An interesting outlier in this scenario is Russia, which saw a 4% year-on-year growth in smartphone shipments. However, this growth is not indicative of a healthier market or increased buying power among consumers. Instead, it can be attributed to the fact that the second quarter of 2022 was the first full quarter following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading major smartphone players to exit the market.
Xiaomi emerges as the market leader in Russia, with realme securing the second position. Realme, a rising Chinese manufacturer, experienced impressive growth of 12% year-on-year, claiming 55% of the brand’s shipments in the region. Counterpoint Research suggests that realme’s success can be attributed in part to the exit of Samsung and Apple from the market. Notably, realme has held the second spot for five consecutive quarters and has been steadily closing the gap with Xiaomi.
