The smartphone market is continuing to grow, especially in emerging markets like India. According to a recent report by IDC, the Indian smartphone market grew by 1% YoY in 2023 with a total of 146 million smartphone shipments by various manufacturers. Not only that but the ASP (average selling price) of smartphones in India grew to approximately Rs 21,000, which is a 14% increase as compared to 2022. We spoke to Anuj Sidharth, Deputy Director, Marketing & Communications, MediaTek to help shed more light on this rise and the brand’s contribution to this growth.
Q: Can you shed light on MediaTek’s growing market share?
India is still a growing market for smartphones as such. As the IDC report noted, there were 146 million phone shipments last year. I’m proud to say that this growth coincided with MediaTek’s rise in the Indian smartphone market. Sales of smartphones powered by our chipset rose by 6% YoY, taking our total market share to 50%.
It should also be noted that this rise was not limited to India. MediaTek-powered smartphones were quite popular the world over. According to a report by Canalys, MediaTek was the world’s top smartphone semiconductor vendor in Q4 2023. The report revealed that MediaTek managed to power more devices than any other chip maker in the same period with a 21% increase YoY.
Q: Can you shed light on MediaTek’s marketing initiatives to help with the spread of its chipset’s capabilities and brand awareness?
At MediaTek, our marketing initiatives are centred around educating and empowering consumers to understand the technology behind their favourite smart devices and how it impacts their daily lives. By spreading awareness about our industry-leading solutions among consumers, media, influencers, and retailers, we aim to equip them with accurate information so users can make informed buying decisions.
We actively participate in major and global and regional events such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Mobile World Congress (MWC), and the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC), among others. These platforms allow us to showcase our leadership, the latest technology, and insights into our future innovations. MediaTek powers more than 2 billion devices annually across various categories, including smartphones, automotive, connectivity solutions, smart TVs, Chromebooks, and more, making us the world’s 5th largest global fabless semiconductor company.
Moreover, we continue to engage closely with the tech community through initiatives such as MediaTek Technology Diaries, and Tech Day in collaboration with 91Mobiles, among others. These efforts are aimed at sharing insights about our next-generation technologies and the over 2 billion devices powered by MediaTek across various categories, including smartphones, automotive, connectivity solutions, smart TVs, Chromebooks, and more.
Our commitment to innovation continues to drive us forward as we shape the future of mobile technology and beyond.
Q: Speaking of stronger relationships with OEMs, 2024 started with a slew of launches. March, in particular, seems to be full of MediaTek-powered smartphones. Can you shed light on some of the key devices that launched in March?
2024 has already kicked off to a fantastic start for MediaTek. We have had several phone launches powered by MediaTek in India in March alone. And there are a lot more to follow over the coming months. From well-established brands like Samsung to relative newcomers like Nothing, all have launched smartphones powered by MediaTek this month. The best part is the diversity of the launches across different market segments, thanks to MediaTek’s robust portfolio in the Dimensity 5G series. We provide incredible capabilities for everyone.
vivo V30 Pro: The vivo V30 Pro is the perfect option for those looking for a premium smartphone camera experience. Users get a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC that helps make the most of the camera hardware on offer. The phone features Zeiss optics, which when combined with the 50MP triple-rear camera setup and a multitude of software tweaks should result in some amazing photos!
Nothing Phone (2a): Nothing’s smartphones have always appealed to those who want something a little bit different from the norm. The Nothing Phone (2a) continues the trend. Apart from the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, the phone also offers a unique transparent back panel and the Glyph Interface that makes it stand out.
iQOO Z9 5G: the new iQOO Z9 5G is another feature-packed phone from the brand. The device not only packs a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, but also comes with features like an AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate and 44W fast charging.
OPPO F25 Pro 5G: The OPPO F25 Pro makes for a compelling option for those looking for a phone that offers a lot of premium features. Aside from an eye-catching design, the phone also offers a powerful MediaTek Dimesity 7050 SoC for premium performance. Other features include a 120Hz AMOLED panel, 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging and 64MP triple real cameras.
Realme 12+ 5G: As the name would suggest, the Realme 12+ 5G is a good option for those who like the all-around nature of the standard Realme 12 5G, but want things a little bit better. The Realme 12+ 5G packs the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, 120Hz AMOLED display, and 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging. It also packs a Sony LYT-600 sensor for even better photography.
Lava Blaze Curve 5G: The Lava Blaze Curve 5G is a testimony to what an Indian brand can offer. The phone offers some extremely compelling features for its price. This includes the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7050, a curved screen, 120Hz refresh rate, 33W fast charging and much more! An excellent choice for those who prefer to buy Indian.
Realme 12 5G: The Realme 12 5G is also powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, but ups the ante by offering a whopping 108MP rear camera. Then there are the other features like 64W SUPERVOOC fast charging and 120Hz refresh rate. This makes it a great option for those looking for a powerful phone with a good camera, at a reasonable price.
Samsung Galaxy F15 5G: Those with a limited budget should consider the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ powered Samsung Galaxy F15 5G. While it might be affordable, the phone is packed with premium features such as a Super AMOLED display, 6000mAh battery and more!
POCO X6 Neo: The POCO is another good option for those looking for a reasonably priced phone that can take on a variety of tasks. Aside from the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC that powered the device, the POCO X6 Neo also come with a 120Hz display, 108MP camera and a 5000mAh battery. So this phone should be ready to take on pretty much anything.
With many awesome smartphones already launched this year and many more to follow, 2024 should be another incredible year for MediaTek. This in turn means that more consumers around the world will get to experience powerful devices with premium features powered by MediaTek.
In conclusion, MediaTek’s rise as the preferred choice for smartphone SoCs offering high performance at a competitive price point is remarkable. This success extends globally, with MediaTek emerging as the top smartphone semiconductor vendor in Q4 2023, according to Canalys. It would be quite interesting to see where the brand goes from here. After speaking with Anuj Sidharth, one thing is for sure, MediaTek is in no mood to rest on its laurels. So we can expect even more from them as the year progresses.
