Apple was the top seller of smartphones in 2021, thanks in large part to the success of its iPhone 13.
A new report from Canalys shows that Apple phones accounted for 22% of smartphone shipments worldwide at the end of 2021.
Canalys notes that the last time Apple ranked number one in the smartphone market was in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Record sales despite the shortage
“Apple has seen unprecedented iPhone performance in mainland China, with aggressive pricing for its flagship devices, which maintains a strong value proposition,” Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia said in a statement.
“Apple’s supply chain is starting to recover [même si l’entreprise] was still forced to cut production in the fourth quarter, due to shortages of key components, and was unable to manufacture enough iPhones to meet demand. »
The iPhone 13 was launched by the Apple brand last September. Apple sold a record number of over 40 million units of this model during the holiday season.
While Apple seems to be the most popular smartphone maker right now, Samsung is just behind, in second place, with 20% market share. Xiaomi takes third place with 12%, OPPO fourth with 9%, and Vivo completes the top 5 with 8%.
Reduced production
Canalys says the numbers are surprising, given the supply chain shortages companies have faced. Apple even cut its production of the iPhone 13 by more than 10% last October, due to the global shortage of chips.
“Supply chain disruptions have mostly affected suppliers [d’appareils] low-end,” said Nicole Peng, vice-president of Canalys in charge of mobility, in a press release. “Smartphone brands are already innovating to make the most of their situation, modifying the technical characteristics of devices according to the materials available, approaching emerging chipmakers for new sources of integrated circuits, concentrating the ranges of products on best-selling models and by staggering the release of new products. »
According to a recent report by Globaldata, the global chip shortage that we have been witnessing for two years will continue until 2022.
Source: ZDNet.com