China’s mid-year 618 shopping festival held in the month of June has grown to become one of the major e-commerce activities in the region and even outside China. This year’s activity was the first to be held after the COVID 19 lockdown which affected last year’s activities especially smartphone sales. Thus, phone manufacturers were looking forward to robust sales, and apparently, they were not disappointed.

Data released by market research firm Counterpoint shows that the smartphone market recorded a rebound in the sales of smartphones during this year’s 618 shopping festival. The event saw a 7% YoY increase in smartphone sales in the first three weeks of June. The impressive surge comes on the heels of a disappointing run during the previous two months of April and May.

BBK subsidiary Vivo cornered the most sales to lead the ranking. The company raked in 23% of the total phones sold by the top eight phone manufacturers. Fellow BBK subsidiary OPPO came in at the second spot with 21% of the 618 sales. Xiaomi also saw impressive sales of 19% putting it at the number 3 spot.

Counterpoint notes that present sales numbers were made possible due to the absence of Huawei and its once bubbling Honor sub-brand. The two companies were the first and second bestsellers in 2020 but this year has been different as their sales plummeted 68% and 49% respectively. Huawei’s smartphone business has almost been crippled by the US ban while it has been forced to sell the Honor brand. The brand is yet to pick up under a new owner. The brand managed to record a 7% share during 618 but its sales surged more than 15% compared to the corresponding period in May.

Apple also recorded a pretty impressive outing during the 618 shopping festival with a 16% YoY increase in sales. While Apple occupied the fourth position, Realme came in at the fifth spot.

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