Samsung retains global smartphone crown in Q3

Samsung Electronics Co. maintained its position as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by shipments in the third quarter, despite a sharp contraction in the global market.

According to market research firm Omdia on Monday, Samsung Electronics shipped 57.8 million smartphones in the July-September period, down 5 percent from a year earlier. The decline was much milder than the 20 percent drop in global shipments, giving Samsung a market share of about 22.7 percent.

Omdia attributed Samsung’s relative resilience to strong sales of its entry-level and midrange Galaxy A series, which helped the company gain share as rival Android manufacturers faced memory supply constraints and rising component costs.

The Galaxy Z8 series, launched in August, also strengthened Samsung’s position in the premium segment, supported by trade-in offers and device upgrade programs.

Apple Inc. ranked second with 56.5 million units shipped, unchanged from a year earlier, for a market share of about 22.2 percent. Samsung led Apple by 1.3 million units.

Steady demand for the iPhone 17 and advance inventory buildup by distributors ahead of anticipated price increases supported Apple’s shipments. Solid demand in China and North America also offset weakness in major emerging markets.

Xiaomi Corp. retained third place with 30.7 million units, down 29 percent from a year earlier. Its shipments fell 20 percent in China and 28 percent in India.

Oppo Guangdong Mobile Communications Co. (OPPO), including Realme and OnePlus, ranked fourth with 23.4 million units, down 39 percent. Vivo Mobile Communication Co. came fifth with 19.3 million units, down 33 percent.

Global smartphone shipments totaled 254.7 million units in the third quarter, the lowest third-quarter total since 2013.

Omdia said higher component costs had driven up smartphone prices, adding to the financial burden on consumers. Distributors also remained cautious about replenishing inventories ahead of the year-end peak shopping season.

Africa recorded the steepest regional decline, with shipments falling 39 percent. Shipments also dropped by more than 20 percent in Asia-Pacific excluding Greater China, the Middle East and Latin America.

Sanyam Chaurasia, principal analyst at Omdia, said currency depreciation, inflation and rising living costs in emerging markets had weakened consumers’ purchasing power, prompting them to delay smartphone replacements or opt for refurbished devices.