China's smartphone sales plunge to lowest in a decade

Market research firm IDC said, China’s smartphone sales fell 13 per cent year-on-year in 2022.

It is the largest plunge for the sector in a decade because of the pandemic and lower income rate has sapped consumer’s appetite.

The total number of devices shipped was 286 million, down from 329 million in 2022.

That meant total 2022 sales volume was the lowest since 2013 and the first time since then that annual sales have dropped below 300 million, according to IDC reports.

Vivo was the top-selling brand over the year, with a market share of 18.6 per cent and Honor ranked as the second best-selling brand, with shipments growing more than 34 per cent.

Apple Inc was the third best-selling phone brand in 2022, tied with Oppo.

The plunge in smartphone sales in China reflected the sector’s performance globally.