Apple was the most popular smartphone manufacturer in terms of worldwide smartphone shipments in Q4 2021, according to a survey by market analytics firm Canalasy. Despite supply chain concerns and mounting coronavirus cases around the world, the Cupertino-based smartphone manufacturer surpassed Samsung to take the top spot, accounting for 22% of worldwide smartphone sales in the latest quarter. Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, all Chinese smartphone manufacturers, were in third, fourth, and fifth position, with 12 percent, 9 percent, and 8% market share, respectively.
According to Canalys, thanks to high demand for the iPhone 13 series, Apple has now beaten Samsung to the top spot in the smartphone shipments rivalry. “In Mainland China, Apple saw unprecedented iPhone performance, with aggressive pricing for its flagship products keeping the value proposition solid,” according to the research. According to the study, the company’s supply chain was also impacted by the pandemic, resulting in production cuts (and longer wait times in some countries), but it appears to be improving.
Samsung came in second place, accounting for 20% of global smartphone shipments in Q4 2021, according to the research. In comparison to Q4 2020, when it accounted for 17% of worldwide smartphone shipments, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer has improved. Xiaomi, on the other hand, was in third position with 12% of global handset sales. According to the research, Oppo and Vivo came in fourth and fifth place, with 9 percent and 8%, respectively.
Bloomberg reported in December that Apple had advised suppliers that it did not anticipate customers to maintain interest in the company’s latest iPhone 13 series following significant wait times. According to the article, the Cupertino firm anticipates supply to improve in 2022. According to an older Bloomberg story, Apple previously decreased iPhone 13 manufacturing expectations by 10 million units, due in part to a global processor shortfall that has resulted in a shortage of iPhone components.
Other firms look to be affected by the worldwide semiconductor scarcity, according to the Canalys analysis, and smartphone manufacturers are reacting to the challenges faced by the component shortfall, which is not projected to improve until the second half of 2022. According to reports, smartphone manufacturers are altering device specifications to accommodate available components. According to the survey, actions such as prioritizing best-selling smartphones and spreading out new releases over longer periods will aid larger companies in overcoming the obstacles created by the chip scarcity.