Could Huawei Soon Claim the Top Spot in Global Smartphone Sales?
Key Takeaways
- Huawei overtook Apple to become the world's second-largest smartphone seller in early 2018
- The company achieved a 40.9% sales increase and now holds 15.8% of the global market
- Huawei may challenge Samsung for the top position by the end of 2019
- The brand is expanding its presence in Nepal with mid-range and high-end models
Huawei has emerged as a major force in the global smartphone industry. Historically ranked third, the company surged ahead of Apple in early 2018 to claim the second position worldwide. During the second quarter of that year, Huawei reported a robust 40.9% increase in sales, boosting its market share from 11% in 2017 to 15.8%.
Despite facing restrictions in the United States over security concerns, Huawei continues to thrive, particularly in Asian and European markets. The brand's success can be attributed to several factors, including competitive pricing, innovative designs, and feature-rich flagships such as the P20 Pro, which offers a triple-camera setup at a slightly lower cost than rival premium models.
Although Samsung still leads with a 20.9% global market share, its position is weakening, having declined by 10.4% compared to the previous year. Slower sales of models like the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ have raised questions about Samsung's strategy, prompting speculation that the company may accelerate the release of the Galaxy Note 9 to stay competitive.
Huawei remains confident, projecting over 200 million unit sales by the end of 2018 and expressing optimism about potentially overtaking Samsung as the top seller by late 2019. This ambition appears supported by market trends, including a noticeable shift in Nepal where Huawei, alongside other Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, is gaining visibility and market presence. The company continues to expand its portfolio with offerings such as the Nova 3i in the mid-range and the Nova 3 in the high-end segment, alongside plans to introduce rumored features in its upcoming Mate 20 series that could further differentiate it from competitors.
