China Xiaomi overtook Samsung and Apple in smartphone sales in June: counterpoint

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi sold more phones in June than rivals Samsung and Apple, according to research firm Counterpoint.

Xiaomi’s sales were up 26% from the previous month, giving the company a 17.1% share of the total number of smartphones sold globally in June, Counterpoint said in a note on Thursday. He added that Samsung and Apple sold 15.7% and 14.3% of total handsets respectively for the same period.

For the quarter that ended in June, Xiaomi was the second largest smartphone maker in terms of delivery, behind Samsung.

Counterpoint analysts explained that the trend could be temporary as a new wave of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam likely disrupted Samsung production in June. This has led to a shortage of devices available from the South Korean smartphone maker, according to the note.

Samsung noted the disruption of production in Vietnam due to local lockdowns during its second quarter earnings call. The smartphone giant expects production to return to normal levels soon.

“Since the onset of Huawei’s decline, Xiaomi has made constant and aggressive efforts to fill the void created by this decline,” Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint, said in a statement. He added that Xiaomi has grown in Huawei’s historical markets such as China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.