In the third quarter of 2018, Samsung experienced its biggest decline since Gartner has been tracking smartphone sales globally. Samsung’s smartphone sales declined 14 percent in the third quarter. Samsung’s Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note 9 struggled to revive demand in 2018, and its revamped midtier and entry-tier smartphones continued to face huge competition from top Chinese brands who grew market share in key markets, such as India, and their expansion into regions beyond Asia/Pacific continues to take away opportunities from Samsung.
Apple’s performance notched 0.7 percent growth in the third quarter of 2018. “Apple’s iPhones are facing a saturated premium smartphone market, with slowing growth rates and increased competition in China,” said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner, in a statement. “Apple’s new flagship smartphones, announced in September, will be key to defining Apple’s overall iPhone unit sales in 2018. Initial channel checks suggest that the Xs Max is outselling the Xs model, and we also see the Xs Max as a critical addition for the Chinese market where Apple has been losing share.”
“While 2019 will mark an important year for more R&D and testing/trials of varying 5G technologies, it is unlikely that 5G will be seen in mobile devices in significant volumes before 2020,” said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner, in a statement. “We expect 5G mobile phone sales to total 65 million units in 2020.”
In addition, several vendors, such as Samsung, Huawei and LG, are expected to launch new foldable form factors in 2019. “Beyond the initial interest these devices will be expensive and with usability trade-offs initially,” said Ms. Cozza. “It will take time for vendors to build a strong ecosystem of software, and to get developers on board to generate attractive and innovative user experiences around foldable smartphones.”
Source: Gartner, Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: When 5G is actually ready, Apple will offer 5G iPhones. As usual, when/if Apple makes a foldable iPhone, then the technology will be of acceptable quality, be able to be made in acceptable quantity, and Apple’s implementation will show the also-rans how it should be done.
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Apple VP: iPhone XR has been company’s best-selling model every day since it launched – November 28, 2018
Gartner and IDC couldnt hit the side of a barn if they were stapled to it. If they told me the sky were blue, I would doubt it.
To be honest, I do not see many people buying too many new iPhones or Scamsungs.
How many stores have you surveyed worldwide?
Foldable phones? When folded – half as long and twice and thick. How, exactly, is this a wonderful thing?
No desire here to see folding phones come back but thicker with more battery would be awesome. Loved the feeling of the curved back on the original iPhone. No iPhone since has ever been so comfortable to hold or to put in pocket.
Oh…just fold it the opposite way.;)
Yes, clearly he was folding it wrong.
Realist wrote: “Loved the feeling of the curved back on the original iPhone. No iPhone since has ever been so comfortable to hold or to put in pocket.”
I agree completely. I never once dropped my old 3G S.
In an earlier report they claimed Apple was losing share in China and Apple actually gained share. Now that the iPhone XR is outselling the Max, the numbers will likely be very strong.
An unrelated anecdote. I do a great deal of traveling throughout the country. I have never seen as many new iPhones in use as I have this year. I see them everywhere, on planes, in airports, in bars, restaurants, at bus stops, Uber and Lyft drivers, and even teenagers. I think this fourth quarter (Apple’s first) will be huge. I am buying.
Every APPL store that I visit is packed in Colorado. Unbelievable , But true…
Completely agreed with Realist . My iPhone 5 works better then 6S!