For several years, consumers have constantly dreamed of the latest and most expensive smartphone models. They were both a symbol of financial status, as well as the progress of technology. For some time, however, people are most interested in far cheaper smartphone models, Engadget Online News reported.
Data from the Gartner analyst show that in the first quarter of this year the global smartphone market has increased by 1.3% on an annual basis. It does not look much, but it is against the backdrop of the contraction in the autumn of last year.
And while before the expensive high-end models moved the market upwards, now is the opposite. Gartner data suggests that phone models with prices below $ 150 move the market in a positive direction.
The biggest winner is Xiaomi. In the first quarter of 2017, the company sold 12 million smartphones for 3.4% market share. In the first quarter of this year, however, the company's new product line is now in force and lower prices, which launch sales to 28.5 million units and a 7.4% share.
The leader of a total number of smartphones sold is Samsung again. The company sold 78.5 million phones, a market share of 20.5% or 0.3% less than a year earlier.
Second is Apple with 54 million phones sold. The company has a share of 14.1% of the market, which is 0.4% more than the first quarter of last year.
The third position is for Huawei with 40.4 million sales and 10.5% share of the market. The company has increased its share from 9% a year ago.
For the future, phone makers will find it harder to keep up with the market. On the one hand, it is already quite saturated. In addition, the devices themselves, including those in the lower class, are powerful and functional enough for the average consumer. People keep their devices longer, which also leads to a delay in sales.
One way to "motivate" the market is the production of new models with unprecedented capabilities. However, nowadays the main battle for a market will be among the producers themselves, who will further push down prices.
