Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone brand maintains it first position in the Indian’s smartphone market even after Xiaomi suffered 5-percentage-point drop in market share from 31 per cent in Q1 2020, to 26 percent. Xiaomi is leading the smartphone market with a 26% shipment share in the Q1 2021 from among the 5 out of the top 10 models. After Xiaomi, Samsung is the brand that bangs the second position, having the highest growth of 52% and a share of 20%, which was just 16% last year. But the Second covid wave which has shattered each and every market in India, will likely dampen the demand in the next few quarters.
The latest research report by Counterpoint’s Market Monitor said that, in the first quarter of calendar year 2021, India’s smartphone shipments grew by a robust 23 per cent counting to almost 38 million units. This increase in the shipment is said to be the highest increase until today in the first quarter, which was boosted by promotions and financial schemes, new product launches, as well as hidden or unreleased demand from last year. Prachir Singh, a Senior Research Analyst said in a statement that with this outstanding performance, Indian Smartphone market has registered a third consecutive quarter of record shipments in Q1 2021, with a hidden or not released demand. Due to the beginning of a vaccination drive in the country, the consumer confidence also increased.
The Covid-19 condition presently in India is worsening, and it is estimated that demand may fall down to a great extent comparatively. The present condition might last for many days or might continue till the next quarter, and will affect the consumer demand thus damping the smartphone market, Prachir Singh added to his comments. Xiaomi, which is a Chinese Smartphone company is leading its first position in the market even though it suffered a 5-percentage-point drop in market share from 31 per cent in Q1 2020 to 26 per cent. Even after the anti-China sentiment in India, due to the Covid-19 condition, the brand continues to maintain its first position by keeping its next rival Samsung on the second position. During the Quarter 1, Xiaomi logged a 4 per cent volume growth. During the Q3 of the last year, Xiaomi had witnessed a shrink by 3 per cent points to 23 percent, which led Samsung to be for the first time in 2 years at 24 percent, ahead of Xiaomi.
But Samsung could not maintain its position for long. As soon as the anti-china sentiments fell loose in India, Xiaomi again bagged up the first position with market share of 26%. In the first quarter of 2021, it has been witnessed until now, that normal service of Chinese brands seeking business in the Indian smartphone landscape has resumed. Samsung is now focusing on the budget segment with the new Mo2 series and also, is launching different series too. During the quarter over last year, the India’s overall mobile handset market grew 19 percent.
