Institution: Q1 smartphone shipments in Latin America decreased by 4% year-on-year, ending seven consecutive quarters of growth

Research firm Counterpoint Research released a report today stating that the smartphone market in Latin America is expected to see a year-on-year decline of 4% in shipments in the first quarter of 2025, ending a seven-quarter trend of annual growth that began in the second quarter of 2023. Major markets are facing severe economic challenges, with overall performance showing a divergent trend; while Argentina and Chile continue to grow, Mexico and Brazil have both experienced significant declines. In terms of brand competition, Apple and Xiaomi emerged as the main winners in the first quarter by successfully capturing market share through strategic new product launches. Apple attracted consumer attention with the newly launched iPhone 16e, which ranks high on the sales charts in Mexico's $700 to $800 price range, priced lower than other models in the 16 series and with fewer hardware and software downgrades