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Apple's iPhone XR Was Most Popular Smartphone in 2019 Based on Shipment Estimates

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The iPhone XR was the world's most popular smartphone in 2019, with Apple outshipping all other smartphone models, according to new data shared today by research firm Omdia.

iphone-xr-colors-splash.jpg

Apple shipped an estimated 46.3 million iPhone XR units in 2019, which is more than double the 23.1 million units shipped in 2018. iPhone XR shipments were also nine million units higher than the second most popular model, which was Apple's iPhone 11. Apple shipped an estimated 37.3 million iPhone 11 models.

omdiashipmentestimates.jpg

After the iPhone XR and iPhone 11, the Galaxy A10 was the third most popular smartphone, with Samsung shipping 30.3 million units. The Samsung A50, Samsung A20, and iPhone 11 Pro Max came in fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
"Apple has consistently owned the first and second positions in the global smartphone model shipment ranking, with the company maintaining this dominant position for more than five years running," said Jusy Hong, smartphone research and analysis director at Omdia. "The company's continued dominance on this front is all the more remarkable when considering that Apple's price hikes caused overall iPhone shipments to decline last year. By limiting the number of models it offers compared to its top competitors, Apple has been able to concentrate its sales on a few smartphones that have broad appeal, like the iPhone XR."
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Apple has continued selling the iPhone XR alongside the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro as a lower cost option, priced starting at $599. The iPhone XR is $100 cheaper than the $699 starting price point of the iPhone 11.

Omdia is a research firm that was established following the merger of the research division of Informa Tech and the IHS Markit technology research portfolio.

Article Link: Apple's iPhone XR Was Most Popular Smartphone in 2019 Based on Shipment Estimates
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/02/25/iphone-xr-most-popular-2019/
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I'm not surprised by Apple's performance on this list.

Apple is the #3 smartphone OEM in the world by sales... so they obviously sell a lot of phones in general. Plus they only sell a handful of individual models... and it makes sense that their affordable iPhone XR had the top spot.

But what is a surprise is that not a single "flagship" Samsung phone is on that list.

For all the advertising Samsung does... and all the hullabaloo about cameras, OLED displays, reverse wireless charging, tiny bezels, etc... it's their budget models that sell the most.

A phone had to sell at least 15.2 million units to even be on this list.

So that means no Galaxy S10 model sold 15.2 million units throughout the entire year. That's wild.
 
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DakotaGuy said:
I’m just glad that this data proves we can finally move on from all the “everyone wants the old tiny screens” chatter around this place. When the best selling phone has a 6.1” display it’s time to leave the 3.5” and 4” screens in the past.
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Nobody wants an “old tiny” screen. There are people, however, who want a smaller phone.
Especially since its now possible to fit a ”new larger” screen on a phone the size of the “old pocketable“ phones. Think different. For everyone else...there’s Samesung.
 
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A lot of people (particularly on macrumors forums) bought the tech hype claims that the XR was just a 5c replacement. It certainly is not the modern 5c, and the great sales are proof or that.
 
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DakotaGuy said:
I’m just glad that this data proves we can finally move on from all the “everyone wants the old tiny screens back” chatter around this place. When the best selling phone has a 6.1” display it’s time to leave the 3.5” and 4” screens in the past.
Click to expand...

I've never seen anyone here (or elsewhere) claim that “everyone wants the old tiny screens back”. Some people like 'em. Most people don't. Such is life. I'm sure Apple will decide what makes the most sense for their production line, and bottom line.
 
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NickName99 said:
I like how the XR is #1, and the iPhone 11 is #2. Both have the 6.1” display that so many nerds were complaining wasn’t 1080p or OLED.
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Because the "tech nerds" and "tech Youtuber" crowd/viewers, including MR/forum crowd, are maybe 1% or less of total iphone sales. I would venture to guess a fraction of a percent at that based on that 134.1 million Apple sales on that chart.

75.3% of those sales are the iPhone 8, XR, and 11. 75% of sales were the "budget" model(s)

The techies are not the average consumer who doesn't want to spend $1,000+ on a phone. The bulk of the sales were sub $850 devices as thats the highest config 11.

I can tell you if not for OLED it was a very tough choice considering $699 vs $1099 for the Max both 64gb. $400 less is a lot for 90% of the same phone But OLED is a big difference IMO. I dont use the cameras other than the odd photo, so I dont care about that.
 
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DakotaGuy said:
I’m just glad that this data proves we can finally move on from all the “everyone wants the old tiny screens back” chatter around this place. When the best selling phone has a 6.1” display it’s time to leave the 3.5” and 4” screens in the past.
Click to expand...
When Apple offers both sizes at the same time, then it would be a valid argument.
If not, it is just the price.
 
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Not surprising. You can get a used one for around $350 in mint condition on Swappa and eBay. The whole 720p screen thing was so overrated.
 
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DakotaGuy said:
I’m just glad that this data proves we can finally move on from all the “everyone wants the old tiny screens back” chatter around this place. When the best selling phone has a 6.1” display it’s time to leave the 3.5” and 4” screens in the past.
Click to expand...

I’m also glad this data proves we can finally move on from people wanting to buy a neon orange iPhone. I mean, they don’t sell a neon orange iPhone, but they don’t sell a modern smaller-screened iPhone either, so why not just make wild assumptions about that too? /s
 
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I don’t like that the iPhone 11 Pro is so far down on the list. I don’t want anything bigger than this!
 
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incoherent_1 said:
I’m also glad this data proves we can finally move on from people wanting to buy a purple iPhone. I mean, they don’t sell a purple iPhone, but they don’t sell a modern smaller-screened iPhone either, so why not just make wild assumptions about that too? /s
Click to expand...

Apple sells a purple iPhone.
 
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