In its latest market report, IDC focuses on the performance of the Indian smartphone market in 2020. The first half of the year, marked by lockdowns and restrictions at the start of the current pandemic, was up 26% year-on-year. Annual decline in shipments, while the second half of 2020 saw a market recovery pushing for 19% year-over-year growth. The resulting nearly 150 million phones are down just -1.7% year-on-year, the first after several years of growth for the Indian market.
IDC predicts that 2021 will result in an increase in shipments of around 10% compared to 2020.
Online sales increased in 2020, accounting for almost half of the total market at 48%. In the fourth quarter of 2020, online shipments saw a record 51% share of all shipments, thanks to exchange programs and offers.
MediaTek-powered devices led sales with a 43% share, followed by Qualcomm-powered phones 40%. 5G smartphone shipments crossed the 3 million mark in 2020, but adoption was limited by the lack of a 5G network and the higher price tag.
Xiaomi retained its leadership position in 2020 with 41 million units shipped. Samsung finished second thanks to the success of its online channels and its Galaxy M series of phones, shipping just under 30 million phones. Realme pushed Oppo to fourth place and recorded the strongest growth of 2020 with 19%.
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