt a wider passport-style aspect ratio geared toward video and media consumption, arriving as supply-chain advances make flexible displays more durable and less prone to creasing.

    Asian Rivals Defend Premium Dominance

    For Samsung and Huawei, Apple’s entry turns a high-margin hardware niche into an open battleground across Asian retail channels. Both manufacturers spent years refining flexible hardware, using early technical missteps to improve hinge durability and lock down premium market share in China, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

    Asian component suppliers and display manufacturers stand to gain volume as Apple scales production. The primary risk sits with Android hardware makers in the upper price tiers, who lose their sole hardware differentiator once iOS software is available on a flexible screen.

    The Long March from Early Hinges

    Chinese display maker Royole shipped the first commercial foldable device in 2018 with its outward-folding FlexPai. Samsung launched the US$2,000 Galaxy Fold in 2019, withdrawing initial review units to redesign the display before releasing refined models such as the Fold 8. Huawei followed with the Mate X in 2019, before pushing hardware boundaries further in September 2024 with a US$2,800 tri-fold model.

    Apple’s entry will surely increase competition at the premium end. However, foldables are still a very small part of the overall smartphone market, so there is room for the category to grow well beyond current volumes.

    Growth Divergence in Handset Shipments

    Foldable devices account for a single-digit percentage of total handset sales, constrained by high retail pricing and consumer doubts over long-term screen durability. Google entered the segment in 2023 with the US$1,799 Pixel Fold, while Microsoft discontinued its dual-screen Surface Duo line.

    Research firm IDC expects global foldable shipments to grow nearly 30 per cent this year, outpacing an estimated 1.4 per cent decline in standard smartphone sales as Apple unveils its device later on Wednesday.

  • HarmonyOS Hits 24 per Cent Share in China as Global Smartphone Sales Fall

    HarmonyOS Hits 24 per Cent Share in China as Global Smartphone Sales Fall

    Huawei’s HarmonyOS captured 24 per cent of China’s smartphone sales in the second quarter of 2026, squeezing Android down to 58 per cent. The domestic operating system expanded its footprint as overall worldwide smartphone shipments dropped 11 per cent year on year.

    Global handset demand contracted faster than the 4 per cent drop recorded in the first quarter, with the sharpest drops hitting budget and mid-tier devices across developing markets. Android felt the brunt of that pullback. Its worldwide sales share dropped four percentage points to 75 per cent, even with stronger sales from Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup.

    Shifts in Component Sourcing and Pricing

    Huawei insulated its handset business from rising component prices by sourcing more parts from domestic suppliers in mainland China. High demand for the Enjoy 90 Pro Max alongside steady sales of legacy models helped HarmonyOS reach a 5 per cent global volume share.

    Chinese Android manufacturers took a different path. Pinched by memory chip shortages and higher bill-of-materials expenses, brands scaled down their low-cost phone lineups to focus on higher-margin premium devices. That pivot opened room for Apple at the top end of the market.

    Apple Takes Record June Quarter Share

    Apple captured 20 per cent of worldwide sales during the three months ending June, its highest second-quarter share on record. Deliveries were anchored by the iPhone 17 family and the entry of the iPhone 17e, supported by trade-in programs and retail installment plans.

    In India, Android maintained a dominant 91 per cent volume share, leaving iOS with 9 per cent. In the United States, Apple took 51 per cent of sales against Android’s 49 per cent.

    For retailers and hardware distributors across Asia, the product mix is shifting upmarket as low-end volumes shrink. Brands are preparing their product allocations for the fourth-quarter holiday cycle, where component pricing will dictate whether entry-tier production rebounds or stays constrained.

  • Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple Chief Executive and Hands Reins to John Ternus

    Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple Chief Executive and Hands Reins to John Ternus

    Tim Cook will step down as Apple chief executive to become executive chairman, handing control of the 4.5 trillion dollar company to hardware chief John Ternus.

