UPDATED 22:58 EDT / APRIL 30 2020

APPS

Smartphone shipments hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has hit smartphone sales hard, causing the largest-ever recorded drop in shipments in the first quarter of 2020.

According to a report released by International Data Corp., smartphone shipments dropped 11.7% in the first quarter from the same quarter of 2019. Nearly 276 million smartphones were sold in the quarter.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. continues to lead the pack with 58.3 million phones sold for a 21.1% global market share, down from 23% the same time last year. Despite its ongoing problems with U.S. trade sanctions, Huawei Electronics Co. Ltd. remained in second place with 49 million smartphones sold for a 17% global market share. Apple Inc. was in third place with 36.7 million smartphones shipped for a 13.3% market share, notably up from 11.8% in the same quarter of 2019.

Xiaomi Inc and Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd. rounded out the top five. Notably, the first quarter of 2020 saw Xiaomi pass 10% of global smartphone sales for the first time.

In a time where the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate headlines, worse is predicted for the second quarter. With millions out of work in the U.S. alone because of the pandemic, many no longer have money to spend on new smartphones.

Research firm TrendForce is predicting that smartphone sales may fall by up to 16.5% in the second quarter. According to TrendForce, the global spread of COVID-19 in 2020 has brought about “the greatest magnitude of declines in the smartphone market in recent years.” It’s predicting a drop to 287 million units, which is higher than the first quarter but down year over year.

In line with IDC’s first-quarter stats, TrendForce has Samsung keeping its market lead, followed by Huawei, Apple and Xiaomi. The firm places Guangdong OPPO Telecommunications Corp. Ltd. ahead of Vivo in fifth place, though both are owned by BBK Electronics Corp.

“The pandemic is now making its effects felt on the demand side of the smartphone market by tanking major economies worldwide,” TrendForce said. “Chinese brands are exerting continuous pressure on Samsung’s presence in the Southeast Asian and Indian markets by the day.”

Photo: TGspot/Wikimedia Commons

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