The 1Q23 Philippines’ Smartphone Market Fell to the Lowest Quarterly Shipments in Three Years
May 30, 2023 | IDCEstimated reading time: 1 minute

According to the International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the Philippines smartphone market declined 16.7% quarter over quarter (QoQ) and 11.0% year over year (YoY), shipping 3.5 million units for the first quarter of 2023. Market conditions remained difficult as core inflation continued to rise through March 2023.
“The last time shipments hit below 3.5 million records was back in 1Q20 when the pandemic just started and the first lockdown was implemented,” says Angela Medez, Client Devices Senior Market Analyst at IDC Philippines.
Transsion climbed to the top spot, ending realme’s two-year streak as top the ranking smartphone company in the Philippines. Transsion’s sub-brand, Tecno, grew 33.7% YoY and 107.8% QoQ contributing more than 50% to the company’s total shipments, surpassing Infinix’s share.
Tecno’s rise is attributable to its aggressive campaigns offering new models at different price points (with its Spark Go 2023 model leading its growth) as well as introducing its Phantom series, initiating the brand’s entry in the US$500+ band.
“Though it seems that the market has finally bottomed out and is on its road to recovery with inflation finally slowing down, IDC anticipates shipments to remain flat in 2023 as vendors will remain cautious with inflation still above comfortable levels,” Medez added.
Suggested Items
China Smartphone Market Grew 3.3% in 1Q25, Outperforming Global Growth Ahead of US-China Trade Tensions
04/17/2025 | IDCAccording to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, China's smartphone market shipped 71.6 million units in 1Q25, a 3.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
IPC Strengthens Electronics Industry Awareness with Appointment of Carrie Sessine as Global Communications Vice President
04/16/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the strategic appointment of Carrie Sessine as vice president of global communications. This newly created executive position underscores the association’s commitment to championing the electronics industry's critical contributions to global innovation and economic growth.
QD-OLED to Account for 73% of OLED Monitor Shipments in 2025, Driven by Advancing Technology and New Products
04/16/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that ongoing advancements in OLED displays are propelling the growth of QD-OLED monitor shipments. QD-OLED’s share of OLED monitor shipments is expected to rise from 68% in 2024 to 73% in 2025, highlighting its strong competitiveness in the high-end monitor market.
Worldwide Smartphone Market Grew 1.5% in Q1 2025, Amid On-going US-China Trade Tension
04/15/2025 | IDCAccording to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker , global smartphone shipments increased 1.5% year-over-year (YoY) to 304.9 million units in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25).
The Marketing Minute: Strategic Short-form Content Builds Brand Momentum
04/17/2025 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteLast month, I shared how long-form content—like white papers, technical articles, and thought leadership pieces—can establish your company as a knowledgeable, trusted voice in the electronics industry. Long-form content is powerful, but it’s only half the equation. If long-form is the foundation, short-form content is the fuel that keeps your brand top-of-mind and your message moving.