US smartphone shipments up 11 per cent in second quarter as Chinese makers resume production

The US smartphone market saw a strong recovery in the second quarter of 2020 with 31.9 million units shipped, an 11 per cent increase on the preceding quarter as Chinese factories resumed operations after Covid-19 lockdowns.

Moreover, although Apple and Samsung Electronics maintained their handset leadership positions, China made seven out of every 10 devices sold in the country, according to the latest data from research firm Canalys.

Overall quarterly shipments declined 5 per cent year-on-year, with Apple and Samsung accounting for a combined 70.3 per cent of total market share, selling 15 million and 7.4 million devices respectively during the period. Korean electronics brand LG and Chinese phone maker Lenovo were ranked third and fourth respectively.

“A resumption of Chinese factory operations at the end of March and stores reopening in May and June were key contributors to sequential market growth,” the report said.

Although overall shipments recovered, consumers have moved towards cheaper and low-end devices. Apple’s quarterly market share soared in the past quarter thanks to its flagship iPhone 11 and the launch of its upgraded budget phone model iPhone SE in April, according to Canalys.

Samsung shipped fewer 5G handsets than in the same quarter last year, relying heavily on its low-end devices to prop up shipments, according to the Canalys report. The average price of a smartphone in the US hit US$503, 10 per cent lower than in Q2 2019.