Apple's global smartphone market share fell to 14.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016, down from 17.9 percent in the same period the previous year, despite a 3.9 percent growth in overall smartphone sales compared to Q1 2015, according to Gartner (via DigiTimes).
The number of smartphones delivered to end users in Q1 totalled 349 million globally, compared to 336 in the same period in 2015. Apple shipped 51.6 million iPhones to maintain its number two spot in the top five largest makers, while Samsung reached unit sales of 81.2 million to maintain its position as number one. The figures show Samsung extended its lead over Apple in the same period with a 23.2 percent market share, despite a slight decline from 24.1% in Q1 2015.
Oppo had the best performance in the first quarter of 2016, moving into the number 4 position among the top-five smartphone vendors with unit sales growth of 145%. Like Huawei and Xiaomi, Oppo saw strong growth in China, taking share from the likes of Lenovo, Samsung and Yulong, Gartner indicated.
The overall growth in smartphone sales was put down to a demand for low-cost handsets in emerging markets and more affordable 4G promotion plans globally.
In a separate note disclosed by research firm IDC yesterday, more Google Chromebooks were sold in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2016 than Apple's entire Mac line.
Apple's Mac shipments are estimated to have been around 1.76 million in Q1 this year, according to an IDC analyst who spoke to The Verge, while combined estimates for Dell, HP, and Lenovo put the number of low-cost Chromebooks sold at 2 million in the same quarter.
IDC put the Chromebook's sales growth down to their appeal in the education sector, with wide uptake across K-12 schools in the United States. The milestone also comes at a time when Mac sales have held steady while PC shipments have seen an overall decline, making the news more of a concern for Microsoft as it tries to maintain its dominance in the low-cost laptop market.
The research firm also predicted a "modest rebound" over the coming months as buyers consider transitioning to Windows 10 and a continued increase Chromebook sales.
Article Link: Global Smartphone Market Grows in Q1 2016 as iPhone Share Shrinks to 14%
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Global Smartphone Market Grows in Q1 2016 as iPhone Share Shrinks to 14%
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Android flagships like the S7 are the minority. Did you see the "Others" category in that list? 45% or over 150 million Android phones made by companies with so few sales they don't even get broken out. Samsungs ASP is barely over $200, which also means the S7 makes up a small chunk of those 80 million phones they sold.
Do you have any facts to add, or are you only capable of regurgitating useless comments about rose colored glasses or kool aid?
By the looks of things the iPhone 6s is also in the minority. A healthy number of iphones sold have been the 5s and the 6 not the 6s or 6s plus. By evidence that iphones sales were down last quarter 17% YoY.
The differences between the 6 and 6S are the usual faster processor that every flagship phone in the industry gets so it's incremental, the 3D Touch is the only thing, otherwise no change to the design, screen, oh but they did reduce the battery size incrementally of course
You are really arguing the pointless if you are going to attempt to claim their are massive differences between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. Really pointless....
And as for the sales? You mean the DROP in sales and market share, yeah Apple is obviously giving people what they want, riiighht..
Not just a faster processor, a 3rd gen 64bit processor with a huge increase in speed. Also a better camera, 4K support, 1080P 120FPS slo-mo (nobody else has this yet), upgraded front camera, improved BlueTooth, doubling of the RAM, the worlds FIRST AND ONLY phone with NVMe storage using an Apple designed controller (light years beyond anything Samsung or anyone else has) and the 3D Touch you mentioned.
The 6S is the biggest increase in features of any iPhone ever made, and far more significant than the Note 4 to Note 5.
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Nothing like moving the goalposts. I never mentioned iPhone sales. I made a statement of fact - most Android phones sold are sub $200 low end junk. You want to counter my claims with any evidence of your own, or are you going to continue to deflect?
You moved the goal posts.....the article is about MARKET SHARE not the price of phones. A phone is a phone is a phone with respect to market share.
Clearly, you're not aware of the 80/20 rule. It applies to everything and in more cases than not, that number is skewed even more. There's a reason why the top 5% of the population controls the majority of wealth. You may enjoy Android more, and that's fine... You're clearly not the only one and it's people like you who keep my company in business. But your passion (or hatred) is clearly distorting your logic.
