Smartphone average sales prices rise to Q3 record – study

The global average selling price (ASP) of smartphones continued to increase in the third quarter, rising by a record 7 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data from GfK. Worldwide demand also pushed sales to a record third quarter, with 367 million units sold in the three months to end of September, up 3 percent year-on-year, said the report, adding that demand was primarily driven by Latin America (up 11 percent year-on-year) and Central and Eastern Europe (up 9 percent year-on-year).
 
However, the performance across regions was varied, with smartphone demand in Western Europe totalling 30.9 million units in Q3, down 7 percent year-on-year and the fourth consecutive quarterly decline, attributed to a saturated market and the delayed launch of the iPhone X. Conversely, sales value in the region rose 4 percent year-on-year, driven by an 11 percent increase in ASP resulting from the fact 1 in 8 smartphones sold in the quarter was priced above USD 900, compared to 1 out of 16 in Q3 2016.
 
Smartphone demand continued to recover in Central and Eastern Europe, with a 9 percent increase year-on-year in Q3, bringing demand to 22.3 million units. In Latin America smartphone sales rose even more, by 11 percent year on year, to reach 27.8 million units Q3, driven by a 17 percent increase in Brazil.
 
In China, smartphone revenue was up 20 percent year-on-year in the July to September period, driven by a 15 percent year-on-year rise in ASP, while demand increased 5 percent year-on-year, reaching 117 million units.

---