Third-party research has revealed that China’s smartphone sales suffered a record decline in 2022, plummeting 13% to their lowest level in a decade as Covid regulations and a faltering economy eroded consumer enthusiasm.
The overall number of devices delivered decreased from 329 million in 2022 to 286 million in 2023. IDC stated in its report that it was the first time since 2013 that yearly sales fell below $300 million.
Last year, severe Covid-19 limits dragged heavily on the Chinese economy, but Beijing began easing the restrictions in December, thereby increasing demand.
According to IDC, Android smartphone manufacturer Vivo was the top-selling brand in 2022, with an 18.6% market share. Its overall shipments decreased by 25.1% annually.
IDC reports that Apple’s overall sales decreased 4.4% year-over-year, while all other competitors except Honor had double-digit sales declines.
Overall, the decline in smartphone sales in China mirrored the performance of the industry worldwide. IDC predicts that global smartphone shipments will reach 1.2 billion in 2022, the lowest level since 2013 and a year-on-year decline of more than 11%.