Chinese brands take over Russia's smartphone market
STORY: Chinese brands are taking over Russia’s smartphone market.
That’s according to figures from local electronics retailer M.Video-Eldorado.
It says Chinese makers took more than 70% market share in the first quarter of this year.
That’s up from around 50% last year.
The surge comes after Apple and Samsung curtailed sales there following the start of conflict in Ukraine.
Though both brands do remain available through unofficial or “parallel” imports.
They’ve sank to third and fourth spots respectively in the Russian market.
The top two positions go to Chinese makers Xiaomi and Realme.
Moscow won’t object to the shift, with Russia trying to wean itself off Western technology.
The Kremlin has told officials involved in next year’s presidential election to stop using Apple products.
That’s over fears they could be vulnerable to western espionage.
Now the change in the smartphone market is being mirrored on Russia’s roads, where Chinese brands are increasingly replacing Western makes.