Most of the world is not financially well off, even in developed nations. 85% of the world uses Android *predominantly* because of price. Have you ever traveled to developing nations like China, India, Phillipines, Vietnam, etc? If so, you'd realize just how many poor people there are in this world. Even in developed nations, there are large swaths of people who are extremely price sensitive. It's no coincidence that Spain, one of the poorest countries in western Europe where more than 1 out of 4 people are without work has the highest penetration rate for Android.
If price was no concern, do you seriously think 85 out of 100 users would still choose their crappy $150-$200 Android phones? If you go to any city/town in the U.S. where consumers are less price sensitive, and you'll see iPhones dominate. In my building where the avg household income is north of $200K, you may see a dozen Android phones in any given year. That's a pittance considering we probably have about 1,000 residents, not to mention the number of visitors we get.
Lastly, Tim Cook can't fabricate stories on an earnings call unless he wants to go to jail. Android *can* grow in developing markets where the majority can't afford a phone above $200 and iOS can shrink *relative* to that growth even as Apple gains more Android users. I would do the math for you but I'm sure you're smart enough to figure that out if you took the time.
Android market share grew in USA,China(Apples second largest market),UK, Australia,Italy,Germany,France,Spain etc....Not exactly 3rd world countries. When you can buy Apple products at Wal-mart or AT&T for $200 or BOGO, or $1 and a $200 gift card from Best Buy I don't think the "only the rich can afford Apple" argument works.
Incidentally it has been proven that Android users are more loyal to Android than iOS users are to Apple.
Lastly, Tim Cook did NOT mention iOS users to Android and by virtue of this article and EVERY other report in regards to iphone sales this past 6 months it is quite obvious that Android is stealing sales from Apple. The market grew by 3.9% and Apple sales shrunk by 3% (10 million) that's nearly the 7% swing that Android has experienced in market share.
Where do you honestly believe these sales are coming from....poor people?
It is quite obvious you are an Apple snob and look down at Android. What you miss out on from paying the Apple Tax is that there are VERY capable Android phones that do not have to cost and arm and a leg. Heck the Samsung Galaxy S7 is still $200 cheaper than the iphone and you get more bang for your buck......Why is that a bad thing?
Obvious who has the distorted logic, and its not me.
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You mentioned YOY, which is as meaningless as market share. There is one company only that makes out in market share and that's Google. Everybody else is fighting for the crumbs Apple leaves.
Is that not what the article is about??
Here to refresh your memory is the article headline.....
Global Smartphone Market Grows in Q1 2016 as iPhone Share Shrinks to 14%
Apple crumbs left behind....that's funny not true but funny.
It's about market share and the discussion about market share.
It may be funny but fortunately for Apple it's true.
Hardly. The numbers are meaningless since they lump ALL phones regardless of price point into a single category. Do you even know anything about statistics or representative samples?
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So you're saying Android users are the real fanboys who buy based on loyalty and not logic?
What I am saying is that Android users are loyal to their chosen brand. As much as Apple fans like to think it is based on Android users to poor to afford an iphone at Walmart.
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/08/11/android-ios-similar-loyalty-retention/
Do you know what market share means??? Of the 349 million sold....Apple sold 51 million sold or in other words 14%. The statistic has ZERO to do with price points. Also in relation to the same time period a year ago Apple sold more (61 million) in relation to a smaller market hence the DECREASE in MARKET SHARE from a year earlier.
Doubling RAM, incremental
Better camera, incremental, and the iPhone 5S had Slow mo!
Improved Bluetooth, incremental
NVMe I'll give you that although Samsung has UFS 2.0, it's not 'light years ahead'.
3D Touch people forget about.
I note you ignored what my main argument was about which was the styling.
Better camera, or just more megapixels?
The 6s jammed more megapixels onto a tiny sensor which unfortunately means that in lower light situations it does not perform as well its predecessor. The plus' OIS helps a lot in that situation but the non-plus doesn't have that technology.
I can play the exact same game with any previous model of anything. The entire chip set was redesigned, screen with 3dt, was redesigned, front flash, more megapixels etc. major redesign or as you say massive change.
Yes, I'm obviously a snob and look down on Android people while you clearly hold Apple users in high regard.
If you don't believe that most Android handsets are sold due to lower prices, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe these articles will convince you:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Aver...-iPhone-and-the-price-gap-is-widening_id52693
http://www.gallup.com/poll/166211/worldwide-median-household-income-000.aspx
If you look strictly at specs, then yes, Android looks pretty good. However, it's not all about specs. If it were, no one would buy a Mercedes Benz when they can get a similarly spec'ed Honda for half the price.
