Samsung Electronics is yet again the world’s biggest smartphone producer, accounting for a fifth of overall global sales in the first quarter overtaking Apple, market research firm Canalys said.
China’s Xiaomi made it to second runners-up, recording its best quarterly performance ever, with shipments surging 62pc to 49 million phones and market share to 14pc.
Overall, global sales shot up 27pc to 347 million units in the first quarter as the Chinese economy opened up after covid-19 lockdown and a vaccine rollout in the United States raised hopes of an economic recovery.
Samsung shipped 76.5 million smartphones in the quarter to grab a 22pc share of the market. The South Korean company on Thursday reported a 66pc surge in quarterly profit in its mobile business, thanks to robust sales of its flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone series.
At first runners-up, Apple shipped 52.4 million iPhones in the January-March period grabbing a 15pc market share, after it unveiled the new 5G-enabled iPhone 12 series.
China’s Huawei, the former No. 1 that remains is under U.S. sanctions, took seventh place with 18.6 million units after selling its Honor brand last year.