    The transition ends a 15-year tenure that increased Apple’s annual sales from 108 billion dollars to 416 billion dollars, with net profit surging fourfold to 112 billion dollars.

    Cook will guide Apple’s government relations and trade strategy between Washington and Beijing starting September 1. A regulatory filing shows Ternus receives a base salary of 3 million dollars and an annual equity target of 55 million dollars beginning in 2027. Cook will draw an annual salary of 2 million dollars effective September 26, alongside a 45 million dollar target award in restricted stock units.

    The Asian Manufacturing Pivot

    Ternus inherits a hardware empire undergoing its biggest geographic realignment since the launch of the original iPhone. Apple is shifting assembly lines outward from mainland China to insulate its retail pricing from tariffs and geopolitical disputes. The company plans to manufacture the majority of US-bound iPhones in India by the end of 2026, while routing AirPods and iPad assembly through Vietnam.

    Cook built Apple’s initial dominance on Chinese factory scale, but the post-pandemic supply map demands distributed capacity. For electronics retailers and component suppliers across Asia, the succession confirms that Apple’s diversification away from single-country manufacturing will continue under a hardware-focused chief executive.

    Hardware Strategy and Artificial Intelligence

    Beyond factory logistics, Ternus faces immediate product hurdles across consumer markets. Wearables generated 35 billion dollars in fiscal 2025 sales from devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods, yet the 3,499 dollar Vision Pro headset struggled to capture high volumes. Apple also scrapped its decade-long electric vehicle program in 2024 and continues working to catch rivals in artificial intelligence features and voice assistance.

    The new leadership team must now execute the late-2026 India iPhone production target without eroding gross margins across the 2.5 billion active device base.

  • John Ternus to Take over as Apple CEO as Tim Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

    John Ternus to Take over as Apple CEO as Tim Cook Becomes Executive Chairman

    Apple chief executive Tim Cook will step down after 15 years, handing leadership of the US$4.5 trillion tech company to hardware head John Ternus.

    Cook expanded Apple from a US$350 billion business into the world’s most valuable hardware maker before preparing to shift into the executive chairman role in September.

    Hardware leadership and AI priorities

    Ternus takes charge as Apple faces growing pressure across artificial intelligence development and device assembly. Having run Apple’s hardware engineering division, he oversaw major product portfolios across iPhone, Mac, and iPad product cycles.

    Cook built Apple’s post-2011 growth on rigorous manufacturing coordination and deep consumer distribution networks. His operational playbook turned the brand into a retail powerhouse across China, Japan, and newer retail growth corridors such as India and Southeast Asia.

    Production footprint and next steps

    For electronics supply chains in Asia, the executive change lands as hardware brands reshape procurement and expand production footprints beyond mainland China into India and Vietnam. Regional competitors are simultaneously pushing rapid consumer AI deployments to test Apple’s premium smartphone sales.

    Ternus takes the top post this September as Cook moves into the board chairmanship.

  • TSMC Agrees to Produce Three 3Nm Chips for Xiaomi

    TSMC Agrees to Produce Three 3Nm Chips for Xiaomi

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing agreed to produce three custom chips for Xiaomi, including a next-generation three-nanometre smartphone processor starting in 2026.

    The contract ties the $2.0 trillion Taiwanese foundry directly into the Chinese brand’s hardware expansion across flagship handsets, smart devices and automotive platforms. Xiaomi plans to deploy the primary 3nm design, designated the Xring O3, in its premium smartphones before rolling out two companion processors for consumer artificial intelligence devices and autonomous vehicle controls.

    Expanding beyond data centres

    Adding Xiaomi diversifies TSMC’s advanced-node order book at a time when top-tier 3nm wafer allocation has remained heavily concentrated among Western computing and mobile clients. Handset manufacturers in Asia have spent three years attempting to bring proprietary silicon in-house to reduce their dependence on merchant chipmakers. Xiaomi’s commitment to custom designs manufactured on TSMC’s cutting-edge lithography mirrors earlier silicon strategies from rival hardware makers, though extending those designs into vehicle autonomy widens the operational scope.

