Counterpoint Research, a market research firm, recently released a monthly sales tracking report of global mobile phone models. The report shows that the global sales penetration rate of 5G smartphones reached 51% in January 2022, surpassing the penetration rate of 4G smartphones for the first time.
From a regional perspective, China, North America and Western Europe are the biggest drivers of 5G mobile penetration growth. Among them, China had the highest 5G penetration rate in the world in January, reaching 84%. The promotion of 5G by Chinese telecom operators and the introduction of 5G smartphones by OEMs to consumers with more price advantages contributed to this growth. 5G smartphone penetration in North America and Western Europe reached 73% and 76%, respectively, due to Apple’s dominance in North America and Western Europe, with sales shares exceeding 50% and 30%, respectively. After Apple switched to 5G with the iPhone 12 series in October 2020, sales penetration of 5G smartphones in North America and Western Europe followed.
From the perspective of subdivided brands, in January 2022, Apple accounted for 37% of the global 5G smartphone market, ranking first, and its share in global 5G mobile phone sales exceeded one-third; Samsung’s global 5G smartphone market share is only 12%; Chinese brands Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo each account for about 10% of global 5G mobile phone sales, with the majority of sales coming from China.
Ranked by annual smartphone revenue, in 2021, Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo will rank among the top five in the world. The popularity of the 5G iPhone 12 and 13 series has allowed Apple to achieve an increase in the average selling price, which is about $825. Samsung’s global market share in the mid-to-high-end segment has increased with the launch of the Galaxy S flagship series and an increase in its share of 5G handsets. Xiaomi’s full-year revenue increased by 49% year-on-year, thanks to the increase in shipments and market share of mid-to-high-end smartphones such as the Mi 11x series, as well as a good performance in the Indian market. OPPO’s 5G smartphones will account for more than 50% of the brand’s annual shipments in 2021, compared to just 28% in 2020, in addition to expanding its reach in mature markets such as China, Japan and parts of Europe, including the Nordic countries force, driving its higher revenue and average selling price. The main drivers of vivo’s revenue growth are the excellent performance of the flagship X60 and S series in the Chinese market, and the product portfolio strategy with a wide range of price points.
Looking forward to 2022, with the easing of the supply of parts and the restoration of the order of the global supply chain and logistics system, the mobile phone market in India, Latin America and Asia Pacific (excluding China) will maintain high growth, Europe will continue to recover, and China Two mature markets and the United States will be flat. Among them, the Chinese brand camps of Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Honor, and realme may be the main growth drivers, while Samsung and Apple will grow moderately and smoothly.
Counterpoint Research associate research director Ethan Qi pointed out that in terms of 5G mobile phone growth, global 5G smartphone shipments are expected to exceed 800 million units in 2022. Thanks to the rapid development of China’s 5G market, 5G smartphone shipments will account for 76% in 2021, and it is expected to exceed 80% in 2022.
