Canalys forecast smartphone shipments in China to remain weak in the second half of 2022, after a double-digit decline in Q2.

Shipments fell 10 per cent year-on-year to 67.4 million units. Canalys projected the full-year figure could end up below 300 million units, making for the worst performance since 2012.

Analyst Toby Zhu stated “Chinese consumers are holding back spending on smartphones”, with colleague Amber Liu noting the “outlook for Q3 and Q4 is no rosier”.

Zhu added strict Covid-19 (coronavirus) lockdowns in major cities increased fears of an economic downturn, leaving consumers “worried about falling disposable income and unemployment”.

Honor shipped 13 million units, up 88 per cent, taking the number two position with a 19 per cent share. Vivo was top with a 20 per cent share, despite a 28 per cent drop to 13.2 million units.

Oppo’s shipments fell 30 per cent to 11.8 million, putting it third with an 18 per cent share. Xiaomi was fourth with a 16 per cent share after shipments dropped 16 per cent to 11.8 million.

Apple shipped 25 per cent more to 9.9 million, boosting its share by 5 percentage points to 15 per cent