IDC has released their estimates on worldwide mobile phone sales for the second quarter of 2013, and they show Apple’s iPhone posting its second-lowest growth in four years with 20% year-over-year growth, compared to 52.3% growth for the market as a whole.
IDC, via MacRumors:
Apple posted its second-lowest year-over-year iPhone growth rate in almost four years as some buyers presumably held off on iPhone purchases in advance of an expected next-generation device launch this fall. Nonetheless, the 31.2 million iPhones Apple shipped last quarter was impressive as its flagship iPhone 5 model, which has been in the market for three quarters, was faced with additional global competition in the form of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and HTC’s critically-acclaimed One models. Apple’s growth is likely to accelerate globally assuming it launches a lower-cost iPhone and continues to penetrate prepaid markets in the quarters to come.
Apple did maintain a hold on the second slot for smartphone makers behind Samsung. Other competitors, such as LG, Lenovo, and ZTE failed to grab at least 6% of the market in the quarter.
The growth of smartphones benefited Apple in the quarter, as it held onto the number three slot in total mobile phone sales. Overall unit shipments were up 5.2% for the Cupertino company, and overall market share rose 0.8%, as the company grabbed an overall 7.2% market share in the quarter.
