Samsung is the new champion of the world smartphone market.
Market research agency Strategy Analytics said Samsung has overtaken Apple based on shipments in Q1 2015.
Samsung shipped 83.2 million smartphones in Q1 2015 against 74.5 million in Q4 2014, while Apple shipments fell to 61.2 million from 74.5 million, Lenovo smartphone shipments fell to 18.8 million from 24.7 million and Huawei smartphone volume dropped to 17.3 million from 24.1 million.
The report said global smartphone shipments grew 21 percent to 345 million units in Q1 2015 from 285 million units in Q1 2014, said Strategy Analytics.
Samsung captured 24 percent market share in Q1 2015, dipping from 31 percent share a year earlier, the report said.
The Korean smartphone major, which was wiped out from top position earlier, continued to face challenges in Asia and elsewhere, but its global performance has stabilized sufficiently well this quarter to overtake Apple and recapture first position as the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume.
Apple shipped 61.2 million smartphones worldwide and captured 18 percent market share in Q1 2015, rising from 15 percent in Q1 2014. Apple’s new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus smartphone models are popular in China and worldwide, as consumers upgrade to larger-screen phablets for enhanced data experiences.
Lenovo-Motorola retained the third position with 5 percent global smartphone market share in Q1 2015 against 7 percent a year ago. Lenovo is facing competitive pressure in the China LTE category, while Motorola is struggling to expand in its core market of North America and its growth market of India.
Huawei shipped 17.3 million smartphones for 5 percent share and fourth position worldwide in Q1 2015. Huawei is expanding rapidly online in China and through retailers across Africa, enabling it to become an emerging powerhouse in developing regions.
