The global smartphone shipment increased first time in the last four years. However, the total number of smartphones shipped during last year remained lower than the pre-pandemic level, as per the report from market research company Counterpart Research.
The yearly smartphone shipment increased 4% to 1.39 billion devices in 2021 even amidst pandemic and a global shortage of components supplies.
Counterpoint Research data showed that smartphone makers shipped total of 1.56 billion units in 2017 and that number decreased every year from 2018 to 2020.
Harmeet Singh Walia, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research expressed that increased demand in places like Latin America, India and North America contributed to the market’s total growth in 2021.
Walia said, “Growth in the US was driven largely by demand for Apple’s first 5G-enabled iPhone 12 series seeping through to the first quarter of 2021. That demand continued throughout the year as the October-December quarter ended on a strong note because of holiday promotions and Black Friday sales.”
He added, “The market recovery could have been even better if not for the component shortages that impacted much of the second half of 2021. The major brands navigated the component shortages comparatively better and hence managed to grow by gaining share from long-tail brands.”
