More than one billion smartphones were shipped last year, with Samsung increasing its lead as the world’s biggest vendor, according to new data. iCharts The research, from IDC, indicates that 1.004 billion smartphones were shipped last year, marking a 38.4% increase from the previous year. Samsung lead the way, followed by Apple and China’s Huawei. […]
More than one billion smartphones were shipped last year, with Samsung increasing its lead as the world’s biggest vendor, according to new data.
The research, from IDC, indicates that 1.004 billion smartphones were shipped last year, marking a 38.4% increase from the previous year.
Samsung lead the way, followed by Apple and China’s Huawei. Smartphones made up more than half of the 1.8 billion mobile phones sold.
Among the top trends driving smartphone growth are large screen devices and low cost.
IDC said this was the first time more than one billion smartphone units were shipped in a single year.
“Among the top trends driving smartphone growth are large screen devices and low cost,” said Ryan Reith, program director with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Of the two, I have to say that low cost is the key difference-maker.”
“Cheap devices are not the attractive segment that normally grabs headlines, but IDC data shows this is the portion of the market that is driving volume,” he said.
“Markets like China and India are quickly moving toward a point where sub-$150 smartphones are the majority of shipments, bringing a solid computing experience to the hands of many.”
South Korea’s Samsung extended its market dominance with 42.9% growth, the IDC survey said.
Apple, however, saw its market share decline, posting slower growth than the overall market with 12.9% growth.
Read the IDC report here
