Smartphone Shipments in India Declined 16 Percent in January-March 2023 Quarter

Smartphone shipments in India declined 16 percent year-on-year in the January-March quarter to 31 million units, market research firm IDC said on Thursday. Realme and Xiaomi shipments recorded the highest decline during the quarter.

India's smartphone market is expected to see flat growth in 2023, the IDC report said.

"31 million smartphones were shipped in India during the first quarter of 2023, a decline of 16 percent YoY, and the lowest first-quarter shipments in four years," International Data Corporation's (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report said.

Despite a dip of 11.4 percent in shipment, Samsung led the market with a 20.1 percent market share, followed by Vivo with 17.7 percent.

Oppo was the only brand that recorded growth in shipment during the quarter. It recorded a market share of 17.6 percent.

Xiaomi's shipment fell by 41.1 percent to 5 million units and its market share fell to 16.4 percent during the reported quarter from 23.4 percent a year ago.

Realme shipment dropped by more than half to 2.9 million units and its market share dropped to 9.4 percent during March 2023 quarter from 16.4 percent in the corresponding quarter of 2022.

"Consumer demand remained sluggish amid uncertain macroeconomic conditions, and inventory levels were elevated because of high stocking in the second half of 2022," IDC said.

5G smartphone share increased to 45 percent from 31 percent a year ago. The growth in 5G smartphones was led by Samsung, which accounted for more than a quarter of the shipments in the segment.

"5G smartphones continue to increase penetration in the low-end price segment, and we should expect a strong 5G play in the $150 (nearly Rs. 12,250) to $300 (nearly Rs. 24,500) segment in the second half of 2023 as high-end 4G models vacate the space," IDC India Research Manager, Client Devices, Upasana Joshi said.