Smartphone market distribution in Russia 2022, by vendor

The largest share of smartphones imported into Russia in 2022 was produced by Xiaomi, at 30 percent. The second leading brand was Realme, accounting for 16 percent of the shipments in units. Over the course of 2022, 24 million smartphones were sold in Russia.

Smartphone usage in Russia

The device's adoption continuously increased in Russia, and the share of the population owning a smartphone was one of the highest worldwide. The number of smartphone users across the country was forecast at approximately 115 million in 2025. Looking at customer affinity, Samsung was the favorite brand of those gadgets among Russians. In 2022, 86 percent of consumers were very satisfied or satisfied with their smartphone brand.

COVID-19 impact on smartphone sales in Russia

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in retail sales of electronics, as stores were closed during the lockdown in the second quarter of 2020. Facilitated by physical distancing, remote work and education, and entertainment services in the digital world, the demand for smartphones increased, as did their sales on major e-commerce platforms in the segment, such as M.Video, Svyaznoy, and MTS. At the same time, the crisis negatively impacted the population’s income, meaning that less people were able to spend money on smartphones, which resulted in a general market decline in 2020.