Samsung, Huawei beat Apple anew in 2019 global smartphone shipments

Samsung and Huawei continued to top the global smartphone market in terms of shipment ranking, with US-based Apple trailing behind the two. 

Huawei Nova 5T with the Samsung Galaxy A80

Samsung, Huawei stay on top

According to market research firms—Counterpoint, Canalys, and Strategy Analytics—Samsung maintained its top position, while Chinese firm Huawei was the second to have shipped higher volume of smartphones last year. 

Citing data from Counterpoint showed that Samsung shipped 296.5 million smartphones in 2019, higher than the 291.8 million units a year earlier. Huawei, meanwhile, recorded 238.5 million smartphones, a 16 percent increase compared to 205.3 million in 2018.

Apple, on the other hand, witnessed a decline as it only shipped 196.2 million smartphones versus 2018's 206.3 million.

Chinese companies Xiaomi and Vivo secured the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, according to Counterpoint. 

Figures from Canalys also showed that Samsung and Huawei still defeated Apple in worldwide shipments.

This amid Huawei's issue with the US government. Earlier last year, the Department of Commerce included Huawei on a blacklist, hindering the firm to do business with American companies. It also put Huawei on its "Entity List", signaling the need for US firms to secure a special license to sell products to the Chinese company. 

South Korea's smartphone manufacturer clinched 21.8 percent market share; Huawei had 17.6 percent of the market; while Apple only secured 14.5 percent. 

Based on Canalys, Xiaomi and Oppo completed the top five major smartphones. 

Source: GizmoChina