The latest numbers for Q4 2014 from Strategy Analytics show Apple and Samsung as tied in the race to be the world’s largest smartphone maker. The numbers, based on global shipments, show both Apple and Samsung as having shipped 74.5 million smartphones for the timeframe of October through December.
Apple’s number is an official figure from its financial results, while Samsung’s number is an estimate since the company stopped reporting smartphone shipments a few years ago. The research firm adds that Apple and Samsung were last tied in smartphone market share in Q4 2011.
Strong demand for both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus led to a record-breaking first quarter of Apple’s fiscal year. The larger device attracted more new customers and Android converts than ever before.
Samsung reported a 27% drop in quarterly earnings today, caused by tough competition from both Apple and Chinese upstarts, such as Xiaomi and Huawei.
Strategy Analytics numbers show global smartphone shipments grew 31% annually, with an estimated 1.3 billion smartphones shipped for 2014. Strong growth was experienced in the emerging markets of India, China, and Africa. Apple showed good momentum in China, with online sales in the region that outpaced the previous five years combined.
When all phone sales are included, Samsung did outpace Apple, 95 million to 74.5 million. (Apple sells only smartphones, while Samsung still sells feature phones in its lineup.) Apple’s numbers were good enough to put it in second place ahead of Microsoft, who shipped 50.2 million units for the period.
