In an unexpected turn of events, Xiaomi has overtaken Apple to become the world’s second-largest smartphone vendor in August, according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research. This shift in the market hierarchy comes as a surprise to many industry observers.
Key points from the report:
- Market positions:
- Samsung maintained its lead as the top smartphone seller globally.
- Xiaomi moved into second place, surpassing Apple.
- Apple dropped to third position.
- Factors contributing to the change:
- Xiaomi saw a significant year-over-year growth of 22% in August.
- Apple experienced a decline in phone shipments, likely due to consumers anticipating the launch of the new iPhone 16 series.
- Xiaomi’s success drivers:
- Strong performance of budget-friendly Redmi 13 series.
- Popularity of mid-range Redmi Note 13 series.
- Impressive results in key markets: India, Southeast Asia, South America, Middle East, and Africa.
- Market context:
- This data represents August sales, the penultimate month of the third quarter.
- The full impact of Apple’s new iPhone 16 series launch is yet to be seen in the market statistics.
While this monthly snapshot provides interesting insights, it’s important to note that the overall market dynamics may shift again with Apple’s new product launch and the upcoming holiday season. The full third-quarter results will offer a more comprehensive view of the smartphone market landscape.
