The Indian smartphone market is predicted to face growth challenges due to the second wave of pandemic in the country.
Information from International Data Corporation pointed out that globally, a shortage of smartphone chips exists in this current times, and added with other supply-related challenges, the Indian Smartphone market is en route to a slowdown.
2021 began positively for this sector, as the market grew by 18% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter (i,e) 38 million unit shipments of smartphones during this quarter. “However, the high shipments from the first quarter should be able to suffice for the immediate demand.”
“But IDC estimates the impact to be less pronounced compared with last year, with factories being operational today and only limited restrictions on logistics/transportation and state-level lockdowns instead of a nationwide lockdown,” said Navkendar Singh, research director, client devices and IPDS, at IDC India.
“While the vaccine roll-out program at the beginning of the year instilled positive sentiments, the onset of the second wave of covid-19 infections towards the end of the quarter resulted in subdued consumed demand,” the IDC said in a blog post.
E-tailers “continued their growth momentum” at 25% y-o-y, while offline sellers grew at 13% y-o-y in the first quarter of 2021. Almost 7% of overall shipments were 5G devices.