The total number of smartphone shipments in Europe dropped significantly in May 2022, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine being one of the major factors for that, according to a recent report by researchers from Canalys.
Despite that downward trend, Apple managed to actually grow in the period, shipping 8.9 million iPhones and surpassing Xiaomi at the second place. Samsung remained the most prolific smartphone vendor in Europe, but it also shipped less Galaxy phones, 14.6 million in total, or a decline of 1.5 million over the same period last year.
One other company emerged at the fourth place with stellar sales and that is Realme, the Oppo offshoot that focuses on value-for-money devices. It shipped more than twice as many phones as last year and recorded 2.1 million shipments in Europe in May 2022.
Overall smartphone shipments in Europe declined to 41.7 million in May, down from 46.4 million in the same month last year.
And while this is troubling news for the industry, we can see how a strong lineup like the iPhone 13 still managed to secure solid shipments for Apple.
“Most of the decline in Europe was due to Russia and Ukraine being hit hard. Shipments in the countries fell 31% and 51% respectively compared with Q1 2021,” said Canalys Research Analyst Runar Bjørhovde. “Shipments in the rest of Europe only declined 3.5% year on year, showing that demand remains intact. But the ongoing war has driven inflation to a record level and consumer confidence is falling. The real test for the smartphone market will come in the next two quarters, when the economic impact of the war truly starts to be felt.”
This worrying forecast clouds expectations for the upcoming fall launches of flagship devices like the new Galaxy Fold series expected in late August, as well as the new iPhones that should hit the market in late September.
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Of course, this is only the factual side of the story. As millions of people are displaced by the Russian aggression in Ukraine and thousands die, it is the human cost of the conflict that hurts the most. Don't forget that if you have the opportunity, it is always a good idea to help those who have suffered from this war and help peace come along sooner.
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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
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