Strategy Analytics: Apple Becomes World's Largest Smartphone Vendor in Q4 2011

BOSTON--()--According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 54 percent annually to reach a record 155 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple reclaimed top position as the world’s number one smartphone vendor during the quarter.

Alex Spektor, Associate Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments grew 54 percent annually to reach a record 155.0 million units in Q4 2011. Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume with 24 percent market share. Apple’s global smartphone shipments surged 128 percent annually to 37.0 million units, as distribution of the iPhone family expanded across numerous countries, dozens of operators and multiple price points.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “While Apple took the top spot in smartphones on a quarterly basis, Samsung became the market leader in annual terms for the first time with 20 percent global share during 2011. With global smartphone shipments nearing half a billion units in 2011, Samsung is now well positioned alongside Apple in a two-horse race at the forefront of one of the world’s largest and most valuable consumer electronics markets.”

Tom Kang, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Nokia’s global smartphone market share halved from 33 percent in 2010 to 16 percent in 2011. A lackluster touchscreen smartphone portfolio and a limited presence in the huge United States market caused Nokia’s shrinkage last year. Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft will be very much in focus during 2012, and the industry will be watching closely to see how swiftly the two companies can expand in the high-value 4G LTE market that is rapidly emerging across the United States, Japan and elsewhere.”

 

Exhibit 1: Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments and Market Share in Q4 2011 1

 
Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units)         Q4 '10     2010     Q4 '11     2011
Samsung         10.7     23.9     36.5     97.4
Apple 16.2 47.5 37.0 93.0
Nokia 28.3 100.1 19.6 77.3
Others         45.6     128.0     61.9     220.8
Total         100.7     299.5     155.0     488.5
 
Global Smartphone Vendor Marketshare %         Q4 '10     2010     Q4 '11     2011
Samsung 10.6% 8.0% 23.5% 19.9%
Apple 16.1% 15.9% 23.9% 19.0%
Nokia 28.1% 33.4% 12.6% 15.8%
Others         45.2%     42.7%     39.9%     45.2%
Total         100.0%     100.0%     100.0%     100.0%
 
Total Growth Year-over-Year % 86.8% 71.4% 53.9% 63.1%
 

The full report, Apple Becomes World’s No.1 Smartphone Vendor in Q4 2011, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/64cqrpr.

About Strategy Analytics:

Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

1 Numbers are rounded.

Contacts

Strategy Analytics
USA Contact:
Alex Spektor, +1-617-614-0726
ASpektor@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Thomas Kang, +82 10 2874 8133
TKang@strategyanalytics.com
or
Europe Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com

Release Summary

Apple's iPhone overtook Samsung to be become the world's number one smartphone vendor in Q4 2011.

Contacts

Strategy Analytics
USA Contact:
Alex Spektor, +1-617-614-0726
ASpektor@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Thomas Kang, +82 10 2874 8133
TKang@strategyanalytics.com
or
Europe Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com