IF / News

This is a simple report summarizing the shipment of mobile devices—smartphones, feature phones and tablets—based on IDC’s latest number (1Q17). The reasoning behind some of those numbers cannot be explained in detail here, but will be explored in another report.

• Global shipment of mobile phone in 1Q17 has reached 460M units, a 17.2% decreased on quarter but merely 1% increased on year. Due to inventory from last quarter and traditional calm season, shipment has decreased on quarter. However, in 2Q17 we might see some apparent improvement. Transsion still enjoys 2-fold increment of shipment compared to last year.
• Global shipment of smartphone in 1Q17 has reached 344M units, a 20% decreased on quarter but 3% increased on year. Samsung has again exceeded Apple leading the market with 23% market share with 3% increased on quarter. Apple follows with 15% market share, but a 35% decreased on quarter. Even at a traditional off season, China vendors including Huawei, OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi and Gionee still enjoy double-digit YoY growth.
• In 1Q17, generally all the regions, except Western Europe, Middle East & Africa and North America, have at least a single-digit positive YoY growth for smartphone shipment. Asia Pacific still leads the market with more than 178M units shipped. Yet, both Central & Eastern Europe and Latin America have the best YoY growth among all regions, i.e., 13%.
• In 1Q17, other than Asia Pacific and North America region, Samsung is the leader. Samsung has an obvious YoY growth in Western Europe and Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific is a highly competitive region, with the gap between the market share of the top 5 vendors stay at 1%~2%. Chinese vendors in all regions, especially Central & Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, enjoy high YoY growth. TCL is loosing its ground in its 2 prominent regions, North America and Latin America, with market share decreasing at least 20% YoY.
• In 1Q17, Chinese vendors are leading both China and Indian markets. In China, Huawei, OPPO and vivo have already exceeded Samsung and Apple. In India, though Samsung is back to its dominant position, Xiaomi, vivo, Lenovo, OPPO and Gionee are squeezing the domestic brands.
• Entry segment with price below USD150 still leads the market, with near 40% of the share. As usual, this price segment is highly competitive, the top 5 vendors combined shipment not even 40%.  On the other hand, high-end with more than USD500 is still dominated by Apple and Samsung. Samsung and Huawei can be seen in nearly all price segments. OPPO and vivo mainly leading in USD300~USD450 price segment.
• USD700+ price segment is Apple’s focus. Samsung and Huawei focus on USD350- price segment, which is at least 70% share of their products. OPPO and vivo’s USD300~350 price segment share is bigger than other brands. Other USD100~150 price segment for Lenovo, LG, ZTE, Gionee and Xiaomi is still 20% of their share. USD50~100 price segment of ZTE, Gionee and Xiaomi is still bigger than 30%.