In the fourth quarter of 2023, smartphone shipments in Japan will increase by 3.4% for iPhone and decrease by 8.7% for Android.
Research company IDC has released a report summarizing smartphone shipments in Japan. In addition to the number of units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2023 (October to December), the figures for the 2023 summary have also been revealed.
Japan's Mobile Phones Market Decreased by 3.5% YoY in 2023Q4 to 8.3 Million Units, Says IDC
Announcement of domestic mobile phone/smartphone market results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023
Shipments of conventional mobile phones and smartphones in Japan in the fourth quarter of 2023 were 8.3 million units, down 3.5% from the same period last year. Among these, smartphones were 8.28 million units, down 2.4% from the same period last year. By type, iPhone shipments increased by 3.4% compared to the same period last year, and Android shipments decreased by 8.7%.
Japan's smartphone shipments for the full year 2023 were 30.3 million units, down 11.6% from the previous year, with iPhones down 6.1% and Android down 16.3%. For the full year, shipments decreased year-on-year in all quarters, with only the fourth quarter seeing shipments exceeding 8 million units.
IDC says, ``Led by Apple, demand began to improve in the second half of the year, suggesting that the effects of inflation due to the weaker yen and inventory adjustments by carriers are coming to an end.''
By manufacturer, the manufacturer with the highest market share in 2023 was Apple with 51.9% and shipments of 15.58 million units. In second place was Sharp with 10.9%, with shipments of 3.26 million units. Google was in third place with 10.7% and shipped 3.22 million units.
Regarding this figure, IDC said, ``Apple continues to lead the smartphone market with strong demand for the iPhone 15 series, Sharp has secured solid support among the elderly with its affordable smartphones, and Google has achieved its strongest performance since Q2 2023. 'We maintained our growth trajectory, which was the biggest positive.'
In a summary of 2023, IDC states, ``While Google rapidly increased its market share after partnering with Docomo at the beginning of the year, FCNT applied for application of the Civil Rehabilitation Act, and Kyocera announced its withdrawal from consumer devices. Sony and Samsung each decreased their domestic market share by more than 1 million units compared to the previous year.Under these circumstances, major vendors Sharp and Apple maintain stable positions. ” he pointed out.
He continued, ``Japan has traditionally been a market where domestic vendors have been very strong, but as competition in the smartphone market intensifies, Japanese vendors are looking to develop products such as foldable smartphones and AI smartphones, and to be competitive in terms of global competitiveness.'' It is becoming increasingly difficult to compete with vendors.In 2024, in addition to Google, which has achieved rapid growth, global vendors such as Lenovo and Xiaomi, which acquired FCNT, will strengthen their presence in the Japanese market. Domestic vendors will be forced to reconsider their position in the domestic market.'
Meanwhile, in China, smartphone sales fell 7% year-on-year in the first six weeks of 2024, with major vendors such as Apple, OPPO, and vivo recording double-digit declines. According to research firm
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