Analysis & Features

Smartphone shipments to Africa and Middle East drop to lowest first quarter level since 2016

Africa and Middle East (MEA) smartphone shipments reduced by 11% YoY in the first quarter of 2023, or by 3% in QoQ terms. The usual macro headwinds continued to weigh on the market, including high inflation rates, local currency depreciation and weak consumer sentiment. Samsung performed resiliently, with shipments slightly down but with market share trending up, while Apple outperformed prevailing market trends as its YoY shipments rose by 35%. Transsion Group shipments dropped by 19% YoY, as itel continued to slide while Infinix advanced. [c]