Shrinking entry-level demand stalls smartphone market growth

New Delhi: Demand for entry-level smartphones (priced below $100 or about Rs 8,300) continued to fall in the quarter to June, a trend that is likely to keep overall industry growth restricted in the medium-term, according to executives and market research firms.

The entry-level segment saw a 36% on-year slump in shipments in the April-June period, according to IDC. The segment accounted for 14% of total sales, down from 22% a year ago and around 40% in the pre-Covid-19 years before 2020,