Latest Mobile & Gadgets News
Southeast Asia smartphone shipments fall 9% as vendors prioritize margins
Omdia says Southeast Asia’s smartphone market declined 9% year-on-year in 1Q26 to 21.6 million units, even as average selling price hit a record $349. The report says brands are increasingly choosing profitability and ASP growth over chasing unit share amid memory-cost inflation.
Samsung leads Southeast Asia with 4.6 million units shipped
Samsung topped the regional market with 4.6 million shipments and a 21% share, growing 4% year-on-year. Omdia credits the result to a strong S26 launch and continued A-series demand.
OPPO slips in Southeast Asia after organizational changes
OPPO ranked second in the region with 4.2 million units, but shipments fell 17% year-on-year. Omdia attributes the decline to operational corrections following its combination with realme.
Xiaomi’s price increases reduce channel appetite
Xiaomi shipped 3.7 million units in Southeast Asia, down 12% year-on-year. Omdia says portfolio-wide price hikes constrained wallet share and reduced channel demand.
TRANSSION stays strong in budget markets despite a 10% drop
TRANSSION ranked fourth with 3.4 million units, down 10% year-on-year. Its Infinix and TECNO brands remained competitive in Indonesia and the Philippines, helping it hold a solid position in lower-price segments.
vivo pulls back from entry-level phones to focus on profitability
vivo completed the top five with 2.1 million units, down 27% year-on-year. Omdia says the company is deliberately reducing exposure to the affordable entry-level category to improve profitability.
Apple holds sixth place with iPhone 17 demand supported by lighter discounting
Apple shipped 1.8 million units in Southeast Asia and was broadly flat year-on-year. Omdia notes the iPhone 17 series performed well, with less discounting than the previous model at the same point in its life cycle.
Thailand shows relative resilience in the region
Thailand posted 2% growth in the quarter, standing out as one of the stronger markets in Southeast Asia. Omdia says Samsung’s better positioning in premium and upper mid-range devices helped offset weakness in entry-level demand.
Vietnam and Malaysia see sharper declines as sub-$200 phones contract
Vietnam and Malaysia fell 12% and 19% respectively, according to Omdia. The research says shipments in the sub-$200 segment dropped by more than 30%, highlighting intense affordability pressure in price-sensitive markets.
Memory inflation pushes smartphone prices higher across Southeast Asia
Omdia reports that rising DRAM and NAND costs are resetting device pricing across the region, with more than 60% of smartphones priced below $200. The research suggests affordability pressure will likely continue into 2026 unless component costs ease.
Huawei wins GSMA Global Mobile LATAM award for wildlife protection project
Huawei and partners received a GSMA Global Mobile LATAM Award for the Tech4Nature Mexico project, which uses technology to protect jaguars in Yucatán’s Dzilam de Bravo reserve. Huawei says AI, cloud storage, and data analytics are helping build a conservation model that combines science with community participation.
Mobile industry spotlight turns to social impact and conservation tech
Huawei’s award underscores how mobile and cloud technologies are being applied beyond consumer devices into environmental monitoring and biodiversity protection. The project is part of the broader Tech4Nature partnership between IUCN and Huawei.