Bergur Thormundsson
Research expert covering technology in the Nordics, AI and smart cities
Mobile devices in the Nordics - statistics & facts
Mobile devices are widely used in the Nordic region, with few everyday tasks being performed without the assistance of electronic devices in modern society. Various mobile devices have entered the global market in recent years, but smartphones phones, tablets, and laptops are perhaps the most widespread and most used ones. The Nordics, with a high level of internet connectivity, are a prime location for mobile device usage as users often do not need to worry about dwindling coverage.
Apple leading but faces stiff competition
Apple is a major player in the global mobile device market and its influence in the Nordics is considerable. The company has topped the ranking of mobile vendors over the past decade, however, Korean and Chinese giants like Samsung and Huawei have started to steadily gain a larger share of the market. Apple’s share of the total mobile device market in both Denmark and Norway increased, regaining and strengthening its dominance, occupying more than half of the total market. By contrast, vendors in Finland seemed to be more equally distributed with both companies holding roughly 30 percent of market share.Slowing market poses problems
While the Nordics have a high level of connectivity and a high amount of GDP per capita, enabling most working individuals to keep up with the release of new gadgets, the market has been slowing down since 2021. The broader smartphone market has stagnated somewhat since 2021, fluctuating at 3.7 billion in revenue annually. The laptop market is in a similar situation, with forecasts being relatively stagnant for the foreseeable future. The shift to hybrid and remote work arrangements saw an uptake of new devices to accommodate this new norm, resulting in a spike in sales. Increased use of AI in both smartphones and PCs might possibly shift the market towards further growth in the coming years.Slow but steady market
While the market outlook for mobile devices in the Nordics is slow, it is not declining and has remained stable through 2023 and into 2024. It is also not anticipated that the market will decline, and revolutions in technology might reinvigorate the market in the coming years with increased demand for AI capable PCs as well as AI capable smartphones. This makes the Nordic market a stable and consistent market to engage with for any mobile device producer.