    For consumer tech brands in Asia, controlling chip architecture allows tighter software integration across connected ecosystems, from living-room appliances to electric sedans. The arrangement secures advanced fabrication capacity for Xiaomi while providing TSMC with volume demand outside its core server and cloud computing base.

    Wafer volume targets

    Initial commercial success hinges on the manufacturing yield and delivery pace of the Xring O3 line during 2026. Market performance will depend on the speed at which Xiaomi ramps retail shipments of its 3nm handsets and incorporates the subsequent automotive silicon into its production vehicles.

  • South Korea Smartphone Shipments Slip 0.5% as Premium Devices Take 73% Share

    South Korea Smartphone Shipments Slip 0.5% as Premium Devices Take 73% Share

    South Korea’s smartphone market shipped 3.78 million units in the first quarter of 2026, dipping 0.5 per cent year-on-year, according to data from IDC Korea.

    Handsets priced at $800 and above captured 73.2 per cent of total volume, gaining double digits over the same period last year as buyers gravitated toward top-tier devices.

    Persistent inflation, volatile financial markets and geopolitical tension in the Middle East dampened entry-level purchases. Budget and mid-tier devices lost market share despite fresh product rollouts, weighed down by channel inventory accumulated ahead of the new school term.

    Foldables Surge as 5G Hits 95% Penetration

    Foldable devices led unit expansion during the quarter. Shipments reached 190,000 units, delivering triple-digit percentage growth compared to the opening quarter of 2025.

    Fifth-generation network connectivity became standard across nearly the entire market. 5G-capable devices accounted for 95.5 per cent of all smartphone shipments nationwide, supported by steady flagship purchases and a wider spread of affordable 5G models in secondary price tiers.

    Direct Sales and Price Hikes Drive Margins

    Across East Asia, mature consumer tech markets are splitting along spending lines. Rather than chasing unit volume through discounting, hardware brands in Seoul are steering promotional spend toward high-margin halo models to protect operating profitability against elongated replacement cycles.

    Manufacturers plan to lean heavily on flagship releases to generate demand through the first half of 2026, according to Jihae Kang, a researcher on IDC Korea’s mobile phone market research team.

    Brands will pursue profitability by raising retail prices on high-capacity storage tiers and expanding direct-to-consumer sales channels through the second half of the year.

  • Apple Leads Asian Smartphone Market as Xiaomi Expands Low-Cost Reach

    Apple Leads Asian Smartphone Market as Xiaomi Expands Low-Cost Reach

    Apple captured 21.16 per cent of Asia’s smartphone market through early 2026, leading an increasingly divided consumer hardware market across the region. Samsung held second place with 15.57 per cent, retaining its broader footprint after regaining leadership in Southeast Asia despite a 1 per cent dip in total regional shipments during 2025.

    Xiaomi secured third position across Asia with a 12.02 per cent market share, lifting its Southeast Asian shipments 4 per cent to 17 million units. Vivo and Oppo followed with 10.5 per cent and 9.8 per cent shares across Asia, while Huawei retained roughly 18 per cent of domestic shipments in mainland China.

    Social Commerce Alters Budget Device Distribution

    Digital storefronts and direct livestreams on platforms like TikTok have transformed low-cost distribution across developing markets. Xiaomi’s sub-brand POCO recorded its highest monthly volume in November 2025, moving units ranging from the $93 entry-level C71 to the $427 mid-range F7 model.

    Transsion captured 16 per cent of Southeast Asian shipments, supported by basic itel models priced below $30 that drove substantial volume in Vietnam and the Philippines. In Japan, domestic manufacturers Sony and Sharp maintained defensible positions in their home market alongside established flagship brands.

