Smartphone sales to hit record high in Jan-March quarter of 2021

Smartphone sales in India are poised to contact a record in the historically lean January-March interval, crossing ranges beforehand scaled in the opening quarter of previous years, market research firms stated.

Sales of smartphones crossed 12 million final month, making it the most effective January in 5 years and indicating that pent-up demand has not light in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Total smartphone shipments for the primary quarter, thought-about the leanest interval in phrases of sales, are forecast to be 33-36 million, which might be the best for Q1 in years, prime research firms advised ET.

“The growth momentum in January was driven by new and exciting 5G launches along with attractive discounts and offers on Republic Day sales,” stated Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Technology Market Research. “We are expecting a healthy first quarter with shipments in the range of 33-36 million only if brands are able to manage the supply constraints, which are getting even worse in 2021.”

Pathak stated smartphone sales may improve 10% on-year in the January-March quarter, however a extra practical comparability can be with Q1 of 2019 as a result of world provide chains had began seeing the affect of Covid-19 in March 2020.

Top manufacturers Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, Realme and Lava began 2021 with a better variety of smartphone launches. Xiaomi, India’s No. 1 smartphone vendor by volumes, alone offered 1.5 million models through the five-day Republic Day sale, a development of 42% from 1.08 million units shipped a 12 months earlier.

Experts predict smartphone sales will return to double-digit development and improve 12%-21% in 2021, up from 150 million in 2020.

However, analysts are cautious of a extreme part scarcity that might hamper regular provides for handset firms.

“Since the start of Covid-19, brands have been struggling to overcome challenges but in the face of rising fuel costs and component prices, they may be forced to delay launches, especially in the budget segment,” stated an analyst at a research agency. SmartNews Business