Despite controversies, Samsung edges Apple as world’s top smartphone manufacturer

South Korean company Samsung has retained its spot as the world’s top smartphone manufacturer despite controversies surrounding the brand over battery explosion as Apple continues to sit in second place with three Chinese firms behind them, growing at a rapid rate.

Strategy Analytics puts Samsung’s global shipments for Q2 2017 at 79.5 million, just under 2 million more units compared to the same time last year, giving it a 22.1 percent market share. Apple, meanwhile, has seen its shipments rise by 1 million YoY to 41 million – a market share of around 11.4 percent.

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While the figures show Samsung and Apple have made relatively small YoY gains, it’s a different story for those beneath the top two. Huawei is quickly catching up to Apple, having increased its global shipments by 6.4 million to 38.4 million units during the last quarter. Its 10.7 percent market share puts it just behind the Cupertino company.

“Apple’s iPhone has gone out of fashion in China and this is placing a cap on its worldwide performance,” explained Strategy Analytics’ Linda Sui.

Oppo and Xiaomi (which replaces Vivo) make up the fourth and fifth positions. The Chinese firms saw huge growth this quarter, with shipments increasing 64 percent and 58 percent respectively. It’s especially good news for Xiaomi, which saw VP Hugo Barra leave earlier this year – the same month its CEO said the company was growing too fast.

 

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