In the first half of 2023, Apple did not break into the top five laptop brands by market presence in Russia, based on data reported by RBC from leading retailers. The mid-year snapshot shows that MSI led the pack with about 22 percent of the market, followed by Huawei with around 13 percent. Asus rounded out the top three with just under 10 percent, while Lenovo and Acer accounted for roughly 8 percent and 6.7 percent respectively. Collectively, all other brands claimed about 40.6 percent of the laptop market. This pattern marks a continuation of shifting consumer preferences and competitive dynamics within the Russian PC segment, where pricing strategies, distribution networks, and product ecosystems play a decisive role for shoppers choosing between gaming machines, portable workstations, and everyday notebooks.
To put these figures in context, the end of 2021 painted a different landscape. At that time HP stood as the market leader with a 22.8 percent share, Asus followed closely at 19.1 percent, Lenovo held 16.7 percent, and Acer occupied 14.9 percent. Apple trailed in fifth place with about 8.2 percent, while all other brands combined accounted for roughly 18.3 percent. The evolution from late 2021 to mid-2023 demonstrates a notable reshuffling of brand appeal, influenced by product introductions, regional availability, and consumer sentiment regarding graphics capabilities, processing power, and overall value in the laptop category as the market adapted to changing work and entertainment needs.
RBC also released the corresponding brand-share data for the Russian smartphone market covering the first half of 2023. In this segment, Xiaomi held a leading position with about 22.8 percent, Realme followed with around 13.9 percent, Samsung was close behind at 12.4 percent, and both Tecno and Apple finished in the upper tier with 11.5 percent and 9.3 percent respectively. These smartphone rankings reflect ongoing competition among Chinese manufacturers, established Korean brands, and premium and midrange players seeking greater traction in a market characterized by rapid turnover, evolving network technologies, and consumer demand for high camera quality and long battery life.
As for product cycles and regional shifts, there is ongoing commentary about sales patterns for flagship devices versus more affordable models, and about how retailers structure promotions, trade-in programs, and warranty offerings to attract buyers. The data also illustrate how customer preferences for operating systems, hardware ecosystems, and after-sales support contribute to the broader brand landscape across both laptops and smartphones in Russia. In this context, brands such as Samsung continue to pursue growth through incremental innovations and new form factors, while others intensify their emphasis on efficiency, durability, and price competitiveness to capture share in a competitive market environment.