IDC released statistics on the global smart phone market in the first quarter of 2018. The results show that in the first quarter of this year global smart phone shipments were 334.3 million units, a decrease of 2.9% from 344.4 million units in the first quarter of last year.
In the top five vendors (Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO), Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi have increased their shipments, while OPPO and all other smaller companies have shipped less.
At the same time, the market share of the top four manufacturers has increased. Samsung's market share has increased by 0.1 percentage points, from 23.3% to 23.4%, even if its shipments decreased by 1.9 million to 78.2 million. Samsung usually accounts for about 1/5 market share, this ratio remains unchanged.
Apple's market share increased by 0.9 percentage points, from 14.7% to 15.6%, thanks to the iPhone's slight growth. Huawei's market share increased by 1.8 percentage points to 11.8%. Xiaomi's market share jumped by 4.1% to 8.4. %, OPPO slipped 0.4% (to 7.1%).
Overall, China's three major manufacturers are eroding the monopoly position of Samsung and Apple. With the intensified competition, more integration is expected to occur. Companies outside these five major companies lost a total of 6.5% market share. Chinese companies continue Providing high-value equipment at low cost, market leaders Apple and Samsung are also launching multiple product responses. Most importantly, consumers no longer seem to be obsessed with upgrading to the latest and best products.
IDC Research Director Melissa Chau said: 'Global and Chinese smart phone consumers are buying more high-end smart phones, but the number of smart phones is no longer as much as before, resulting in a decline in shipments. From the perspective of the dollar value, the smart phone market is still climbing and will continue to grow in the next few years as consumers increasingly rely on these devices to meet most of their computing needs.