On March 4, market research firm Counterpoint Research released a report indicating that in the fourth quarter of 2025, smartphone shipments in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region saw a 5% year-on-year increase, marking a sustained growth trend for three consecutive quarters. When it comes to the competitive landscape among brands, Samsung emerged as a standout performer, with a remarkable 53% year-on-year surge in shipments. This impressive growth enabled Samsung to outpace Transsion for the second quarter in a row, reclaiming the top spot in sales. Transsion, on the other hand, felt the pinch of memory shortages, which forced it to slow down its production pace. Consequently, its market share plummeted to 15%, a substantial 25% decline compared to the same period the previous year. In contrast, Honor experienced an extraordinary 83% year-on-year growth. This was largely due to a lower base in the corresponding period of the previous year and a stable inventory of components. Moreover, the Middle East and Africa region is rapidly moving towards a premiumization trend, with the widespread adoption of 5G smartphones acting as the primary catalyst. In the fourth quarter of 2025, 5G smartphone shipments in the region witnessed a 22% year-on-year increase, further underscoring the region's growing appetite for high-end mobile technology.