Consumers are increasingly turning towards cheap smartphones, such as the Moto G 2014, instead of flagships, like the iPhone 6, according to new figures.
Market research firm GfK reports that the popularity of handsets costing under $250 (£160) is on the rise, with low-end handsets equating to 56 per cent of all smartphone sales in Q1 2015.
This compares to the 52 per cent share of the market they held in Q4 2014.
Models costing $500 (£320) and above are now less in-demand as a result, though GfK hasn’t revealed the extent to which flagship sales have dropped. Mid-market ($250-$500) mobiles, meanwhile, have remained constant.
The company expects this trend to continue, and believes cheaper smartphones will only conquer more market share as the year goes on, partly due to competitive pricing in emerging markets.
The quality of budget smartphones has also increased massively, with manufacturers like Huawei and Motorola flying the flag for wallet-friendly phones that offer great value for money. Follow the link for our pick of the best cheap smartphones available right now.
GfK’s report has also revealed that, for the first time, over half of all smartphones shipped in Q1 were 4G-enabled.
Unsurprisingly, this is expected to only become more prevalent as 4G handsets become more affordable and mobile network coverage improves. By the end of the year, GfK says this figure will hit 59 per cent.
Related: Samsung Galaxy S7 rumours
Another trend to emerge is that of consumers shifting their preferences towards handsets with screens measuring 5-inches and larger.
A massive 166 million units were sold in Q1, equating to 47 per cent of the global smartphone market, up from 32 per cent in Q1 2014.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
