SA "This Year’s No.1 Smartphone Samsung... Huawei Ranks 3rd"

Smartphone Market Declines 11% to 1.26 Billion Units
Samsung Leads with 21%, Apple Second at 15.3%
Huawei Falls to Third (15.1%) Due to US Sanctions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] This year, the smartphone market is expected to shrink by 11% compared to last year, with Samsung Electronics maintaining its position as the top shipper, surpassing Apple and Huawei.

According to market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) on the 6th, Samsung Electronics' smartphone shipments in 2020 are projected to reach 265 million units, capturing a market share of 21.0%. Apple is expected to ship 192 million units, and Huawei 190 million units.

Market share is anticipated to place Apple second with 15.3%, while Huawei, which was second last year, is expected to fall to third with 15.1%. Samsung Electronics' share is forecasted to rise by 0.1 percentage points, Apple’s by 1.3 percentage points, whereas Huawei’s share is expected to decline by 1.9 percentage points due to U.S. government sanctions.

This year’s smartphone shipments are estimated at 1.26 billion units. Initially, SA projected shipments of 1.19 billion units for this year, but the forecast was revised upward as the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was less severe than expected.

SA explained, "The increased need for mobile devices due to remote work, government stimulus payments to boost consumption in various countries, and manufacturers and carriers lowering product prices in response to COVID-19 have all influenced this trend."

SA forecasts a 9% growth rate for the smartphone market next year. It expects a rebound supported by new technologies such as 5G and foldable smartphones, as well as economic recovery after COVID-19. However, the market is not expected to return to the 1.4 billion units level seen last year until 2022.

SA predicted, "In the Chinese market, domestic brands will replace Huawei’s flagship models in both mid-range and high-end segments, while Apple and Samsung Electronics will also fill the gap. Overseas, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Apple, Samsung Electronics, and LG Electronics are all expected to benefit."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.