Smartphone shipments in India were down 1 percent year-on-year (year-on-year) in the January-March quarter of FY22. Due to the shortage of components and a sharp drop in demand, shipments of smartphones reached 38 million units in the first quarter of 2022. The data was revealed in the latest survey from Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service, which reflects the effects of COVID-19 on the smartphone market in India. The third wave of the pandemic, which hit the country in January this year, resulted in a slow start to the quarter, which gained some speed in the final few weeks of the March quarter.
According to a report by Counterpoint Research, despite the decline, Chinese brands dominated with a market share of more than 74 percent in the first quarter of 2022. As in the first quarter of last year, Xiaomi remained at the top of the Indian smartphone market with a market share of 23 percent. . However, its year-over-year market share declined by 13 percent year-over-year. Counterpoint’s shipping figures for Xiaomi include the Poco brand. The Chinese smartphone maker managed to lead the market even in the face of fierce competition, component shortages and inflation. The brand has also taken second place in 5G shipments in the Indian market for the first time.
Xiaomi was followed by South Korean smartphone brand Samsung, which has boosted consumer demand with the introduction of the Galaxy A series. Interestingly, the company held the top spot as the top-selling 5G smartphone brand in India for the second consecutive quarter. With a 1 percent year-over-year decline in the first quarter of 2022, Samsung had a 20 percent market share in smartphone shipments.
Next on the list is Realme, the only brand in the top five with an annualized growth rate of 40 percent in the first quarter of 2022. Realme’s market share stands at 16 percent, up from 11 percent in the first quarter last year. The shipments for Realme models saw a rapid harvest after the holiday season. Other factors that worked in Realme’s favor include the use of Unisoc chipsets, a targeted product portfolio, and an aggressive channel strategy.
Vivo and Oppo took fourth and fifth place respectively. While Vivo suffered an 8 percent year-over-year decline, Oppo’s shipments fell 18 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022. However, Vivo’s smartphone shipping market share stands at 15 percent, while Oppo captured a 9 percent share. . Counterpoint’s figures for Oppo do not include the OnePlus brand.
Apple registered 5 percent year-over-year growth in the first quarter of 2022 as the top-selling brand in the premium segment, the report said.
The total market shares of the handset in India
Photo credits: Counterpoint Research
As for the overall Indian handset market (feature phones + smartphones), Counterpoint reports shipments of 16 percent year-on-year, and the feature phone market specifically saw a 39 percent year-on-year decline in shipments. Itel leads the feature phone market, with a 21 percent share. Combining all Transsion Group brands – Itel, Infinix, Tecno – the company took fourth place in the overall mobile phone market. Meanwhile, OnePlus grew 347 percent yoy in the first quarter of 2022, thanks to the success of the shipments of OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G and OnePlus 9RT. OnePlus also took third place in the premium segment.
Of the total share of smartphone shipments, 5G handsets contributed more than 28 percent, along with a 314% year-over-year growth. The share is expected to exceed 40 percent in the coming quarters.
