Xiaomi Outshines Apple to Grab #2 Spot in Q2 2021 Worldwide Smartphone Sales

Xiaomi Overtakes Apple in Q2 2021 Worldwide Smartphone Sales, Registers 80.5% Growth

Xiaomi’s worldwide smartphone sales overtook Apple in the second quarter, placing Xiaomi at the No. 2 position for the first time, according to Gartner. Xiaomi registered 80.5 percent growth in its smartphone sales owing to a stronger online presence and fast expansion in the global markets beyond Asia/Pacific led by investments in retail channels and partnerships with communication service providers (CSPs). While Apple sales grew 28.3 percent year over year, its market share remained the same as compared to the previous quarter.

Samsung expanded its 5G smartphone lineup at entry and midrange prices to target growth opportunities in 5G segments in the second quarter of 2021. The company maintained the No. 1 position among the top five global smartphone vendors. While it continues to be a market leader, Samsung’s year over year growth slowed due to supply constraints and production disruptions.

Other Chinese smartphone vendors Oppo and Vivo grew 42.4 percent and 41.6 percent, respectively, in the second quarter of 2021. Aggressively priced mid-tier smartphones, a wider distribution network and robust marketing campaigns in Western Europe boosted the growth of Oppo. Vivo is continuing to expand its market presence beyond Asia/Pacific beginning with a focus on Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Worldwide Top 5 Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 2Q21 (Thousands of Units)

Vendor	2Q21 Units	2Q21 Market Share (%)	2Q20 Units	2Q20 Market Share (%)
Samsung	57,748.4	17.6	54,759.4	18.4
Xiaomi	51,073.1	15.5	28,288.6	9.5
Apple	49,258.2	15.0	38,386.1	12.9
OPPO	33,634.1	10.2	23,612.1	8.0
Vivo	32,224.0	9.8	22,751.5	7.7
Others	104,930.6	31.9	129,141.9	43.5
Total	328,868.5	100	296,939.6	100

Due to rounding, some figures may not add up to the totals shown.

As per the recent Gartner study, global smartphone sales to end users totaled 328.8 million units in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 10.8 percent year over year. Overall, global mobile phone sales grew 10.2 percent despite supply constraints due to Covid-19 related production disruption and component shortages.

“Reinforced shelter-in-place instructions and factory shut-downs in India and Vietnam due to the second wave of Covid-19, along with closure of retail businesses and restrictions on online deliveries affected smartphone sales negatively in the second quarter after a strong start in beginning of 2021,” said Anshul Gupta, Senior Research Director, Gartner. “However, regions with higher penetration of 5G connectivity saw strong demand for 5G smartphones and were growth drivers for leading smartphone vendors.”