    Component Inflation Squeezes Entry-Level Margins

    Consumer demand in Asia now sits at two distinct poles: premium buyers paying top dollar for ecosystem flagships, and price-sensitive shoppers seeking maximum specifications under $100. While Apple and Samsung control the profitable high end, budget-focused manufacturers face immediate margin erosion from rising memory and storage component expenses.

    Hardware makers entering the second half of 2026 face higher bills of materials that directly threaten sub-$200 device margins. Brands operating in emerging Southeast Asian markets must decide whether to absorb these memory cost increases or risk raising retail price tags above critical affordability thresholds.

  • Pagcor Fines Gambling Firm P1 Million over Ivana Alawi iPhone Promotion

    Pagcor Fines Gambling Firm P1 Million over Ivana Alawi iPhone Promotion

    Philippine gaming regulator Pagcor fined an online gambling operator 1 million pesos ($17,700) for running an unapproved 100-unit iPhone giveaway with celebrity influencer Ivana Alawi.

    The social media promotion involved 4.28 million pesos worth of iPhone 17 Pro Max handsets distributed across Alawi’s digital channels in July without regulatory clearance. Prospective winners had to follow her affiliated gaming group and leave comments on promotional posts to enter the draw.

    Unauthorised Promotions Draw Scrutiny

    Pagcor chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco disclosed the financial penalty during a 2027 House of Representatives budget hearing in Manila. Lawmakers raised concerns after Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Elijah Fernando questioned the expanding marketing ties between digital influencers and gambling operators.

    Alawi maintains an official brand ambassadorship with online operator Casino Plus. Tengco confirmed the fine was accompanied by an explicit warning that repeat infractions would trigger license suspensions and outright cancellations.

    Enforcement Across Digital Platforms

    Regulators estimate that illegal operators make up roughly 50 per cent of the country’s online gaming ecosystem, operating beyond state oversight and consumer protection rules. Pagcor works alongside the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to pursue cases against unlicensed platforms and their celebrity endorsers.

    For consumer brands and digital marketing agencies across Southeast Asia, the action shows tighter oversight of influencer-led giveaways and promotional sweepstakes. Regulators in Manila now require promotional campaigns tied to licensed gaming entities to secure prior clearances from both Pagcor and the Ad Standards Council.

    Several content creators have cancelled promotional contracts with unlicensed gambling entities following the initial enforcement drive. State agencies are preparing further takedown requests and legal filings against operators that continue running unregistered social promotions.

  • India Unveils 62500 Crore Rupee Scheme to Lure Apple and Google Hardware

    India Unveils 62500 Crore Rupee Scheme to Lure Apple and Google Hardware

    India has notified a 62,500-crore rupee smartphone manufacturing scheme. The policy aims to push Apple beyond iPhones and shift Google device exports away from China.

    Replacing the earlier production-linked incentive programme, the scheme runs through the 2030-31 financial year to deepen local component sourcing.

    Electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said New Delhi expects Apple to expand into other product categories using its existing iPhone assembly base. Google will also route a major share of export-oriented device production away from Chinese facilities into Indian factories.

    Manufacturers can claim incentives between 2.25 per cent and 5 per cent on eligible sales under the framework. An extra payout of up to 1.5 per cent applies to firms sourcing parts locally, including display modules, camera assemblies, enclosures, batteries and USB cables.

    Incentives for domestic brands and design

    Domestic brands get a dedicated track. Indian smartphone makers qualify for a 5 per cent sales incentive, alongside a 3 per cent reward for local research, development and product design. The government is working with three domestic companies to launch high-volume device designs within 10 to 14 months.

    Official data shows mobile phones delivered 61 per cent of India’s electronics exports last year, up from 4 per cent in the 2014-15 fiscal year, according to Electronics and IT secretary S Krishnan. Mobile device output now accounts for 48 per cent of total domestic electronics production, up from 10 per cent a decade ago. Overall phone exports grew 166-fold between 2014 and 2025 at a compound annual rate of about 59 per cent. India is now the world’s second-largest phone maker by volume.

