The range of smartphones, which sank in March-April due to the cessation of supplies to Russia by a number of manufacturers and sharp fluctuations in exchange rates, has returned to the level of the beginning of 2022. This was reported to Izvestia in M. Video - Eldorado. About 500 models from about 20 brands are available in the stores of the combined retailer, which corresponds to the width of the assortment at the beginning of the year - prices for most models have remained at the level of this period, a representative of the company said.
For example, several dozen models of Apple smartphones from the iPhone 13, 12, and 11, SE, and XR lines are available to customers, he claims. In addition to Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi devices traditionally popular with Russian buyers, in recent months the choice of devices from Chinese brands Realme, Poco, Tecno, Infinix, and others have significantly expanded, added M. Video - Eldorado.
The range of the most popular smartphones - Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi - has almost fully recovered to February 2022 levels, an employee at another major retailer confirmed. True, there are fewer gadgets from Honor, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, ZTE, Motorola, and a number of other brands on the shelves, he said. But the reduction in their range began before the sanctions campaign and the cessation of the supply of electronics to Russia.
“ Leaders have crystallized in the market and all consumer demand has focused around them. Now, during the crisis, retailers rely on the most popular models with the best turnover rates so that the goods do not gather dust in warehouses and shop windows, ”said the Izvestia source.
The portfolio of brands was also expanded in Citilink, due to this, the range of electronics remained at the level of the beginning of the year, a representative of the network said.
The range of smartphones is expanding against the backdrop of a general decline in sales of these devices in Russia. In the second quarter of 2022, demand for them fell by 33% compared to the first quarter, an employee of one of the retailers noted. Compared to April-June 2021, the drop in demand was 30%, he said.
The restoration of the range of smartphones is in step with the increase in the presence of Chinese brands in the market. For example, the share of Xiaomi in Russia increased by 4.8 percentage points compared to January-March this year, to 30.6%, according to MTS. Other Chinese manufacturers are also strengthening their positions, it follows from the data of the operator. The share of Realme increased from 8.3% to 13%. According to M.Video-Eldorado, the share of Chinese brands in the Russian market in the second quarter was 65%, while in June it reached 70%, although at the beginning of the year it did not exceed 50%.
Interest in Chinese devices can be explained against the backdrop of the cessation of official sales of the world's leading brands and the fact that the import of their products through parallel imports is fraught with difficulties, says Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily. Inexpensive and fairly high-quality products from China fill the temporary vacuum.
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