Chinese Smartphones Dominate Russian Market with 70% Market Share

In accordance with prominent consumer electronics shop M.Video-Eldorado, Chinese smartphones dominated the Russian market in the first half of 2023, accounting for more than 70% of all sales, up from approximately 55% the previous year.

After Samsung and Apple reduced sales in the nation due to the conflict in Ukraine, Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and Realme have become the country's top sellers of smartphones.With nearly 13 million units sold, overall smartphone demand in Russia is up 17% from the same time last year.

Since the majority of Western brands left the Russian market, Beijing has become more and more Moscow's go-to source for everything from gadgets to automobiles.

"Brands from China systematically continue to strengthen their presence," M.Video said in a statement on Tuesday (Jul 4), adding that flagship models and foldable smartphones from Chinese brands were seeing particular demand.

Eight out of the 10 best-selling smartphones in Russia in the first six months of this year were Chinese, M.Video said. The Kremlin has told officials to stop using Apple iPhones, saying that Western intelligence agencies have compromised them using surveillance software. Apple has denied those claims.