Smartphone Global Sales Statistics For Q4 2018: Samsung’s Preference Still Intact In Minds Of Buyers

Samsung, fresh from releasing its Galaxy S10 series of smartphones that also includes a 5G edition, is seemingly still a preference on top of buyers’ minds a far as sales of Q4 2018 are concerned. This trend comes despite a global decline in the sales of smartphones when compared to that of Q4 2017.

As per a Gartner research report, Samsung sold 70,782.5 thousand units during the time period ending Q4 2018, to reportedly capture 17.3% market share. Cupertino-based Apple, with its iPhones, was in the second position behind Samsung with shipments amounting to 64,527.8 thousand units in the same period. The market share held by Apple was 15.8%.

Now, these statistics represent a decline from Q4 2017 when Samsung had 18.2% market share and Apple held 17.9% share. Samsung also reportedly lost share in geographies such as Latin America, West Europe, and Greater China with its current-gen Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and the Galaxy Note9 averagely contributing to the overall sales in Samsung smartphones.

However, the positive side of these statistics is that they indicate user preference (continued) for Samsung despite the emergence of other brands that overall contributed to 153,205 accounting to nearly 38% of total global sales. Another aspect surfacing from the above statistics is the fact that newer brands viz Oppo and Xiaomi also continued penetration. It is expected (by us) that these brands could leapfrog multiple places when Gartner’s statistics for Q4 2019 are released.  

Finally, the Q4 2018 statistics also saw Huawei gaining as much as 4% market share compared to that of Q4 2017. The Chinese brand stood at 14.8% market share, over 10.8% share of the market pie during Q4 2017. Also, as far as Samsung is concerned, its latest budget entrants in India viz the Galaxy M10 and M20 that have a starting price of Rs 7990 could do well to contribute its bit to overall smartphone sales; but again, in the end, it all depends on the value addition that these handsets offer and those which are actually recognized by buyers.

Also Read: Samsung Transitions To New Position In WorldWide Smartphone Shipments In Q4 2018: Check Out Now