14 DAY TRIAL // Apple continues to be the number one brand in terms of 5G smartphone sales across the world, according to new research shared by Strategy Analytics for the third quarter of the year.
However, the battle is very fierce in the Android world, where Samsung has managed to overtake OPPO and is now hoping to surpass Xiaomi as well.
Xiaomi itself has recorded a slowdown during the third quarter, while Honor posted the most impressive growth that reached no less than 194 percent in Q3.
“Honor was the fastest growing Android 5G smartphone brand QoQ in Q3 2021,” says Yiwen Wu, Associate Director at Strategy Analytics. “Honor 5G smartphones are rapidly increasing in popularity in China. Honor was formerly a sub-brand of Huawei but was spun out as an independent company earlier in the year. The company’s 50 5G, 50 SE 5G and 50 Pro 5G were its leading 5G smartphones in Q3 2021.”
Xiaomi’s slowdown
While the push for 5G is clearly paying off for the majority of phone makers, Xiaomi’s market performance slowed down, especially as Samsung pushed harder in essential markets like Europe.
The broad portfolio of devices featuring 5G is obviously paying off for Samsung, especially as the company has brought such capabilities to more affordable models, including the A series.
“Xiaomi, which recorded dramatic growth in global 5G smartphone shipments in 2Q 2021, saw that growth stall in Q3 2021, with shipment growth flat sequentially in the most recent quarter,” says Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics. “Samsung’s resurgence blunted Xiaomi’s ability to grow in Europe in Q3 2021, while OPPO surged in China. Facing a combined one-two punch from Samsung outside of China and OPPO in China, Xiaomi saw demand for its 5G smartphones slow considerably in Q3 2021.”
Samsung is getting ready to launch new models that will continue its 5G push, namely the Galaxy S21 FE and the Galaxy S22.