📉 China's smartphone shipments reach 10-year low amid COVID-19 pandemic

China's smartphone sales declined 14% YoY in 2022 to reach their lowest level in a decade, according to Counterpoint Research's Market Pulse Service.

The year 2022 was also the fifth consecutive year of YoY sales decline in China, largely due to macroeconomic headwinds and the impact of COVID-19. In Q4 2022, sales declined by 15% YoY, leading to double-digit YoY declines in every quarter of the year.

In Q4 2022, despite the sudden relaxing of COVID-19 policy in December, a surge in cases resulted in a 5% QoQ decline, leading to the lowest quarterly sales in the year. Many cities in China had been subject to COVID-19 restrictions since spring 2022, negatively impacting consumer sentiment and delaying smartphone replacements. Brands such as Vivo, OPPO, and Xiaomi saw YoY declines in 2022 due to economic uncertainty.