Wired
In the second quarter of 2022 (April-June), the global smartphone market saw the lowest shipments since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Oversupply and surplus of old model inventory
According to research firm Canalys, global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2022 were 287 million units, down 9% year-on-year. Only Samsung and Apple have done relatively well, while Chinese companies that have been booming in recent years have struggled greatly due to the lockdown due to the new coronavirus infection.
Shipments of 287 million units are the lowest since the second quarter of 2020, when the infection of the new corona became a major problem around the world, and each manufacturer is left with inventory of old models due to oversupply, Canalys said. points out.
That said, consumers aren’t satisfied with the same old devices and specs. In the second half of 2022, the challenge will be how to break the vicious cycle.
Will Apple be the only winner this year?
“Supply chain shortages (as they used to be) are no longer an issue as suppliers start to worry about oversupply,” said Canalys analyst Tony Zhu. Vendors will either use the cost savings resulting from this to improve the competitiveness of new products, or to settle the inventory of old models.
However, many companies, including Samsung, are pessimistic about the smartphone sales outlook for the second half of 2022, and are confident that they will increase production volume year-on-year due to the environment such as the strong dollar, geopolitical risks, and inflation. It is likely that Apple will be the only company that has it.
Source: Canalys via GSMArena, Bloomberg
(kihachi)
Source: iPhone Mania