There are plenty of reasons why people choose iPhones over Android beyond just specs and for people who are fortunate enough to be able to afford them, they will gladly pay a premium without batting an eye. The question is, why do you care? Do you feel the same way about people who buy Porsches and LV bags? Like I said, if you like Android, enjoy it and rejoice on Android fan sites. Don't waste your life hating on the competition that's done nothing but help make Android what it is today and trolling an Apple fan site... life is too short.
Yes, I'm obviously a snob and look down on Android people while you clearly hold Apple users in high regard.
If you don't believe that most Android handsets are sold due to lower prices, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe these articles will convince you:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Aver...-iPhone-and-the-price-gap-is-widening_id52693
http://www.gallup.com/poll/166211/worldwide-median-household-income-000.aspx
If you look strictly at specs, then yes, Android looks pretty good. However, it's not all about specs. If it were, no one would buy a Mercedes Benz when they can get a similarly spec'ed Honda for half the price.
There are plenty of reasons why people choose iPhones over Android beyond just specs and for people who are fortunate enough to be able to afford them, they will gladly pay a premium without batting an eye. The question is, why do you care? Do you feel the same way about people who buy Porsches and LV bags? Like I said, if you like Android, enjoy it and rejoice on Android fan sites. Don't waste your life hating on the competition that's done nothing but help make Android what it is today and trolling an Apple fan site... life is too short.
Yes, I'm obviously a snob and look down on Android people while you clearly hold Apple users in high regard.
If you don't believe that most Android handsets are sold due to lower prices, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe these articles will convince you:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Aver...-iPhone-and-the-price-gap-is-widening_id52693
http://www.gallup.com/poll/166211/worldwide-median-household-income-000.aspx
If you look strictly at specs, then yes, Android looks pretty good. However, it's not all about specs. If it were, no one would buy a Mercedes Benz when they can get a similarly spec'ed Honda for half the price.
There are plenty of reasons why people choose iPhones over Android beyond just specs and for people who are fortunate enough to be able to afford them, they will gladly pay a premium without batting an eye. The question is, why do you care? Do you feel the same way about people who buy Porsches and LV bags? Like I said, if you like Android, enjoy it and rejoice on Android fan sites. Don't waste your life hating on the competition that's done nothing but help make Android what it is today and trolling an Apple fan site... life is too short.
I never said anything contrary to Android being sold due to lower prices. What I did say was if you command 85% of the world market it isnt just price alone that gets you to that market share. You're the one who seems to think the price point has a bearing on a percentage. As I said before a phone is a phone is a phone regardless of the price.
Ironic that in the gallup poll that the 10 countries in higher household income are also higher in Android marketshare.
There will come a time sooner than later that Apple will lower its prices and the profit margins will decrease. Look no further than the SE. There are getting to be less people willing to pay the higher price for an iphone. I dont know why that is hard for you to comprehend.
Apple did lower their price with the SE, but also used older parts. e.g. no 3dt, no barometer, etc. I don't see apple changing their pricing model any time soon, but probably will adjust the price of phones accordingly to where they need be given all of the variables.
The only company that makes out in vendor marketshare is google, as they get a cut of every device that has android. All the other vendors duke it out, while apple losing marketshare still managed to make $40B last quarter.
Don't forget... those Chinese companies sell a lot of "units" and these market share charts simply count them as-is.
It's not difficult to sell a lot of $150 smartphones... which is many (most?) of the "units" sold around the world.
So yeah... you could add up all the "units" those 3 Chinese companies are selling... and it might surpass Apple. But I'm not ready to give them any kind of trophy yet.
That's the problem with these charts... it doesn't give any indication to what anyone is selling.
I'd love it if there was a way to produce a chart that only listed $400 and up smartphones. Or even $600 or $700 and up.
The average selling price for an iPhone is around $670... so including Apple on a list with $150 smartphones doesn't really tell much of a story.
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Exactly.
And that's what these charts never mention.
All they talk about is volume... and guess what sells in greater volume? Cheap smartphones.
Apple's smartphones start at $400... but they average closer to $700.
So why are they on the same list as $100 smartphones?
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Market share is unit sales over a quarter. Always has been.
