During the first half of 2023, Russian consumers showed a strong preference for Tecno smartphones sourced from Hong Kong. Purchases in this category surged by 152 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from Price.ru, which tracks price comparisons and product selections.
Realme smartphones drew notable attention as well, with demand rising by 38 percent among Russian buyers. OnePlus devices also saw increased interest, rising 28 percent year over year. OPPO and Huawei followed with smaller but meaningful gains of 22 percent and 6 percent respectively, signaling a shifting brand landscape among Russian shoppers in 2023. These shifts reflect broader changes in consumer taste and supply dynamics across the Russian market, as reported by Price.ru (Price.ru).
In the first five months of 2023, Apple devices began to capture more Russian buyers, with iPhone demand up by about 14 percent versus the same period in 2022. This trend underscores the continued penetration of premium smartphones even as other brands gained momentum in mainstream segments. The same data source attributes the shift to ongoing brand diversification and the availability of popular models in the region (Price.ru).
Meanwhile, interest in several well known brands declined. Samsung’s appeal dropped by 18 percent, Sony by 13 percent, Asus by 35 percent, and Xiaomi by 17 percent, signaling a move away from some previously dominant lines and toward alternatives that better matched evolving consumer needs and price perceptions within Russia in 2023 (Price.ru).
In June, the retailer M.Video-Eldorado noted a 15 percent rise in smartphone sales along with headphones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers during the first four months of 2023 compared with the same period in 2022. The company stated that more than 45 percent of devices sold came from six leading brands, highlighting how the market continued to consolidate around a core group of manufacturers while consumer preferences shifted across tiers and price points. These findings were reported by the retailer and are reflected in market observations for the period (Company press materials).