Samsung regained its position as the world’s largest smartphone maker in the first quarter of 2015. Apple and Samsung were previously tied as the largest smartphone makers in the fourth quarter of 2014. Apple had rode the strength of the sales of its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets during the holiday season. (Strategy Analytics)
Samsung recaptured the number one position with 83.2 million smartphones shipped in the first quarter, while Apple trailed in second with 61.2 million smartphones shipped during the three-month period ending March. Lenovo-Motorola finished a distant third with 18.8 million smartphones shipped, followed by Huawei at 17.3 million and 164.5 million smartphones shipped by other vendors.
Although Samsung regained first place, their global share of the smartphone market dropped to 24.1% in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 31.2% in the year-ago quarter. Apple’s global smartphone market inched up 2.4% in Q1 2015, with 17.7%, compared to 15.3% a year ago. The global smartphone market grew 21% year over year, with 345 million units shipped in Q1 2015.
