Gizcoupon reported on May 22nd that according to the latest report published by market research firm Canalys, smartphone shipments in the Middle East (excluding Turkey) for the first quarter of 2023 reached 8.8 million units, showing a decline of 3.5% compared to the previous year.
Canalys Senior Advisor, Manish Pravinkumar, commented on the findings:
Despite facing economic challenges and consumer spending, Samsung and Apple continued to drive their sales through initiatives such as post-sales services, brand awareness, and channel prioritization, further boosting smartphone sales.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 series experienced strong sales, while the Galaxy A series witnessed a year-on-year decline but still contributed to Samsung’s increased market share.
Apple’s year-on-year growth can be attributed to collaborations with local retailers and operators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as its strong popularity among the younger generation.
The following is the overall situation of the smartphone market in the Middle East (excluding Turkey):
- Samsung shipped 3.8 million units, representing a 5.3% decline year-on-year, with a market share of 43%.
- Apple shipped 1.3 million units, showing a growth of 35.4% year-on-year, with a market share of 15%.
- Xiaomi shipped 1 million units, indicating a growth of 1.6% year-on-year, with a market share of 11%.
- Transsion (the parent company of Tecno, Infinix, and itel) shipped 900,000 units, experiencing a decline of 35.0% year-on-year, with a market share of 11%.
- OPPO shipped 300,000 units, reflecting a decline of 31.9% year-on-year, with a market share of 4%.
