Phablets bring Russian sellers half of smartphone revenue in 2016

MOSCOW, Feb 3 (PRIME) -- The share of phablets, or smartphones with large screens, in revenue of Russian handset retailers from sales of all smartphones increased to 50% in 2016 from 39% in 2015, multi-channel retailer Svyaznoy said Friday in a statement.

In natural terms, the share of phablets in all sales of smartphones reached 46% in 2016 from 30% in 2015.

Nationwide sales of phablets soared 60% in 2016 both in money and in units to almost 165 billion rubles, or over 12 million devices.

“Big smartphones are comfortable for communications, like social networks and messengers, and entertainment, like watching and editing photos and videos. Such devices are becoming ‘the first’ screen for a growing number of users, and people prefer buying one gadget instead of at least two, a smartphone and a tablet,” Svyaznoy said.

“Penetration of these devices in the middle and low-price segments also contributes to a wide expansion of these devices.”

An average price of a phablet remained flat in 2016 at 13,500 rubles.

(59.9858 rubles – U.S. $1)

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