Smartphone demand muted in run-up to festive season

Consumer demand for smartphones remained muted in the run-up to the festive season in August despite multiple rounds of online sales and margin hikes for retailers, said retailers and market trackers. The industry expects only a single-digit pickup in sales during the festive season, as compared to double-digit spikes seen in the past few years, they said.

Chandu Reddy, director at South Indian mobile phone retail-chain Sangeetha Mobiles, said there was a slight dip in July and August, immediately after the company concluded its anniversary sale which started in June, while for others in the market, the dip started from June onwards.