    Moving from assembly to component integration

    Global electronics brands across Asia face fresh pressure to localise sub-assemblies rather than snap imported kits together in final assembly plants. Competitors in Vietnam and China will face sharper export competition as Indian suppliers scale up module fabrication.

    Attention now shifts to the 10-to-14 month delivery window for the three state-backed Indian phone designs, alongside Apple’s first confirmed hardware assembly lines outside the iPhone family.

  • Chip Squeeze Drives up Smartphone Prices in India, Boosting Apple and Samsung over Chinese Rivals

    Chip Squeeze Drives up Smartphone Prices in India, Boosting Apple and Samsung over Chinese Rivals

    Rising memory chip costs are significantly impacting India’s smartphone market, leading to a surge in average selling prices and a shift in consumer preferences. The average smartphone selling price in India has reached a record $315, marking a 14.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to recent market data.

    This price inflation is particularly affecting budget-focused Chinese smartphone brands, which have historically dominated the sub-$150 segment. As cheaper chips become scarce and more expensive, these companies are forced to raise their prices, diminishing their traditional value-for-money appeal. Conversely, premium and mid-range players such as Samsung and Apple are gaining market share, partly due to improved financing options that make their higher-priced devices more accessible to consumers.

    Chinese Brands Face Mounting Pressure

    Chinese smartphone makers, including Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi, and Realme, experienced significant declines in shipments during the June quarter. Vivo’s shipments fell by 13.9 percent, Oppo by 8.5 percent, Xiaomi by 10 percent, and Realme by 14.2 percent year-on-year, according to IDC. Only OnePlus, which caters to a higher-end segment, saw a smaller decline of 2.5 percent.

    Industry experts indicate that the era of sub-$150 smartphones is effectively over in India. New Chinese models with similar features are now expected to cost between $200 and $250, a substantial increase from their previous pricing. This pricing pressure has already led to some budget brands raising smartphone prices by up to 40 percent.

    This development is crucial for RetailNews Asia readers, as India represents one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumer markets. The shift towards premiumisation, driven by supply chain economics, presents both challenges and opportunities for retailers and brands operating across Asia-Pacific. As affordability dynamics change, retailers may need to adapt their product assortments and financing solutions to cater to evolving consumer demand.

    Samsung And Apple Expand Their Foothold

    In contrast to the struggles faced by Chinese brands, Samsung and Apple have demonstrated resilience and growth. In the June quarter, Samsung’s shipments rose by 0.4 percent, and Apple’s by 0.7 percent. This enabled Samsung to narrow the gap with the leading player, Vivo, increasing its market share by nearly 200 basis points. Apple also saw its market share rise by 100 basis points in the same period.

    Samsung, with its diverse portfolio spanning from $200 to over $800, is intensely competing with Vivo in the $200-$300 segment. A key advantage for Samsung is its access to in-house memory chip supplies, which mitigates some of the cost pressures affecting competitors. Many Chinese firms rely on external suppliers like MediaTek, SK Hynix, and even Samsung for their chips, making them more vulnerable to price fluctuations.

    The global memory chip shortage, exacerbated by increased demand for AI and data center applications, has driven chip prices up fourfold since September 2025, with further increases anticipated. This trend is expected to continue pushing smartphone prices higher, accelerating the Indian market’s shift towards more premium products as financing options become more prevalent for expensive handsets.

  • China’s Smartphone Market Sees Contraction; Huawei Reclaims Top Spot Amidst Decreased Shipments

    China’s Smartphone Market Sees Contraction; Huawei Reclaims Top Spot Amidst Decreased Shipments

    After six consecutive quarters of growth, China’s smartphone market showed signs of contraction during the second quarter of this year. The International Data Corporation (IDC) reported a decrease in shipments from the top four out of five brands, attributing this to a dip in consumer demand.

