· The COVID-19 pandemic on smartphone shipments has been felt across the continent as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC).
· However, Chinese smartphone brands continued to dominate the African smartphone market, according to the study.
The COVID-19 pandemic on smartphone shipments has been felt across the continent as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC), a technology research and consulting services firm. However, Chinese smartphone brands continued to dominate the African smartphone market, according to the study.
China’s Transsion brands (Tecno, Itel, and Infinix) continued to be the top leaders in the smartphone market with a unit share of 45.2 percent. Samsung and Huawei accounted for 19.0 percent and 8.8 percent. Largely these cost effective brands managed to cope up with the weak demand.
Mobile phone shipments into Africa declined by 6.0 percent quarter on quarter in the second quarter of 2020. Lockdowns implemented during the period led to a spurt in the online distribution channel, while physical retail declined. Even then online sales, accounted for 3.2 percent of the total mobile phones shipped across Africa in quarter 2, 2020.The retail channel is expected to recover marginally with the reopening of markets.
