Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 362.9 million smartphones worldwide in the third quarter of 2016 (3Q16). According to IDC, smartphone volumes were up 1.0% compared to 3Q15 when vendors shipped 359.3 million units.
Smartphone shipments grew 5.3% from 344.7 million in the second quarter of 2016. IDC notes the totals for Samsung exclude Galaxy Note 7 shipments for both recalled and unsold devices in 3Q16). The top five vendors remain unchanged from last quarter despite double- and triple-digit growth from the leading Chinese vendors Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo.
Samsung continued to grab the number one spot by shipping 72.5 million devices at a market share of 20%. The continued success of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge helped maintain volumes in 3Q16 despite the recall and negative publicity of the Note 7. Apple came in second with 45.5 million shipment and 12.5% market share, down 5.3% from the 48 million units last year. Huawei shipped 33.6 million units, up a notable 23% from last year. While Oppo and Vivo came fourth and fifth with 7% and 5.8% market share respectively.
Melissa Chau, associate research director, Mobile Devices said,
Samsung’s market dominance in the third quarter was unchallenged in the short term even with this high-profile Galaxy Note 7 recall, but the longer term impact on the Samsung brand remains to be seen. If the first recall was a stumble for Samsung, the second recall of replacement devices face-planted the Note series. In a market that is otherwise maturing, Christmas has come early for vendors looking to capitalize with large-screened flagship alternatives like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus and Google Pixel.
Anthony Scarsella, research manager, Mobile Phones, said,
With Samsung’s Note 7 finally laid to rest, both Samsung and other vendors will need to invest both time and money into properly testing devices to avoid a future incident of this proportion. The recall of the Note 7 represents an industry-wide wake-up call that will undoubtedly lead to a more vigorous testing and certification process moving forward.