Shipments of smartphones in China totaled 83.6 million units in the first quarter of 2015, decreasing 20 million units or 17.5% sequentially from the previous month, according to Digitimes Research.
Sales of high-end models from local brands in the first quarter were affected by continued brisk sales of iPhone 6 devices, while some brand vendors and local white-box makers failed to roll out more competitive entry-level and mid-range products during the period, Digitimes Research commented.
Thanks to booming sales of iPhone 6 devices, international brands accounted for over 30% of total smartphone sales in China in the first quarter, with Apple taking a 16.6% share. Xiaomi Technology took the second position with an 11.5% share and Samsung Electronics followed with a 10.8% share.
For the second quarter, smartphone shipments are expected to stage a rebound of 15-20% sequentially and reach around 100 million units, buoyed by the launch of new models by local brands as well as new flagship models from international brands.
However, due to the maturing market in China, Xiaomi Is likely to be the sole local vendor able to ramp up its shipments to over 10 million units in the second quarter, Digitimes Research estimated.