    Apple, which holds the fifth position in China’s smartphone market, experienced a 1.3% year-on-year decrease in shipments in the second quarter, equating to a shipment of 9.6 million units. While still marking a decline, this represents a notably smaller decrease than the 9% drop witnessed in the first quarter of the year. This is believed to be due in part to adjustments in the pricing of specific iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models, which are eligible for government subsidies.

    Despite this, Apple’s share of the market increased, growing from 13.7% in the March quarter to 13.9% in the June quarter. However, this still marks the eighth consecutive quarter in which Apple’s market share has declined.

    Huawei, the Shenzhen-based technological powerhouse, regained its position at the top of the market after more than four years, seizing an 18.1% market share. Huawei shipped approximately 12.5 million phones during the second quarter, a 3.4% year-on-year decrease.

    Xiaomi, holding the fourth position in the market, was the only smartphone manufacturer to record an increase in shipments during the last quarter. Vivo, standing at second place, witnessed the most significant decline in the top five brands, with shipments decreasing by 10.1%.

    Overall, China’s smartphone shipments fell by 4.0% year-on-year to 69 million units in the second quarter. This decline came as the momentum spurred by government subsidies began to falter amid more wide-ranging economic weaknesses.

    Senior research analyst at IDC, Arthur Guo, commented on the broader economic challenges faced by the industry, stating that consumer confidence remains low. Guo suggested that a significant boost in smartphone demand is unlikely in the near future and projected a more multifaceted landscape for the market in the second half of the year.

    Questions & Answers

    What was the rate of decline in China’s smartphone market during the second quarter?
    The rate of decline in China’s smartphone market during the second quarter was 4.0%.

    Which brand reclaimed the top spot in China’s smartphone market?
    Huawei regained the top position in China’s smartphone market after over four years.

    What was the only brand among the top five to record growth in shipments during the last quarter?
    Xiaomi was the only brand among the top five to record growth in shipments during the last quarter.

  • Asian smartphone sales still lead world

    Asian smartphone sales still lead world

    Asian smartphone sales still lead the world market, with Asia Pacific tipped to remain the fastest-growing region this year.

    Handsets are the main consumer electronic product bought both online and in stores across the region, according to a new study by market research company GFK.

    The study shows 85 per cent of consumers polled across Asia Pacific have bought a consumer electronic item in the past 12 months, half of these purchases made over the internet. Across the 10 markets surveyed, a smartphone was the leading purchase.

    India, Vietnam and Indonesia had the highest incidence of smartphone purchases during the period.

    GFK head of retail, APAC, Jake Shepherd, says developing countries in the region have been strong drivers of consumer electronic sales.

    “The huge, yet largely untapped, potential of the eCommerce industry in these markets is growing rapidly with deepening internet penetration and adoption of connected technology.”

    While all product categories report online sales, offline sales still tend to dominate, says the report. For instance, while 69 per cent of Vietnamese consumers bought a consumer electronic product in the past 12 months, only 20 made the purchase online.

    Shepherd says the consumer purchase journey generally involves seeking information to help with making decisions. In APAC, 44 per cent of consumers do online research before buying a smartphone, with most people checking customer review sites and the manufacturer or brand’s website. Talking to family, friends or colleagues ranks next on the list as an influential information source, especially in Hong Kong and Taiwan where one in four consumers say this helps them make their decision.

    Only 19 per cent of consumers make their decisions based on in-store experiences, and Shepherd says it is important for businesses have a good understanding of the entire path to purchase to effectively formulate shopper strategies.

    For the online survey, during February and March, GFK questioned nearly 6500 regular internet users between 18 and 55 years across 10 Asia Pacific countries – Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

    GFK has more than 13,000 researchers and market intelligence from more than 100 countries.

