More than four years have passed since the pandemic struck, but most South East Asian countries are still struggling to revive its economy. Countries, particularly Thailand and the Philippines are experiencing a reduced smartphone shipment. It only means that most people, up to this time, can’t afford to buy the latest gadget in the market.
A Decline in Smartphone Shipment
Thailand’s smartphone market saw a drop of 25.7% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2023, with only 3.45 million units shipped. This is due to the high inflation rate and economic pressures on disposable income. These earnings are those that remain after tax deduction and other obligatory charges.
“The Thai smartphone market is expected to continue to decline in 2023. However, as the market is increasingly maturing, volume will be largely driven by the premium segment. There are some signs of economic recovery, and consumer confidence is increasing due to a pickup in tourist arrivals which should translate into increasing consumer spending in the smartphone market; however, political uncertainty still looms overhead,” according to IDC Thailand market analyst, Apirat Ratanavichit.
Smartphones in the entry-level sector recognised “sharp declines.” It now accounts for 51% of the entire shipments, down from 60% in the fourth quarter.
Samsung was the most significant shipper, with 23.8% of the market, corresponding to 822.7 million units. However, this was a downturn of 35.7% for the Korean manufacturer. Oppo has 22.3% and 769.8 million units, a dive of 9.7%. Realme experienced a drop of 12.5%.
On the other hand, the Philippines incurred an 11% decline (year-on-year) in smartphone shipments equalling 3.5 million units in the exact quarter. The last time consignments hit under 3.5 million records was in the first quarter of 2020. This was the start of the pandemic when the government enforced the initial lockdown.
Buying Apple Products at Discounted Prices
Apple products are definitely expensive, but you can get them at discounted prices. If you’re a student, a teacher, a professor, or work in Higher Education, you can buy their phones at a cheaper price. It’s all possible with the Apple Education Pricing and Student Discount program.
You can buy an Apple product through its Education discount from the Apple website or from select authorised resellers. Visit Apple’s Education Pricing website, choose your desired product and then check out. When purchasing at a physical store, you’ll need to present proof of enrollment and a student ID if you’re a student. You must bring a company ID and an employment letter if you’re a teacher.
The Apple education pricing didn’t set an amount for the discount. However, based on what you’re going to buy, you can get up to 15% off on Apple products that are used for learning, such as MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPads, to name a few. The mode of payment includes credit cards, debit cards, VISA, MasterCard, GCash AMEX, or cash.
Image Source: HisuwME Rewpaei 78M/WikimediaCommons
