Strategy Analytics: Apple Grabs Share as Global Smartphone Shipments Dip to 345 Million in Q1 2018

BOSTON--()--According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments fell 2 percent annually to reach 345 million units in Q1 2018. Samsung recaptured first position with 23 percent global smartphone marketshare, while Apple grew slightly to 15 percent share. Huawei and Xiaomi performed best among the major players and both hit record marketshare levels.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Global smartphone shipments fell 2 percent annually from 353.8 million units in Q1 2017 to 345.4 million in Q1 2018. The global smartphone market has slowed down this year, due to longer replacement rates, diminishing carrier subsidies, and a lack of new hardware design innovation.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Samsung shipped 78.2 million smartphones worldwide in Q1 2018, dipping 2 percent annually from 80.2 million units in Q1 2017. Samsung recaptured first place this quarter, after losing top spot to Apple in the previous Q4 2017 holiday season. Samsung is holding steady in its core markets of North America, Western Europe and South Korea, but the company is facing intense competitive pressure in China and India from rivals such as Xiaomi. Apple grew an above-average 3 percent annually and shipped 52.2 million smartphones for 15 percent marketshare worldwide in Q1 2018. Apple iPhone shipments have grown year-on-year in three of the past 4 quarters. Apple’s ultra-premium iPhone X is proving relatively popular in some markets like China and the US, while there remains scope for additional expansion in emerging regions such as India and Africa.”

Woody Oh, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Huawei maintained third position with a record 11 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q1 2018, up from 10 percent a year ago. Huawei’s smartphone growth rate was a healthy 14 percent annually in the quarter. Despite political headwinds in North America, Huawei gained momentum across all other regions in the rest of the world, with popular new models such as the Honor 7X.”

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Xiaomi shipped an impressive 28.3 million smartphones and jumped to fourth position with a record 8 percent global marketshare in Q1 2018, doubling from 4 percent share a year ago. Xiaomi’s growth soared 125 percent annually in the quarter, outperforming all its major rivals. Xiaomi is expanding like wildfire across Asia, particularly in India. OPPO slipped to fifth place, capturing 7 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q1 2018, tumbling from 8 percent a year ago. OPPO has been hit hard by Xiaomi’s rapid retail expansion and Huawei’s much-improved Android device portfolio.”

 

Exhibit 1: Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments and Marketshare in Q1 2018 1

 
Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units)     Q1 '17     Q1 '18
Samsung     80.2     78.2
Apple 50.8 52.2
Huawei 34.5 39.3
Xiaomi 12.6 28.3
OPPO 27.6 24.1
Others     148.1     123.3
Total     353.8     345.4
 
Global Smartphone Vendor Marketshare (%)     Q1 '17     Q1 '18
Samsung 22.7% 22.6%
Apple 14.4% 15.1%
Huawei 9.8% 11.4%
Xiaomi 3.6% 8.2%
OPPO 7.8% 7.0%
Others     41.9%     35.7%
Total     100.0%     100.0%
 
Total Growth: Year-over-Year (%) 6.2% -2.4%
 

1 Numbers are rounded.

 
Source: Strategy Analytics
 

The full report, Global Smartphone Shipments Hit 345 Million in Q1 2018, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y75uhw62.

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, Taiwan, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

Contacts

Strategy Analytics
Americas Contact:
Linda Sui, +1 617-614-0735
LSui@strategyanalytics.com
or
EMEA Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Woody Oh, +44 1908 423 665
WOh@strategyanalytics.com

Release Summary

SA says global smartphone shipments fell 2 percent YoY to reach 345 million units in Q1 2018. Apple and Xiaomi grew share, while Samsung was flat.

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Contacts

Strategy Analytics
Americas Contact:
Linda Sui, +1 617-614-0735
LSui@strategyanalytics.com
or
EMEA Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Woody Oh, +44 1908 423 665
WOh@strategyanalytics.com