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  • Smartphone exports to Vietnam plunge in deepest fall in Southeast Asia

    Smartphone exports to Vietnam plunge in deepest fall in Southeast Asia

    Shipments of smartphones to Vietnam plunged 30% year-on-year in the first quarter, the deepest decline among the five major Southeast Asian markets, according to a new report.

    Malaysia came second from bottom in terms of negative growth, down 29% year-on-year. Thailand saw shipments drop 1%, according to market research company Counterpoint.

    The five main Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia and the Philippines, saw an overall drop in shipments of 13%.

    Counterpoint analyst Glen Cardoza said that consumer sentiment has not fully recovered in Vietnam.

    He added that inflation in Southeast Asia has affected buyer sentiment, leading to a decrease in demand for new phones.

    A report by another market research company showed that 2.5 million smartphones were sold in Vietnam in the first two months, down 30% year-on-year.

    “This year, people started to tighten their spending right from January,” said a representative of a smartphone retail chain.

    Cardoza said that another reason for the first quarter decline was that Vietnam had received many shipments in the last quarter of last year.

    Counterpoint data also shows that economic challenges have not affected the high-end segment.

    Samsung posted the biggest sales in Vietnam in the first quarter and claimed 21% of the market, followed by Oppo at 20%, Vivo with 14%, Xiaomi 14%, Realme 12% and Apple 7%.

    However, all brands saw a decline compared to the same period last year, except for Apple which posted growth of 18%.

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  • Global smartphone shipment slowdown could hurt Vietnam

    Global smartphone shipment slowdown could hurt Vietnam

    Manufacturing hubs like Vietnam and South Korea could be hurt this year as global smartphone shipments suffered its worst quarterly drop on record, signaling a cool down in consumer demand.

    Shipments declined 18.3% year-on-year in the December quarter to a little over 300 million units, U.S.-based International Data Corporation said Thursday.

    Xiaomi’s shipment volume declined steepest at 26.3%, followed by vivo (down 18.9%) and OPPO (down 15.9%).

    For the year, global shipments fell 11.3% and marked the lowest total for a decade, the researchers said.

    “We have never seen shipments in the holiday quarter come in lower,” Nabila Popal, research director at IDC.

    Along with inflation and economic uncertainties, Covid lockdowns in China were another factor that hurt the industry, including Apple Inc.’s iPhone sales, she said. “Heavy sales and promotions during the quarter helped deplete existing inventory rather than drive shipment growth.”

    Smartphones are among the largest exports for Korea and a key source of income for Vietnam as Samsung Electronics operates factories in both countries.

    Samsung last quarter reported its biggest profit fall in over a decade, primarily led by a drop in demand for semiconductors. The company’s exposure to smartphone sales is amplified by its role as the leading provider of memory and displays for the industry.

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  • Smartphone exports drop in November

    Smartphone exports drop in November

    Smartphone exports fell nearly 10% in volume and 7.4% in value in November after the country’s largest manufacturer, Samsung Vietnam, lowered production the second time this year.

    According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam produced 20.6 million phones in November, and export of phones and phone components was worth $5 billion. This is the third month the export value of phone and components has dropped.

    Smartphone production in the first 11 months decreased by over 7% year-on-year. Most of the smartphones produced in Vietnam are exported to the western market.

    Typically, phone output increases before Christmas, but it has dropped this year because inflation pressures have prompted companies to limit production.

    Of the total smartphone output in Vietnam, Samsung Vietnam contributes half. The tech giant recorded an export turnover of over $34 billion in the first half of this year, accounting for more than 18% of the country’s total.

    Samsung Vietnam has reduced smartphone production twice this year, the first time in the first half of the year over Covid-19 impacts and the second early November.

    Vietnam recorded a total export turnover of $342.21 billion in the first 11 months, while import turnover was $331.61 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $0.78 billion, according to the General Statistics Office. The surplus in the same period last year was $0.6 billion.

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