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Telecom. IT: IDC: 3.1 million smart phones sold in Romania in 2017
The smart phone market in Romania stagnated somehow in 2017, after several years of rapid growth, when the number of units sold dropped slightly by 4% to 3.1 million units and the market value was similar to that of 2016, to 687 million dollars, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
This result was damaging for many producers considering that Romanian economy grew by 7% in 2017 against 2016 and in the last quarter had the highest growth rate in EU.
“Romanians start buying more sophisticated phones. Now they choose mainly 4G devices, with large screens. Economic recovery was reflected in transition to phones with prices of 200-300 dollars, and to premium models, which are now the most important categories in term of smart phone market volume”, said IDC analyst Alexandra Rotaru.
The South Korean group Samsung kept its leader position in the smart phone market in Romania. As it happens in other Central and East European markets, Samsung is competed by the Chinese group Huawei, which has increased deliveries in Romania in 2017, while in the last three months of last year was responsible for more than 20% of the market.
The relaunch of Nokia smart phones was successful in Romania, a country where traditional mobile phones sold well. New Nokia smart phones controlled 4.8% of market, the highest percentage in any Central and East European country.
As a result of growing competition, local manufacturer Allview recorded a 40% drop of smart phone deliveries in 2017, compared to 2016. The Allview portfolio, most of them 3G devices, were avoided by consumers, who chose 4G models with wide screens from international manufacturers.
Most Romanians buy dual SIM phones, which control about three quarters both of the smart phone market and in the case of traditional mobile phone market.
According to IDC estimates, the smart phone market in Romania will register moderate increase, as of 2018, and the first 5G models will be introduced in 2020.