Vendors Shipped 354M Smartphones in Q3 for 1.3% Decline, Says IDC

Global smartphone shipments declined 1.3% in Q3 to 353.6 million handsets, reported IDC Thursday. Though shipments decreased, the results outdid IDC's forecast of a 9% year-over-year decline, it said. It attributed the improvement to the reopening of global economies as COVID-19 restrictions were gradually relaxed. Though “an element” of pent-up demand fueled market growth in emerging markets like Brazil, India, Indonesia and Russia, “it was mainly the array of heavy promotions and discounts that accelerated growth in these markets," said IDC. The more developed markets of the U.S., Western Europe and China experienced big Q3 declines, it said. Samsung retook global leadership from Huawei with 22.7% share after shipping 80.4 million smartphones in Q3, a 2.9% increase from the 2019 quarter. Huawei’s shipments plunged 22% to 51.9 million handsets, sinking the vendor into second place with 14.7% share, said IDC: “The company continues to face challenges due to the ever increasing impact of the U.S. sanctions.” Wednesday, Sony reported the mid-September termination of image sensor shipments to Huawei would cause operating profit in that sector of its business to plummet for the fiscal year ending March 31 (see 2010280028).