All of the other Chinese smartphone brands have benefitted from Huawei’s demise (except Honor of course) but none more than Xiaomi, and today’s news confirms this fact yet again.
According to a report from Canalys, Xiaomi is now the second largest smartphone based on worldwide shipments in the second quarter of 2021. The Beijing-based smartphone vendor posted a pretty stunning growth rate, up 83% year-over-year for the quarter capturing 17% of the global market. Just 2% less of Samsung’s 19% global market share.
“Xiaomi is growing its overseas business rapidly,” said Canalys Research Manager Ben Stanton. “For example, its shipments increased more than 300% in Latin America, 150% Africa and 50% in Western Europe.
Apple currently ranks third at 14% while fellow Chinese manufacturers OPPO and Vivo round out the top five at 10% a piece. Unsurprisingly, Huawei is nowhere to be seen among these top companies majorly due to the recent blacklisting setbacks and, cut off access to certain U.S mobile products including Google’s Android. It’s quite a massive drop considering the company itself took over Apple in 2019.
Canalys further cites aggressive pricing as a big factor in Xiaomi’s success, especially contrasted to Samsung and Apple’s premium priced offerings. Apparently, the average selling price of Xiaomi phones is about 40% to 75% cheaper compared with Samsung and Apple respectively.
Research Manager Ben Stanton added Xiaomi’s major priority this year should be increasing sales of its high -end devices such as the Mi 11 Ultra, if it wishes to claim top spot. A feat that could prove challenging as OPPO and Vivo are practically striving for the same and willing to spend more on conventional marketing.
Smartphone shipments around the world grew by 12% last quarter which is obviously at the expense of Huawei and so far, Xiaomi appears to be the biggest beneficiary.
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Alfred Gitonga is a passionate tech news writer with a deep interest in smartphones and related technologies. He is a staff writer at Mobitrends.co.ke.
