New research shows Apple has their grip on approximately 25% of the global 5G smartphone market, beating all its rivals in two categories: revenue and number of phones sold.
Even though Samsung was expected previously to close the gap on Apple, the iPhone has consistently remained the biggest-selling 5G phone in the world. It is an expanding market as well, where the key players keep changing.
According to Strategy Analytics, Apple tops the overall 5G shipment share in Q3 2021, followed by Xiaomi, Samsung, OPPO, Vivo, Honor, Realme and others.
However, the company states that the quarter has seen significant progress, including how “Samsung edged ahead” to become the second-leading Android vendor, after OPPO.
Ville Petteri-Ukonaho, Strategy Analytics’ Associate Director said, “Samsung has returned to positive territory following three prior quarters of negative sequential shipment growth. Samsung is benefiting from healthy demand across multiple regions for its smartphones, powered by a broad portfolio of devices across multiple price tiers. The combination of leading technology such as foldable display smartphones and multiple 5G devices have made Samsung products, such as its premium Galaxy Z Flip 3, the S21 Ultra and its affordable A-series, the second-most popular brand of Android 5G smartphones globally in Q3 2021.”
Additionally, the company says that Samsung’s resurgence meant Xiaomi was less able to grow further during the quarter.
Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics said, “Xiaomi, which recorded dramatic growth in global 5G smartphone shipments in 2Q 2021, saw that growth stall in Q3 2021. Samsung’s resurgence blunted Xiaomi’s ability to grow in Europe in Q3 2021, while OPPO surged in China. Facing a combined one-two punch from Samsung outside of China and OPPO in China, Xiaomi saw demand for its 5G smartphones slow considerably in Q3 2021.”