Strategy Analytics: Samsung Recaptures Title as World's Largest Smartphone Vendor in Q1 2015

BOSTON, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 21 percent annually to reach 345 million units in the first quarter of 2015. Samsung overtook Apple to recapture first position as the world's largest smartphone vendor by volume.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global smartphone shipments grew 21 percent annually from 285.0 million units in Q1 2014 to a 345.0 million in Q1 2015. Global smartphone growth on an annualized basis has slowed slightly from 33 percent to 21 percent during the past year, due to increasing penetration maturity in major markets of the US, Europe and China."

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Samsung shipped 83.2 million smartphones worldwide and captured 24 percent marketshare in Q1 2015, dipping from 31 percent a year earlier. Samsung 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 marketshare in Q1 2015, rising from 15 percent in Q1 2014. Apple's new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models remain wildly popular in China and worldwide, as consumers upgrade to larger-screen phablets for enhanced data experiences."

Woody Oh, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Lenovo-Motorola held on to third position with 5 percent global smartphone marketshare in Q1 2015, but it has slipped from 7 percent a year ago. Lenovo is facing competitive pressure in the high-growth China LTE category, while Motorola is struggling to expand in its core market of North America and its growth market of India. Meanwhile, Huawei shipped a robust 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."

Exhibit 1: Global Smartphone Vendor Shipments and Marketshare in Q1 2015 ¹

The full report, Samsung Becomes World's Largest Smartphone Vendor in Q1 2015, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/9djv7u8.

About Strategy Analytics:

Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

Americas Contact:

Linda Sui / +1 617 614 0735 / [email protected]
Ken Hyers / +1 617 614 0757 / [email protected]

EMEA Contact:

Neil Mawston / +44 1908 423 628 / [email protected]

Asia Contact:

Woody Oh / +44 1908 423 665 / [email protected]

¹  Numbers are rounded.

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SOURCE Strategy Analytics

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