- Total domestic mobile phone shipments fell to 21.15 million units in March, though the 7.1% decline narrowed from the double-digit drops seen in January and February.
- 5G phone shipments grew 1.3% year-on-year to account for 93% of the monthly total.
Mobile phone shipments in China's domestic market fell 7.1% year-on-year in March, indicating that consumer demand in the world's largest smartphone market remains sluggish.
Data released Monday by the China Academy of Information and Communications (CAICT) showed that domestic mobile phone shipments dropped to 21.15 million units in March, underscoring the ongoing challenges facing the industry's recovery.
Although the overall market continues to shrink, the 7.1% decline in March marks a significant improvement from the double-digit drops recorded in January and February, suggesting a moderation in the downward trend.
Against the backdrop of broader market pressure, 5G phone shipments reached 19.667 million units in March, bucking the trend to achieve a 1.3% year-on-year growth.
5G models now capture an overwhelming 93.0% share of total mobile phone shipments for the period.
Local smartphone makers continue to dominate the domestic market, though shipments of domestic brands fell 14.8% year-on-year to 17.787 million units in March.
Major handset manufacturers have become more cautious in launching new models, as the costs of components, including memory chips, have risen significantly.
Only 19 new models were released in the Chinese market in March, representing a sharp year-on-year plunge of 70.3%.
Looking at the first quarter as a whole, total domestic mobile phone shipments from January to March 2026 stood at 60.805 million units, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 12.7%.
