Canalys: Samsung sees record 76.5 million smartphone global shipments in Q1
Over 347 million smartphones were shipped in Q1 according to the global smartphone analysis report from Canalys. The figure represents a 27% increase compared to the same period last year. Samsung is yet again the runaway leader with 76.5 million shipments and a 22% market share. Apple comes in second with 52.4 million sales while holding 15% of the market. Xiaomi rounds off the top-three with its own single-quarter record 49 million shipments and a 14% market share.
BBK members Oppo (37.6 million shipments) and vivo (36 million shipments) round out the top-five in the standings. Oppo also had the largest annual growth with 60% more shipments. Canalys also mentions that Huawei is now in seventh place with an estimated 18.6 million shipments.
| Vendor | Q1 2021 shipments (million) | Q1 2021 Market share | Q1 2020 shipments (million) | Q1 2020 Market share | Annual growth |
| Samsung | 76.5 | 22% | 59.6 | 22% | +28% |
| Apple | 52.4 | 15% | 37.1 | 14% | +41% |
| Xiaomi | 49.0 | 14% | 30.2 | 11% | +62% |
| Oppo | 37.6 | 11% | 23.5 | 9% | +60% |
| vivo | 36.0 | 10% | 24.2 | 9% | +48% |
| Others | 95.9 | 28% | 97.8 | 36% | -2% |
| Total | 347.4 | 100.00% | 272.5 | 100.00% | +27% |
| Note: percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding | Source: Canalys estimates (sell-in shipments), Smartphone Analysis, April 2021 | |||||
Looking forward Canalys predicts that the ongoing COVID pandemic will still play a prominent role in tampering with smartphone sales but there’s a bigger issue surrounding the chipset shortage. These two factors will likely force brands to reconsider their regional strategies and releases with more focus on countries that are recovering from the pandemic and less on those currently experiencing difficulties.
The chipset shortage in particular will be detrimental to smaller smartphone brands and may even force them out of the market as we already saw with LG.
