HONOR’s smartphone shipments outside China rose almost four-fold year over year in Q1 2023, according to Counterpoint Research. The regional figures—more than five-fold growth in Europe, nearly eight-fold in Latin America and more than six-fold in the Middle East and Africa—describe shipments from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, not current sales or results for 2026.
What HONOR’s growth figures measure
Counterpoint published its analysis on June 7, 2023. It measured smartphone shipments: devices sent into distribution channels, rather than confirmed purchases by consumers. The comparison is Q1 2023 against Q1 2022, and “overseas” means markets outside China.
The figures are multiples of the prior-year shipment level. A 400% increase means roughly five times the original level; 700% growth means roughly eight times the original level. These are equivalent ways to describe a change, not separate measures. Counterpoint’s underlying descriptions were more than five-fold in Europe, nearly eight-fold in Latin America and more than six-fold in the Middle East and Africa.
| Market | Counterpoint’s description | Approximate percentage wording |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | More than five-fold year-over-year shipment growth | More than 400% |
| Latin America | Nearly eight-fold year-over-year shipment growth | Nearly 700%; HONOR-distributed coverage used “more than 700%” |
| Middle East and Africa | More than six-fold year-over-year shipment growth | More than 500% |
| All markets outside China | Almost four-fold year-over-year shipment growth | Not stated as a single percentage by Counterpoint |
The regional percentage formulations are approximate translations of Counterpoint’s multipliers, not exact unit totals. The accessible figures do not provide HONOR’s starting or ending shipment volumes by region, so they cannot establish the absolute scale of the business.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Factory Unlocked (USA & Rest of the World), In USA Unlocked only for T-Mobile (GSM) and excluding Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, No CDMA / Dual SIM (Nano-SIM slot 4FF, eSIM), Networks: 2G GSM, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G
- 6.71 inches, OLED, FHD+ 1256 x 2808, 1.07 billion colors
- 1TB Storage, 16GB RAM
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) Mobile Platform, Adreno 840
- Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi, NFC
Why the numbers stood out—and what the base effect changes
HONOR expanded while the smartphone market was weak. Counterpoint described 2022 as the worst year for global smartphone shipments since 2013. Its Q1 2023 market overview reported that European smartphone shipments fell as much as 27% year over year, to 12.6 million units. Counterpoint’s market overview is available at its Q1 2023 market report.
That contrast makes HONOR’s reported growth notable, but it does not mean HONOR became a large vendor in each region. Counterpoint explicitly pointed to a small starting base: HONOR had become independent from Huawei in November 2020 and was rebuilding overseas distribution and recognition. A high percentage increase from that base can coexist with a modest absolute shipment total.
Rank #2
- Network Compatibility Notice: This smartphone is not compatible with CDMA networks including Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular. Please verify 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G compatibility with your network provider before purchase. Supports Dual-SIM with GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850(B5)/900(B8)/1900(B2)/2100(B1), 4G LTE, and 5G SA/NSA/Sub6 bands
- Display Specifications: Features a large 6.78 inches AMOLED display with high resolution of 1224 x 2700 pixels, delivering vibrant colors and sharp visuals for an enhanced viewing experience
- Storage and Memory Configuration: Equipped with 256GB internal storage and 12GB RAM, providing ample space for apps, photos, videos, and smooth multitasking performance for demanding applications
- Operating System and Processor: Runs on Android 14 operating system powered by Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset built on 4nm technology, featuring Octa-core processor with 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores for efficient performance
- Camera System: Includes a high-resolution 108 MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, wide lens, 1/1.67 inch sensor, and PDAF technology, plus a 16 MP front camera with f/2.5 aperture and wide lens for quality photography and video calls
Counterpoint said HONOR was the only major smartphone OEM besides HMD to register growth in the same overseas comparison period. That statement applies to Counterpoint’s defined comparison set; it is not a claim that every other smartphone brand worldwide declined.
Europe: rebuilding through operators, retail and a tiered lineup
Counterpoint reported more than five-fold shipment growth in its European market data. That geography excluded Russia and Turkey, so the result should not be read as covering every market commonly grouped under Europe.
Rank #3
- Factory Unlocked Compatibility: USA & Rest of the World, In USA Unlocked only for T-Mobile (GSM) and excluding Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, No CDMA / Dual SIM (Nano-SIM slot 4FF, eSIM), Networks: 2G GSM, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G
- Display Specifications: 6.71 inches, OLED, FHD+ 1256 x 2808, 1.07 billion colors
- Storage and Memory: 1TB Storage, 16GB RAM
- Processor and Graphics: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) Mobile Platform, Adreno 840
- Connectivity Features: Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi, NFC
HONOR returned to Europe in early 2022 through retail and operator partnerships, including Three UK, Orange and SFR in France, and Wind Tre in Italy. The channel mattered: operators accounted for roughly 40% of European smartphone sales in Q1 2023 and around 55% in Western Europe, according to Counterpoint. Those shares explain why operator access could support reach; they do not show that HONOR itself received those proportions of sales.
