Global Sources top 20 electronics (October 2013): Smartphones hot

Posted: November 22, 2013

The smartphones hot streak continues. October 2013 marks the 13th consecutive month that GlobalSources.com buyer inquiries for the category have increased on-year. China suppliers have been spurring interest in the line by releasing units boasting quadcore chipsets or 5in or larger screens.

October also saw power banks generating 89 percent more buyer inquiries from September to reverse a two-month decline. The segment remains solid as the second most popular product in the top 20 electronics listing, a position it has held since June 2013.

In contrast, it was a challenging month for two perennial favorites.

Android tablet PCs held on to the number 1 spot but inquiries dropped for the third straight month. Further, YoY growth slowed to a single digit which, at 6 percent, is the lowest in five months, indicating market saturation resulting from oversupply and homogenization.

On its own, the 1,465 percent YoY increase in Bluetooth speakers inquiries is impressive. It, however, pales in comparison with the on-year jump in September of 2,129 percent.