In Q2 2023, Africa experienced a 7.6% increase in smartphone shipments, rising from 18.1 million to 19.6 million units compared to Q2 in 2022, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Throughout this period, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt emerged as the top destinations for smartphones in Africa, with Chinese Transsion’s brands (Tecno, Itel, and Infinix) maintaining their leading position. Following closely are Samsung and Xiaomi.
This uptick in smartphone sales signals the conclusion of a seven-quarter-long decline, primarily attributed to the challenges posed by the pandemic era. Factors such as increasing inflation, economic instability, depreciation of local currencies against the US dollar, and subdued consumer demand contributed to this trend.
Ramazan Yavuz, senior research director at IDC, is optimistic about the African smartphone market’s outlook for 2024. He anticipates growth, albeit not at the levels observed in 2021, in the short term.
