Samsung led smartphone shipments for 2021, beating out Apple, analysis says

Round 1.35 billion smartphones had been shipped in 2021, in line with IDC’s quarterly cell phone tracker. General, fewer smartphones had been shipped within the last quarter of 2021 in comparison with This autumn 2020 however general, extra had been shipped final yr than in 2020, IDC mentioned Thursday.

“The availability chain and part shortages began to have significant impression on the smartphone market as we entered the second half of the yr, and this continues to be the case as we have now entered 2022,” mentioned Ryan Reith, IDC’s group VP of Worldwide Cellular System Trackers.

IDC mentioned it has seen sturdy curiosity in foldable telephones and 5G telephones.

Learn extra: Greatest telephones to purchase for 2022

Samsung retook the highest spot for smartphone shipments in 2021, holding 20% market share globally after delivery 272 million telephones in the course of the yr. Apple got here in second, at 235.7 million telephones, Xiaomi with 191 million, Oppo with 133.5 million and Vivo with 128.3 million.

Barely completely different numbers from Counterpoint Analysis, additionally launched Thursday, confirmed related outcomes: Samsung in first place with 271 million telephones shipped throughout 2021, Apple in second with 237.9 million, Xiaomi with 190 million, Oppo with 143.2 million and Vivo with 131.3 million.

Learn additionally: Greatest iPhone for 2022: Which of Apple’s 8 telephones is best for you?

It is the primary time the smartphone market has grown yearly since 2017, in line with Counterpoint, with Apple clocking document shipments.

“The worldwide smartphone restoration in 2021 adopted a pandemic-hit 2020 and subsequent pent-up demand,” mentioned Harmeet Singh Walia, Counterpoint senior analyst, including demand was pushed by Apple’s first 5G cellphone, the iPhone 12. “The market restoration may have been even higher if not for the part shortages.”