Smartphone market in Russia - statistics & facts
The Russian smartphone market has steadily developed since the first devices emerged in the early 2000s and especially after the launch of the Apple iPhone in 2007. Nearly 105 million Russians owned a smartphone, ahead of all European countries. The device’s penetration rate was expected to continue growing in the following years and reach around 88 percent in 2029. Russia purchased nearly all devices from abroad. Since April 2021, smartphone producers have been required to pre-install selected domestic apps before selling devices in the country.
While the market is growing in monetary terms, smartphone sales in Russia are challenged by moderate consumer demand, shipment delays due to parallel imports, as well as counterfeit products.
Leading smartphone brands in Russia
The leading smartphone brand in Russia in terms of unit sales is Xiaomi, followed by Tecno and Samsung. In monetary terms, the leading brand is Apple, as iPhones generally cost more than other brands. When asked about their favorite smartphone brands, most consumers in the country named Samsung.Smartphone usage in Russia
In Russia, smartphones are most commonly employed for web browsing, social media, and e-mail. The reach of social media in the country steadily increased in recent years, standing at around 92 percent in 2025. Furthermore, a significant share of device owners used video services, games, and shopping apps. The number of mobile app downloads increased in 2023 relative to the previous year.Impact of the war in Ukraine on the Russian smartphone market
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022, the United States imposed a ban on exports of various technologies to Russia, including the communication industry; however, devices for consumer use were exempt from the sanctions. Apple paused sales of electronics in the country, as well as exports to it, and limited the operation of Apple Pay, which was the second-most popular mobile payment system in Russia. Samsung suspended shipments, reportedly due to logistics issues. Financial Times reported reductions in shipments of Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo smartphones; however, the companies have not commented on that. The app market was affected by the restrictions as well. For example, Google Play suspended app purchases and subscription extensions in Russia. Therefore, only free and previously downloaded paid apps were available in the store.While the market is growing in monetary terms, smartphone sales in Russia are challenged by moderate consumer demand, shipment delays due to parallel imports, as well as counterfeit products.
