The coronavirus pandemic hit the smartphone market hard at the beginning of 2020, but while global demand gradually recovered during the year’s second half, overall sales were unsurprisingly down from 2019.
Will Apple keep Samsung at bay?
Galaxy S21 Ultra (left), iPhone 12 Pro Max (right)
5G up, Huawei down
Speaking of 5G, it’s worth pointing out that this new report is largely in sync with many previous reports of a similar nature, anticipating a massive boost in sales of mobile devices supporting “next-gen” connectivity. We’re talking more than 100 percent year-on-year growth, from around 280 million units in 2020 to over 600 million in 2021.
Naturally, all of the world’s major smartphone vendors will make their contribution to this incredible progress, expanding and improving all of their 5G-capable product portfolios to reach more places and cover more market segments than before at a wider and wider price range.
While it’s hard to anticipate who will join Apple and Samsung on the global 5G podium this year, Xiaomi should comfortably sit in third place overall as far as the entire mobile industry is concerned for the October 2020 – March 2021 timeframe.