The share of offline smartphone distribution in India increased in TechInsights:2022, accounting for 53% of total shipments

CTOnews.com, February 27, TechInsights (formerly Strategy Analytics) released a report today that online distribution channels accounted for 45% of India's total Q4 smartphone shipments in 2022, due to a sharp drop in demand for devices in the second half of the quarter. Overall, India's smartphone market fell 31 per cent year-on-year, making it one of the biggest declines in recent years.

According to the report, India's offline distribution accounted for 53% of total shipments in 2022. At present, the distribution of smartphones among India's top five smartphone manufacturers is mixed.

CTOnews.com learned from the TechInsights report that companies such as Xiaomi and realme prefer online channels, while companies such as vivo, OPPO and Samsung prefer offline channels. Brick-and-mortar retail stores will be further promoted in 2023, with companies such as Apple and Samsung focusing on different forms of physical distribution in the country's major cities.

Despite headwinds and other challenges in the global economy, 2023 is likely to be a year of growth for India's smartphone market, TechInsights said. With the wider launch of 5G, suppliers will have to carefully plan and implement their distribution strategies.