FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New smartphone releases and an increased emphasis on emerging markets drove global smartphone shipments above 300 million units for the second consecutive quarter. According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 327.6 million units during the third quarter of 2014 (3Q14), resulting in 25.2% growth when compared to the 261.7 million units shipped in 3Q13 and 8.7% sequential growth above the 301.3 million units shipped in 2Q14.
"Despite rumors of a slowing market, smartphone shipments continue to see record-setting volumes," said Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "We've finally reached a point where most developed markets are experiencing single-digit growth while emerging markets are still growing at more than 30% collectively. In these markets, smartphone price points are making mobile computing possible where we once expected feature phones to remain dominant. This is great news for overall volumes, but the challenge has now become how to make money on devices that are quickly becoming commodity products. Outside of Apple, many are struggling to do this."
A driving force behind the record smartphone volume was the combined effort of the vendors trailing market leaders Samsung and Apple. "The next three vendors – Xiaomi, Lenovo, and LG Electronics – all posted market-beating growth and with markedly different strategies," said Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "This shows that there is still room to compete in this market, whether it be in the low end as Lenovo has done, at the high end where Xiaomi competes, or in both as LG Electronics has shown. Beyond the top five, there are a number of other vendors achieving similar results."
Smartphone Vendor Highlights:
Samsung remained the clear leader in the worldwide smartphone market, but was the only company among the top five to see its shipment volume decline year over year. With continued competitive pressure from nearly every side coupled with cooling demand for its high-end devices, the company's volumes have fallen from their previous highs at the start of the year. Although Samsung has long relied on its high-end devices, its mid-range and low-end models drove volume for the quarter and subsequently drove down ASPs.
Apple took the wraps off its highly anticipated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and in the process posted its largest third-quarter volume ever. Although the company posted strong results of 10 million units sold during its initial launch weekend, what should not be overlooked is the sustained demand for its older iPhone 5S and 5C models, which comprised the bulk of its volume for the quarter.
Xiaomi jumped into the top 5 list for the first time at the number 3 position thanks to its focus on China and adjacent markets, which resulted in triple-digit year-over-year growth. Key to its success was the launch of its Mi4 smartphone in August, which was positioned as a high-end alternative to the status quo. What remains to be seen is how quickly the company can move beyond its home territories to drive volumes higher.
Lenovo tied* for fourth with LG, as its results improved on steady gains at home and abroad with the share of non-China shipments rising steadily to hit 20% in 3Q14, up from 9% a year ago. Sub-US$100 smartphones like the A369i and A316 drove volumes from emerging markets in Asia/Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. Domestically, it launched a number of 4G handsets, with some at lower price points.
LG's strategy to court the market with low-cost smartphones has paid enough dividends to push its total volumes past the 15 million unit mark for the first time in the company's history. Its F-and L-series smartphones have earned a warm reception, within both emerging and developed markets. At the same time, LG released its flagship G3 to maintain a presence in the high-end of the market, lifting the company's overall LTE footprint.
Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q3 2014 Preliminary Data (Units in Millions)
| Vendor |
2014 Q3 |
2014 Q3 |
2013 Q3 |
2013 Q3 |
3Q14/3Q13 |
||||||||||||
| 1. Samsung | 78.1 | 23.8% | 85.0 | 32.5% | -8.2% | ||||||||||||
| 2. Apple | 39.3 | 12.0% | 33.8 | 12.9% | 16.1% | ||||||||||||
| 3. Xiaomi | 17.3 | 5.3% | 5.6 | 2.1% | 211.3% | ||||||||||||
| 4. Lenovo* | 16.9 | 5.2% | 12.3 | 4.7% | 38.0% | ||||||||||||
| 4. LG* | 16.8 | 5.1% | 12.0 | 4.6% | 39.8% | ||||||||||||
| Others | 159.2 | 48.6% | 113.0 | 43.2% | 40.8% | ||||||||||||
| Total | 327.6 | 100.0% | 261.7 | 100.0% | 25.2% | ||||||||||||
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, October 29, 2014
Notes:
- Data is preliminary and subject to change.
- Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors. The vendor names reflected in this release represent the current parent company (or holding company) for all brands, regardless of the date of mergers or acquisitions.
- * IDC declares a statistical tie in the worldwide mobile phone market when there is less than 0.1% difference in the market share (based on shipments) of two or more vendors.
In addition to the table above, an interactive graphic showing worldwide unit shipments for the top 5 smartphone vendors over the previous five quarters is available here. The chart is intended for public use in online news articles and social media. Instructions on how to embed this graphic can be found by viewing this press release on IDC.com.
About IDC Trackers
IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, vendor share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly excel deliverables and on-line query tools. The IDC Tracker Charts app allows users to view data charts from the most recent IDC Tracker products on their iPhone and iPad.
For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. In 2014, IDC celebrates its 50th anniversary of providing strategic insights to help clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
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