Africa’s smartphone market is heating up again. Fresh numbers from Canalys (now part of Omdia) show shipments jumped 7% in Q2 2025, hitting 19.2 million units. While the global market is still dragging its feet, Africa is now one of the fastest-growing regions worldwide.
So, what’s driving the bounce? Inflation is easing, and currencies are getting stronger in big markets like Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. That’s giving consumers more power to spend. Canalys even projects that Africa’s smartphone market will keep growing at 2.1% every year till 2029 — far outpacing global trends.
Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa Leading the Charge
Egypt came out tops, growing a massive 21%, thanks to local assembly plants and strong Eid sales. Nigeria wasn’t left behind either, posting a solid 10% rebound as the naira stabilised and inflation cooled off. South Africa’s overall growth was just 2%, but 5G phones exploded by 63%, powered by financing schemes and telco partnerships.
Elsewhere, Kenya only dipped by 2% (a sign of resilience), while Algeria crashed by 27% and Morocco dropped 7% due to weak demand and import bans. Senegal quietly grew 3%, keeping steady momentum.
Budget Phones Rule the Streets
The real story? Ultra-cheap phones under $100 are king, with demand shooting up 38%. These pocket-friendly devices are becoming the entry point for millions of first-time smartphone owners across Africa.
The Vendor Battle: TRANSSION Still Boss, Xiaomi Rising Fast
TRANSSION (makers of TECNO, itel, Infinix) is still the big boss, holding 51% market share and growing 6%. But it’s facing pressure to move up into pricier, high-end segments.
Xiaomi is the real star, jumping 32% and grabbing 14% market share, thanks to aggressive expansion and local investments. Samsung also grew 3%, with affordable A-series launches doing well in Nigeria and Egypt. HONOR is climbing, with budget-friendly hits like the X7c — two-thirds of its African sales now come from South Africa.
OPPO, meanwhile, slipped 11%, but it’s doubling down on Egypt, even opening its first Experience & Service Store in Cairo’s Citystars Mall.
Looking Ahead: “Made in Africa” Phones on the Rise
Canalys expects another 3% growth in 2025, but the bigger story is how manufacturing is shifting to Africa itself. Egypt and Ethiopia are already leading with assembly plants, while Uganda and Algeria are building smaller hubs. That “Made in Africa” label, once rare, is now becoming a necessity — helping vendors cut costs and avoid heavy tariffs.
Analyst Manish Pravinkumar summed it up best:
“Africa is no longer just a consumption hub. It’s becoming a proving ground for global brands.”
And with mobile money, cheap financing, and digital inclusion spreading fast, the next growth wave may not just come from cities — but from rural areas where smartphones are only just starting to replace feature phones.
