Figures from the International Data Corporation (IDC) show that worldwide smartphone shipments in the third quarter of 2013 reached a new record for the second consecutive month. Total smartphone shipments were up 38.8% year-on-year and up 9% from the previous quarter to 258.4 million devices.
Overall mobile phone shipments (including smartphones and ‘feature phones’) were up 5.7% year-on-year to 467.9 million units for the quarter.
The largest smartphone manufacturer was Samsung, which shipped more units than the rest of the top 5 combined. Next was Apple, followed by Huawei, Lenovo and LG in close succession.
Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team, said “Beyond Samsung and Apple at the top of the rankings is a tight race of vendors trying to break out from the pack. In 3Q13, Chinese vendors Huawei and Lenovo moved past LG, and not far behind are two more Chinese companies, Coolpad and ZTE. Any of these vendors could change position again next quarter. But in addition to having close shipment volumes, they all have one key ingredient in common: Android. This has been a huge factor in their success, but it also speaks to the challenges of differentiation on the world's most popular platform. Looking ahead, we anticipate strong momentum going into the fourth quarter, and another record quarter and year in the worldwide smartphone market.”
Top five smartphone vendors, Q3 2013. (Unit shipments and market share in millions)
| |
Q3 2013 shipments |
Q3 2013 market share |
Q3 2012 shipments |
Q3 2012 market share |
Year-on-year change |
| Samsung |
81.2 |
31.4% |
57.8 |
31.0% |
40.5% |
| Apple |
33.8 |
13.1% |
26.9 |
14.4% |
25.7% |
| Huawei |
12.5 |
4.8% |
7.1 |
3.8% |
76.5% |
| Lenovo |
12.3 |
4.7% |
6.9 |
3.7% |
77.6% |
| LG |
12.0 |
4.6% |
7.0 |
3.8% |
71.4% |
| Others |
106.6 |
41.3% |
80.5 |
43.2% |
32.4% |
| Total |
258.4 |
|
186.2 |
|
38.8% |