Smartphone OEMs Face 'Major Uncertainty' After 11% Q1 Unit Drop: Canalys

Sluggish seasonal demand and “unfavorable economic conditions” sent smartphone shipments down 11% in Q1, Canalys reported Tuesday. Samsung grew its share by 5 points from Q4 to 24% on a revamped portfolio, including the flagship Galaxy S22 series. Apple, in second with 18% share, had a “solid” Q1 on growing demand for the iPhone 13 lineup, it said. Vendors face “major uncertainty due to the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s rolling lockdowns and the threat of inflation,” said analyst Nicole Peng. Vendors have to be able to "respond quickly to emerging opportunities and risks while staying focused on their long-term strategic plans,” she said. Component shortages “might improve sooner than expected,” which would relieve cost pressures, she said. The iPhone SE, which launched in March, is an important mid-range volume driver for Apple, bringing 5G connectivity, an upgraded chipset and better battery performance, said analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. Samsung ramped production of its A series to compete in the mid-to-low segment, while Chinese vendors are still experiencing supply constraints at the low end, with global expansion held back by a slowdown in their home market, he said.