5G smartphone sales surpass 4G phones for the first time

This year, sales of 5G smartphones surpassed the sales of previous generation 4G models. In January 2022, 5G phones accounted for about 51 percent of all devices sold.

According to Counterpoint Research’s report, China, North America and Western Europe were the largest regions driving this growth. Currently, the highest “acceptance” level of 5G is in China, where it reached 84 percent in January 2021. This increase has come from Chinese carriers pushing 5G, as well as brands launching new affordable 5G-enabled phones. On the other hand, 5G deployment rates in North America and Western Europe reached 74% and 76%, respectively.

5G smartphone market is growing

In these two regions, Apple, 30 percent in Western Europe and 50 percent in North America dominates the market share. This came after the company launched the iPhone 12 series with 5G support.

Meanwhile, the market for 5G-enabled Android smartphones has also grown, with MediaTek and Qualcomm’s newer and more affordable chips that support faster bandwidth. This is especially true for the mid-high price range of $250 to $400.