Xiaomi overtakes Apple as second smartphone supplier for the first time

Xiaomi is now the second largest supplier of smartphones based on global shipments in the second quarter of 2021, according to a new report from Canalys. The Chinese company has captured 17% of the global market share, according to the research firm, just behind Samsung’s 19% but ahead of Apple’s 14%.

BBK’s Oppo and Vivo rounded out the top five list at 10 percent each. All five companies have increased their shipments year on year, but what is remarkable is how successfully Xiaomi has been able to increase its volume – it shipped 83% more phones than in Q2 2020, while that Samsung increased its shipments by 15% and Apple by just 1%.

“Xiaomi is rapidly expanding its business overseas,” said Ben Stanton, research director at Canalys, citing increased sales in regions such as Western Europe, Africa and Latin America. “However, it remains largely mass-market oriented, and compared to Samsung and Apple, its average selling price is about 40% and 75% cheaper, respectively. So a top priority for Xiaomi this year is to increase sales of its high-end devices, such as the Mi 11 Ultra.

Canalys says global smartphone shipments increased 12% in the last quarter. However, much of the growth seen by smartphone makers has come at the expense of Huawei, which itself overtook Apple in 2019, but has since been largely shut out of the global market due to trade sanctions and bans imposed by them. United States. Xiaomi seems to be the biggest beneficiary so far.