South Africa’s smartphone market is overwhelmingly dominated by Samsung, which captures more than 1 in every 2 devices in use (51.54%). Apple trails far behind with 17.61%, reflecting its strong appeal among higher-income consumers but limited overall penetration. Huawei, despite facing global restrictions, maintains a solid 10.03% share, showing resilience and brand loyalty in the market.
Other players like Honor (4.72%), Xiaomi (3.8%), and Oppo (3.09%) are gaining ground but remain relatively niche. Meanwhile, budget brands such as Tecno (1.15%) and Itel (0.77%), which perform well elsewhere in Africa, have minimal presence in South Africa, indicating a market tilted more towards premium and mid-range smartphones than ultra-low-cost options.