Rise of 5G makes it hard for retailers to sell 4G handsets

With 5G smartphone market share now touching 50%, distribution and retail channels are struggling to clear remaining stocks of 4G handsets with more than nine weeks of inventory currently stuck in the channels, market trackers said.

Smartphone brands have started to permanently slash prices of 4G handsets nearing their end-of-life cycle in a bid to clear out the stocks ahead of the crucial festive season starting from August.

“The 4G inventory stuck is currently higher than the average market inventory, which at this point of time is around 9-10 weeks,” said Prachir Singh, senior research analyst, Counterpoint Research.