The global smartphone market posted positive growth for the first time in four years, with annual shipments rising 4.5 per cent to 1.39 billion units in 2021 and Apple posting record sales, a study by Counterpoint Research showed.
The Hong Kong-based research firm said that despite the first expansion since 2017, shipments remained below pre-Covid-19 levels, and the recovery could have been better if not for the pandemic's effects and the supply chain crunch that was severely felt in the second half of 2021, most notably in the semiconductor industry.
“The major brands navigated the component shortages comparatively better and hence managed to grow by gaining share from long-tail brands,” said Harmeet Singh Walia, senior researcher at Counterpoint Research.
The global smartphone industry is expected to be hindered in 2022 by supply chain disruptions and component shortages, with new variants of coronavirus further exacerbating the situation. Any improvement would be felt in the second half, the International Data Corporation told The National in December.
Still, Apple shipped a record 237.9 million iPhones in 2021, which was more than 17 per cent of total shipments, Counterpoint said. That was almost 3 per cent better than its previous best of 231.5 million units in 2015 and more than 18 per cent better than the 201.1 million units shipped last year.
Apple on Thursday reported record quarterly sales and net profit in its 2022 fiscal first quarter, and was one of the biggest gainers during the pandemic thanks to its services portfolio.
South Korea's Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest mobile phone maker and perennial market leader, remained on top last year, with 270.7 million shipments – almost a fifth of the total for 2021 but good for only 6 per cent growth from the previous year.
Samsung on Thursday reported a 53 per cent surge in fourth-quarter operating profit, as record sales helped the company rebound despite supply chain disruptions. It is also scheduled to announce its latest Galaxy S22 smartphone range on February 9.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, Apple grew 8 per cent and Samsung was flat compared to the same three-month period in 2020.
The biggest market share growth came from Chinese manufacturers, with Xiaomi improving 31 per cent on 190.4 million units shipped in 2021. Last August, Counterpoint reported that the Beijing-based company overtook Samsung to be the number one smartphone manufacturer globally in June, though Samsung still topped in the second quarter.
Oppo and Vivo, both subsidiaries of Dongguan-based BBK Electronics, shipped 143.2 million and 131.3 million units, respectively, to grow 28 per cent and 21 per cent in 2021.
However, despite the strength of its home-grown companies, the smartphone market in China continued to decline because of supply issues caused by the ongoing component shortages, as well as demand-side issues resulting from lengthening replacement cycles, Counterpoint said.
Sales in the world's biggest smartphone market declined 9 per cent year-on-year for the third consecutive quarter in the three-month period ended December 31, Counterpoint said. For the full year, sales dropped 2 per cent, the fourth straight year of declines.
Counterpoint on January 15 also reported that Apple was the top smartphone brand in China in terms of sales units and revenue for six consecutive weeks to the end of 2021.
Despite the threat of a resurgence towards the end of last year, and with supply issues hopefully coming to an end towards the middle of this year, there is reason to be optimistic for good growth in 2022 as a whole
Jan Stryjak,
research director at Counterpoint
Outside the top five, Lenovo-owned Motorola Mobility was the fastest-growing brand in the top 10 based on annual global shipments, taking advantage of LG’s exit in the US. Realme, another subsidiary of China's BBK, entered the top five Android original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) globally for the first time as its cheaper 5G strategy started to pay off.
Honor, the former budget brand of Huawei, finished its first full year as an independent OEM with a ranking among the top 10 globally, and is already among the top five OEMs in China where it benefited from the reinstatement of its relationship with its suppliers since its separation from Huawei, Counterpoint said. Honor recently announced its first foldable smartphone, the Magic V.
While 2021 was challenging, the world slowly moving on from the pandemic presents an opportunity for further growth in the smartphone market, said Jan Stryjak, research director at Counterpoint.
“Despite the threat of a resurgence towards the end of last year, and with supply issues hopefully coming to an end towards the middle of this year, there is reason to be optimistic for good growth in 2022 as a whole,” he added.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The years Ramadan fell in May
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Switching%20sides
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<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE-based players
Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim
Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
Company%20profile
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Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
