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Taiwan handset sales start picking up

Max Wang, Taipei; Yusin Hu, DIGITIMES Asia 0

Handset sales in Taiwan are expected to rise more than 30% sequentially in August after registering a nearly 20% increase in July, according to sources at the local retail channel.

Demand is expected to bounce back in the second half of the year after handset shipments plunged to a record low in June.

High-end handset sales are also expected to rise in the second half of the year as Apple, Samsung, and Sony plan to launch new flagship handsets.

High-end handsets could account for 20-30% of sales in August, according to source at the retailer.

Handset shipments have risen from record-low 350,000 to 430,000 units in July, up by 20% on quarter, said the source.

Handset sales at physical retail stores lacked momentum because of the COVID outbreak in Taiwan. Shortage of materials and the unsatisfied demand for 5G from low-end handset users also factored in.

Since Taiwan's 5G network went into commercial use around mid-2020, 5G users are growing at a faster pace than expected. Three leading telecom operators in Taiwan have each reported more than 1 million 5G users this year.