The smartphone industry set a global sales record in the first quarter of 2021 as most of the world slowly emerged from the pandemic. However, one company dominates both the sales and volume charts.
According to Counterpoint, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 Pro were the top smartphones in terms of revenue share in the first quarter of 2021. Apple dominated the top ten list, with five smartphones together accounting for 38% of sales. Apple’s dominance is understandable: three iPhone 12 models are priced at ~ $ 700 and up. Counterpoint also credits “pent-up demand” and a later launch for the line’s success.
The top-selling Android smartphone was a Samsung flagship. The Galaxy S21 Ultra took fifth place and accounted for 3% of sales. The Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus were also featured, scoring 3% together.
Interestingly, we can also find a Huawei device in the table. The expensive Huawei Mate 40 Pro was the eighth most lucrative phone in terms of revenue sharing in the first quarter of 2021, a stark contrast to Huawei’s recent misfortune in the smartphone market as a whole.
Xiaomi’s budget phones are impressive
Apple also dominates the best-selling phones by volume tables. The iPhone 12 topped that cake with a 5% share in the first quarter of 2021. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 11 followed closely behind.
In particular, the best-selling Android phone in terms of volume in the first quarter of 2021 was not a Samsung, but a Redmi. The Redmi 9A and the Redmi 9 together took up 3% of the volume share in the quarter and took fifth and sixth place respectively. These models were very popular in China and India per counterpoint. The Redmi Note 9 was also chartered and underlines the dominance of Xiaomi in the sub-150 segment.
The only other Android OEM to do a chart was Samsung with three medium-sized Galaxy A entries. The Galaxy A12 was the company’s biggest seller with a seventh place and a 1% share of the volume. The Galaxy A21S and A31 also came in ninth and tenth, respectively. These devices were borne by demand in India, LATAM and MEA, according to Counterpoint.
While these charts don’t tell the full story of the global smartphone industry, it does suggest that Apple continues to make more money per device than its Android competitors.