Smartphone shipments in China fell 20.4% in 2020: Government data

SHANGHAI: Domestic smartphone shipments in China in 2020 fell 20.4% from the previous year, government data released on Monday showed, as the number of handsets delivered to consumers dropped to 296 million from 372 million in 2019.

The figures China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT), a state-backed think tank, reflected both the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the supply chain and demand, and the ongoing trend for consumers keep their phones for longer before upgrading to a new model.

In 2019, shipments of smartphones had declined 4% from the previous year, according to CAICT data.

Handset vendors had entered 2020 hoping the year would bring renewed sales as consumers purchased new phones compatible with China’s rapidly-expanding 5G networks.