Strategy Analytics: China Overtakes United States as World's Largest Smartphone Market in Q3 2011

BOSTON--()--According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, smartphone shipments reached a record 24 million units in China during the third quarter of 2011. Smartphone shipments reached just 23 million units in the United States. China has overtaken the United States for the first time to become the world’s largest smartphone market by volume.

Linda Sui, Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “Smartphone shipments grew 58 percent sequentially to reach a record 23.9 million units in China during Q3 2011. In contrast, smartphone shipments fell 7 percent sequentially to reach 23.3 million units in the United States. China has overtaken the United States for the first time to become the world’s largest smartphone market by volume.”

Tom Kang, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “China’s rapid growth has been driven by an increasing availability of smartphones in retail channels, aggressive subsidizing by operators of high-end models like the Apple iPhone, and an emerging wave of low-cost Android models from local Chinese brands such as ZTE. Nokia currently leads China’s smartphone market with 28 percent share, while HTC heads the United States smartphone market with 24 percent share.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “The United States remains the world’s largest smartphone market by revenue, but China has overtaken the United States in terms of volume. China is now at the forefront of the worldwide mobile computing boom. China has become a large and growing smartphone market that no hardware vendor, component maker or content developer can afford to ignore.”

Exhibit 1: China Smartphone Shipments by Vendor in Q3 2011 1

China Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units)           Q3 '11
Nokia           6.8
Samsung 4.2
Others           12.9
Total           23.9
 
China Smartphone Vendor Marketshare %           Q3 '11
Nokia 28.5%
Samsung 17.6%
Others           54.0%
Total           100.0%
 
China Total Smartphone Growth Quarter-over-Quarter % 57.5%
 

Exhibit 2: United States Smartphone Shipments by Vendor in Q3 2011 2

United States Smartphone Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units)           Q3 '11
HTC           5.6
Apple 4.8
Others           12.9
Total           23.3
 
United States Smartphone Vendor Marketshare %           Q3 '11
HTC 24.0%
Apple 20.6%
Others           55.4%
Total           100.0%
 
United States Total Smartphone Growth Quarter-over-Quarter % -7.4%
 

The full report, China Overtakes United States as World’s Largest Smartphone Market in Q3 2011, is published by the Strategy Analytics Handset Country Share Tracker (CST) service, details of which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/7kltu2j.

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 and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

1 Numbers are rounded.

2 Numbers are rounded.

Contacts

Strategy Analytics
USA Contacts:
Linda Sui, +1 617-614-0735
LSui@strategyanalytics.com
or
Alex Spektor, +1 617-614-0726
ASpektor@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Thomas Kang, +82 10 2874 8133
TKang@strategyanalytics.com
or
Europe Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com

Release Summary

China overtook the United States for the first time as the world's largest smartphone market in Q3 2011. China is now at the forefront of the worldwide mobile computing boom.

Contacts

Strategy Analytics
USA Contacts:
Linda Sui, +1 617-614-0735
LSui@strategyanalytics.com
or
Alex Spektor, +1 617-614-0726
ASpektor@strategyanalytics.com
or
Asia Contact:
Thomas Kang, +82 10 2874 8133
TKang@strategyanalytics.com
or
Europe Contact:
Neil Mawston, +44 1908 423 628
NMawston@strategyanalytics.com