Different products addressed different price tiers
- Magic flagship line: The Magic4 Pro performed particularly well in France, Germany and the UK, helping HONOR seek premium-brand credibility. Counterpoint expected the Magic5 Pro and foldable Magic Vs, both launched in 2023, to support further momentum; that was an outlook at the time, not proof of later results.
- Numbered mid-range line: The HONOR 50 and 50 Lite were prominent sellers in Q1 2022, while Counterpoint identified the HONOR 70 as the key European volume driver in Q1 2023.
- X series: The budget-focused range found traction in Italy and Eastern Europe, where price sensitivity made lower-cost devices a different route to expansion.
This mix offered more than one path into the market: premium positioning, mid-range volume and lower-price entry. The figures do not isolate how much growth came from any single model or establish product mix as the sole cause.
Rank #4
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- 6.79 inches, AMOLED, 1B colors, 1200 x 2640 pixels
- 256GB Storage, 8GB RAM
- Android 15, Magic OS 9, Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm), Octa-core (1x2.3 GHz Cortex-A720s & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A720s & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520s)
- Rear: 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, 1/1.67", 1.0µm, OIS, 5 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, Front: 16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide)
Latin America: the fastest-growing overseas region
Latin America recorded HONOR’s fastest overseas growth in Counterpoint’s comparison: nearly eight-fold year over year and more than three-fold sequentially versus Q4 2022. Counterpoint said HONOR entered the top five in Colombia and Peru and reached double-digit share in both. It also reported positive results in Panama and Guatemala, and identified Mexico, Colombia and Peru as important markets for future growth.
The “more than 700%” phrasing also appeared in a Spanish-language release distributed by HONOR. That release is company-distributed material repeating Counterpoint’s findings, not independent confirmation; the primary analysis is Counterpoint’s report on HONOR’s overseas expansion. Top-five placement and double-digit share in particular countries give useful local context, but they do not supply regional unit totals or prove that the same position applied across Latin America.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBest Value
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 AND 2 [2G : GSM 850/ 900/ 1800/ 1900and/or3G : HSDPA 850(B5) / 900(B8) / 1900(B2) / 2100(B1)and/or4G : LTE and/or5G : SA/NSA/Sub6]
- 6.78 inches, AMOLED, 1224 x 2700 pixels
- 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM
- Android 14, Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm), Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Middle East and Africa: growth against a declining market
HONOR shipments in the Middle East and Africa grew more than six-fold year over year, according to Counterpoint. The broader regional market moved in the opposite direction: smartphone shipments fell 11% in Q1 2023, reaching the lowest Q1 level since 2016. Counterpoint cited inflation, currency depreciation and weak consumer sentiment among the pressures. Its regional account is at Counterpoint’s Q1 2023 MEA market analysis.
HONOR’s result therefore was not simply a reflection of a growing regional market. But without the company’s absolute shipment volumes, market-share changes by country or sell-through data, the multiplier alone cannot show how large or broadly distributed the gains were.
What the report proves—and what it does not
- It supports: rapid year-over-year growth in HONOR smartphone shipments outside China in Q1 2023, with particularly strong reported multipliers in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe.
- It does not establish: matching growth in consumer purchases, revenue, profit, active users or market share across all regions.
- It does not establish: that the growth continued in later quarters, that HONOR replaced Huawei’s former position, or that it became a dominant global smartphone brand.
Shipment data can include devices delivered to retailers or operators that have not yet been bought by consumers. The available regional growth figures also omit the absolute unit totals needed to judge scale. A serious assessment of durability would require later-period shipment and market-share data, evidence of consumer sell-through, and confirmation that distribution gains and product launches translated into sustained demand.
Why the result mattered strategically
The Q1 2023 report captured an early signal of HONOR’s post-independence international push. Counterpoint connected its prospects to a broader product portfolio, more operator and retail distribution, and growing brand awareness. Those are complementary factors: devices give retailers and operators a range to sell, while distribution puts those devices in front of buyers. The report does not quantify the contribution of each.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The lasting question is not whether a small overseas business can post a striking growth rate for one year-over-year quarter; it is whether it can convert new channel access into repeat consumer demand and durable share. The Q1 2023 figures are useful historical evidence of expansion, but they cannot answer that longer-term question or serve as a forecast of HONOR’s 2026 performance.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