What is 'Market Share'
Market share is the percentage of an industry or market's total sales that is earned by a particular company over a specified time period. Market share is calculated by taking the company's sales over the period and dividing it by the total sales of the industry over the same period. This metric is used to give a general idea of the size of a company to its market and its competitors.
Definition of market share:
A percentage of total sales volume in a market captured by a brand, product, or company.
"Usage Share" is another measurement altogether... and is not represented in this particular study. You'd have to look elsewhere for that.
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I remember seeing the same threads and the same arguments at CrackBerry not so long ago.
- Total market is growing, doesn't matter that our share is smaller.
- But we dominate in X markets.
And where is BlackBerry now?
Which I agreed with in my original response... I said some people like Android but the vast majority of Android handsets are sold because of pricing.
That's my final comment on this matter since there is no debate here. I think the facts clearly speak for themselves.
So you think Apple could go the way of blackberry? That's the subtext right? What's stopping any company from making some grave errors? But if the most valuable company in the world went to the least valuable company in the world that would be good fodder for a Ph.D. Thesis.
BlackBerry fans 3-4 years ago kept saying the same thing.
But in the end, it's not only about the company making money, market share IS important. Phone sales are all about the eco-system. BB10 is an amazing mobile OS. But not enough phones sold (market share) to attract developers. That is where market share is important. If your share goes below a certain percentage, it stops making sense to write and support apps for that platform. And from there it's a death spiral.
Apple fans are their own worst enemies. Android has software features that are miles ahead of iOS. Maps, the voice assistant, Google Now. Yet there is a lot of bitching here about how the look of the iPhone has not changed. About how we need a 4K display. really? 5" display, you really think you'll notice the difference?
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Yes, it could. App developers write for Android and iOS because those 2 combine for nearly 98% of the market. Both being a fairly significant number. At what point does a developer decide that writing an app for a platform that has only x% of the market is no longer worth it? 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%?
Don't forget... market share only talks about sales during the last 3 months.
Developers might consider that... but they definitely look at the entire installed base. IE... how many potential customers are there in total.
Besides... the iPhone has never had a huge amount of quarterly market share compared to competing platforms. When the iPhone first came out... Symbian had the most. And then Android quickly became the largest.
It's amazing that the iPhone has developers' attention despite never having more than 20% quarterly market share. And the iPhone had single-digit market share when the App Store first opened.
But we're at the point now where there are 600 million iPhones out in the world. And 50 million iPhones were sold just in the last 3 months. That kinda trumps the fact that the iPhone has "only" 15% quarterly market share.
Blackberry and Windows Phone never had quarterly market share OR a large installed base. That's why they didn't capture developers' attention.
But that's not something Apple has to worry about yet... if at all.
The iPhone is still popular enough... even at 15% to Android's 84%
Hell... look at those two numbers. Why would anyone spend time and money to build apps for the iPhone when Android is soooo much bigger?
Answer: it works.
iPhones... even in fewer numbers... produce great results for developers.
The iPhone might represent a much lower percentage in the smartphone market... but it's still worth it.
And I don't see that changing anytime soon.
It's basically Android and iPhone nowadays at around 99% combined. WP, BB and "other" are around 1% combined.
And one thing that market share doesn't mention... the devices themselves and the economic conditions of their owners.
The iPhone might only have 15% of the smartphone market... but it's at the high end of the market. iPhones start at $400... but they average closer to $700. Those customers have already spent a lot of money on the iPhone (or relatively expensive payment plans) so they'll likely be in a better financial situation to spend more money on the ecosystem... apps, games, accessories.
Conversely... Android has 84% of the smartphone market... but average Android prices are around $200. And many of those phones are used for basic tasks... so they don't contribute a lot of additional purchases to further the ecosystem.
That's something that developers must take into consideration... not just the raw market share numbers.
Also remember these points:
Developers built apps for the iPhone when it had 5% market share
Developers built apps for the iPhone when it had 10% market share
Developers built apps for the iPhone when it had 15% market share
Developers built apps for the iPhone when it had 20% market share
It doesn't seem to matter what the iPhone's market share is... it's still a popular (and sometimes only) platform for developers.
This reminds me of Mac developers and accessory makers. I'm sure they're aware that only 1 out of every 10 computers sold today are Macs.
Yet look at all the accessories and Mac-only software there are for Macs!
Again... it works... despite having (much) lower market share.