The research company GfK reports a 5% increase in global smartphone sales recorded in the first half of 2017. According to analysts, in the period from January to June, on a global scale, 700 million communicators. In monetary terms, the growth rates were even higher and amounted to 12%, which experts attribute to an increase in the average selling price of devices by 7%, to 287 euros.

The most pronounced upward trend was observed in the developing countries of Asia (+ 16% year-on-year), Central and Eastern Europe (+ 11%), and Latin America (+ 11%). The growth in smartphone sales in these markets offset stagnation in other regions where saturation is higher in Western Europe, North America and developed Asian countries, according to a study published on the occasion of the launch in Berlin of IFA 2017, the world's leading exhibition in consumer electronics.

Against the background of the growing popularity of communicators, the demand for ordinary "handsets" (feature phones) continues to fall. In the past half-year, sales were down 8% and were at the level of 191 million units. Summing up both categories, experts found that the global mobile phone market in the first six months of 2017 increased by 2%.

The lift also demonstrates the category of portable electronics, to which devices such as smart watches, fitness trackers, sports wrist computers with a GPS function and pulse meter, traditional Bluetooth-equipped watches, smart headphones with built-in sensors, GPS- Trackers for tracking the location of children and elderly relatives.

During the period under review, unit sales of portable electronics in Western Europe increased by 22%, and in monetary terms - by 33%. In Asia, growth was registered at 21% and 26%, respectively.

Separately, the experts mentioned virtual reality devices - VR headsets and helmets, noting that the former work in tandem with smartphones and therefore differ relatively simple design and more affordable price - on average, about 33 euros, while the latter have their own display, plug in To a PC or game consoles and have a more impressive price tag - an average of 445 euros.

GfK estimated that in the first half of 2017, the revenue from the sale of VR-devices amounted to 110 million euros, and in physical terms the market volume was measured at 893 thousand. Pieces. In Europe, the highest demand for such gadgets used in the UK, France and Germany, which accounted for 26%, 23% and 16% of total sales in the region.