Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the share of online channel sales in total global smartphone sales is expected to reach 23 percent this year, a 3 percent increase from last year, according to a new report.
India continues to lead in online sales, with 40 percent of all smartphones being sold online during Q1 this year.
In India, Flipkart hosted half of the online sales during the quarter.
The online market saw sales rise following the implementation of lockdowns and social distancing measures due to COVID-19.
Xiaomi was the leading brand in online channels across the country, accounting for 51 percent of total online sales.
The company saw 67 percent of its total sales happening online during Q1 2020. In contrast, Vivo sold only 11 percent of its phones online.
The UK recorded 35 percent and China 30 percent share of online sales.
“On the other hand, countries with strong offline distribution and carrier control, such as the US, Japan, and South Korea, saw relatively low online sales,” according to a report by Counterpoint Research.
The US recorded a 14 percent share of online smartphone sales in 2019, which rose to 17 percent as COVID -19 started to spread in the country.
“In terms of brands, Apple dominated online sales with 44% share. Its iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max were the bestsellers in both online and offline channels. Samsung’s Galaxy A10e was the No. 3 best-selling model in the online channel,” said Yeree Yoon, Research Analyst.
Online smartphone sales in China reached 30 percent in the first quarter of 2020.
JD.com led among online platforms while Huawei smartphones ranked first in both online and offline channels.
The top two brands in online were Honor and Xiaomi.
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