Strategy Analytics has calculated that global smartphone shipments grew by 44% year-on-year to reach 117 million units in the third quarter of 2011. As a result, Samsung has overtaken Apple to become the world’s number one smartphone vendor.
Alex Spektor, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said “Global smartphone shipments grew 44% annually to reach a record 117 million units in Q3 2011. Samsung shipped 28 million smartphones and overtook Apple to become the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume with 24% market share. Samsung’s rise has been driven by a blend of elegant hardware designs, popular Android services, memorable sub-brands and extensive global distribution. Samsung has demonstrated that it is possible, at least in the short term, to differentiate and grow by using the Android ecosystem.”
Nokia was the leading smartphone producer at the beginning of this year but was overtaken by Apple in Q2 2011.
Global smartphone vendor shipments (millions of units)
| Manufacturer |
Q3 2010 units |
Q3 2011 units |
Q3 2011 share |
| Samsung |
7.5 |
27.8 |
23.8% |
| Apple |
14.1 |
17.1 |
14.6% |
| Nokia |
26.5 |
16.8 |
14.4% |
| Others |
32.9 |
55.3 |
47.3% |
| Total |
81.0 |
117.0 |
100% |
Total global handset shipments grew 14% to reach 390 million units, according to Strategy Analytics. Nokia, Samsung and LG remained in first, second and third places respectively, while ZTE overtook Apple to become the world’s fourth largest handset vendor.