SEOUL, KOREA - The average selling price of smartphones in the global markets fell to below the US$300 level for the first time in history. According to U.S. market research firm Strategy Analytics, the world's average selling price of smartphones stood at $299 in the first quarter of this year.
After hovering at around $342, $340, $321, and $347 in the first, second, third, and fourth quarter of 2011, the smartphone ASP stood at $333 in the first quarter of 2012. Thereafter, the smartphone ASP fell to $302 and $308 in the second and third quarter of last year.
After rebounding to $330 in the fourth quarter of last year due to a favorable seasonal effect, the smartphone ASP took a downturn again in the first quarter of this year.
Key factors behind the decline in the smartphone ASP include the increase in sales of mid- and low-priced mass-market smartphone models.