Samsung has regained the crown in the first quarter to be the world’s largest producer of smartphone, accounting for more than 20% of global sales in the first three months of the year, reveals the company Canalys, quoted by “Reuters” this Thursday, April 29. This way, the South Korean company managed to dethrone its biggest competitor, Apple.
The South Korean company sold a total of 76.5 million cell phones in the quarter, regaining 22% of the smartphone market. Due to sales on the Galaxy S21 model, Samsung posted a 66% profit in the first three months of the year.
One of Canalys’ biggest highlights goes to Xiaomi, which posted its best quarterly performance since it was established. In the first quarter, Xiaomi’s sales increased 62% to 49 million devices, bringing its market share to 14%, placing it in third position after Samsung and Apple.
The companies will have increased overall sales by 27% to 347 million units in the first quarter. According to Canalys, sales will have increased due to the opening of the Chinese economy and the rapid distribution of covid-19 vaccines in the United States, signs that showed hope for an economic recovery.
Apple will have sold 52.4 million iPhones between January and March 2021, taking it to 15% of the smartphone market. According to the market analysis company, Apple impressed Chinese consumers, who did not subscribe to the iPhone 11, with the new model adapted for the 5G network, having doubled sales in Chinese territory. Apple reported its quarterly earnings yesterday, revealing 54 percent growth in the first three months of the year.
The market analyst firm also said that Huawei, due to restrictions imposed on it in the United States, fell to seventh place in smartphone sales, having sold 18.6 million units in the first quarter. Last year, Huawei sold its Honor brand, a move that reportedly cost it a position higher up the list. Recall that due to restrictions in the United States, Huawei had to change its operating system, having created AppGallery, as it was denied the use of Google services.
Smartphone manufacturers also worried about their targets for the second quarter due to the shortage of semiconductor chips, which has shown a worldwide shortage. Apple estimates losing between four and five billion dollars in revenue due to the shortage of these chips, mainly affecting the production of iPads and iMacs.
