Counterpoint: "Samsung to Sell 280 Million Units Next Year... Maintains No.1 Position in Global Smartphone Market"

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Samsung Electronics is predicted to maintain its position as the global smartphone market leader next year, following this year.

Market research firm Counterpoint Research held an online briefing on the 21st and revealed this forecast, stating, "Samsung is expected to continue holding an overwhelming number one position in terms of volume."

According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics is expected to maintain the number one market share next year with shipments of approximately 280 million units. Counterpoint Research estimated Samsung's shipments this year at around 270 million units, and Samsung held the number one smartphone market share in 43 countries worldwide in the third quarter of this year.

Counterpoint Research pointed out that Samsung's strong performance is thanks to the foldable phones released this year, the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. Minsoo Kang, a researcher at Counterpoint Research, explained that "foldable phones are expected to present a brand's cutting-edge image rather than being products that can significantly increase volume," while noting their good performance.

The company analyzed that Apple will rank second next year by selling about 230 million units. It added that Apple is expected to achieve better results than this year by releasing the 5G-supported iPhone SE series next year.

There is also a forecast that the proportion of foldable phones in the smartphone market will increase. Researcher Kang said, "Foldable phones are a form factor innovation but have not yet become mainstream," adding, "Samsung still shows an overwhelming market share, and if Apple joins the foldable phone competition, the foldable phone market will become popular."

Earlier, Chinese company Oppo unveiled the foldable phone 'Find N,' which folds like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold3. Chinese company Huawei also released the outfolding foldable phone 'Mate X' in 2019, which folds the screen outward, and the infolding foldable phone 'Mate X2' earlier this year. Huawei is expected to unveil the foldable phone 'P50 Pocket,' which folds in a clamshell form like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip3, on the 23rd of this month.

Counterpoint Research analyzed that the smartphone market this year was somewhat contracted due to the global spread of COVID-19, lockdowns of major factories worldwide, and semiconductor supply shortages. Eunjeong Lee, a researcher at Counterpoint Research, said, "In terms of the overall mobile handset scale, the smartphone market in the third quarter of this year fell about 10% compared to the same period last year."

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