Samsung beats Apple in February smartphone sales

Posted on : 2021-03-29 17:23 KST Modified on : 2021-03-29 17:23 KST
Apple came in second with a market share of 22.2%
In this promotional photo provided by Samsung Electronics, consumers try out the Galaxy S21 at the Ambience Mall in Gurugram, India.
In this promotional photo provided by Samsung Electronics, consumers try out the Galaxy S21 at the Ambience Mall in Gurugram, India.

Samsung Electronics narrowly reached first place in the global smartphone market in February. The company’s market share was boosted by increased sales of the Galaxy S21 phone.

Market research firm Strategy Analytics reported Sunday that Samsung Electronics moved over 24 million units in February, elevating it to 1st place in the global smartphone market, with a market share of 23.1%.

Apple came in second with a market share of 22.2%, selling over 23 million phones. The next phone makers in the ranking were Xiaomi (11.5%), Vivo (10.6%), and Oppo (8.5%).

Samsung Electronics’ smartphone sales in February were about 26% higher than last February, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 12% higher than February 2019.

Samsung boosted its sales by releasing a flagship model earlier than in normal years in order to capitalize on the vacancy left by Huawei. The company typically unveils its flagship model in mid-February and officially launches it in early March. But this year, it unveiled the new model a month early, on Jan. 21.

Apple posted an even bigger jump in sales. Its sales in February were 74% higher than the previous year and 35% higher than February 2019.

The continuing popularity of the iPhone 12 has led some analysts to predict that its cumulative sales will end up reaching the level of the iPhone 6, which came out in 2014.

“As fierce competition continues between Samsung Electronics and Apple’s flagship models, Samsung has been striving to prop up its sagging market share by running aggressive promotions even for its budget models, including the A series,” said a source in the industry.

By Cho Kye-wan, staff reporter

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