Apple is back on top in smartphone sales worldwide after a record win in China
Apple
has once again become the top-selling smartphone brand in top market China,
along with the rest of the world.
That's
according to findings from two separate research reports, which come
just before the tech giant is set to release its earnings for the most recent quarter
on Thursday.
A report by Counterpoint Research, published Wednesday,
said Apple reached
its "highest ever" market share in China in the three months to
December. This is the first time in six years that the iPhone maker has hit the
top spot in the country.
Apple's
market share in China reached 23% in the last quarter of 2021, compared with
16% the same period the previous year. This surge came
as total smartphone sales in China fell 9% year-on-year,
according to Counterpoint.
Apple
overtook the Chinese smartphone maker, Vivo, which slipped 6%, researchers
said.
The
"unprecedented" performance in China has helped Apple reclaim its
position as the global market leader, according to a separate report published
last week by Canalys, which did not break out its own measure of China sales
data.
The research firm says that the US behemoth beat out Samsung during the crucial holiday season, with each company's
worldwide share at 22% and 20%, respectively.
"Apple
is back at the top of the smartphone market after three quarters, driven by a
stellar performance from the iPhone 13," Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia
wrote in the report.
"Apple
saw unprecedented iPhone performance in mainland China, with aggressive pricing
for its flagship devices keeping the value proposition strong."
The
end of the year is typically a good time for the California-based giant, as it
coincides with new device releases from the company's annual flagship
September event.
But
Apple enjoyed a meteoric rise last quarter, as it quickly "rose to first
place in China right after the iPhone 13 was released," according to
Counterpoint Research analyst Mengmeng Zhang.
"Furthermore,
Huawei, Apple's main competitor in the premium market, faced declining sales
due to the ongoing US sanctions," she added. American restrictions have stifled the Chinese manufacturer's
ability to obtain critical components for its devices.
However,
Apple still ranked third in China overall for the full year of 2021, according
to Counterpoint. Vivo and Oppo came in first and second, respectively, each
clinching about a fifth of the market.
Competition
is heating up, with Samsung gearing up for a big smartphone launch next month.
On
Wednesday, the South Korean giant sent out invitations for its signature Galaxy
Unpacked event on February 9, teasing a new Galaxy S device. That traditionally
helps give the company a boost, too.
Samsung
reported solid earnings of its own in Seoul on Thursday, with a 53% jump in
operating profit for the fourth quarter, compared with that of the previous
year.
Sales
in its semiconductor unit shone, climbing 43% year-on-year to more than 26
trillion Korean won (approximately $21.6 billion).
Meanwhile,
Apple will report earnings Thursday after market close.
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