Sales of 5G Smartphones Surpassed 4G Smartphones for the First Time in January [Chart]

Sales of 5G smartphones reached 51% in January 2022, surpassing 4G smartphones for the first time, reports Counterpoint Research. 5G penetration was highest in China at 84%, compared to North America at 73% and Western Europe at 76%.

Counterpoint notes immense and ongoing demand for 5G among Apple users...

Apple dominates North America and Western Europe with a sales share of over 50% and 30% respectively. After Apple shifted to 5G in October 2020 with the iPhone 12 Series, North America and Western Europe saw a natural increase in the sales penetration of 5G smartphones. These regions are expected to continue contributing substantially to 5G sales globally, as even without offering competitive specs, there is an immense and ongoing demand for a 5G upgrade within the iOS user base. This demand is also fuelled by iPhone users who are ready for new devices after years of holding on to their older iPhones. For many, holding periods are nearing four years, the average replacement cycle for iPhones.


Also contributing to the sales of 5G smartphones are new affordable chips from MediaTek and Qualcomm that are now trickling down to cheaper $150 - $250 devices. Focus areas in the future will be Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Latin America where sub-$150 4G models are dominant.

More details in the full report linked below...

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