The iPhone was the world's best-selling smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2021

According to a new report, more than one-fifth of every smartphone sold in the world in the fourth quarter of 2021 was an iPhone, against the backdrop of coronavirus and supply chain shortages affecting all manufacturers. Apple, which accounts for 22% of all smartphone sales worldwide, has surpassed Samsung's 20% share to become the most popular manufacturer in the world. New data from research firm Canalys says demand for the iPhone 13 has pushed Apple to the top of the list after finishing second in several quarters.

Canalys' Sanyam Chaurasia said in a statement: "Driven by the iPhone 13's outstanding performance, Apple is back at the top of the smartphone market after three quarters. Apple saw unprecedented iPhone performance in Chinese mainland, with aggressive pricing of its flagship devices keeping its value proposition strong. "

Chaurasia reports: "However, Apple cannot meet the demand for the iPhone due to shortages of key components. In priority markets, [Apple] maintained sufficient delivery times, but in some markets, its customers had to wait to get their latest iPhones. "

According to Nicole Peng, vice president of mobile business at Canalys, the research firm predicts that "it will take several years for major foundries to significantly increase chip capacity." "

"Smartphone brands are already innovating to make the most of their environment," Peng said, "adapting device specifications to existing materials, engaging with emerging chipmakers to ensure new IC sources, concentrating product lines on the best-selling models, and staggering new product launches." These practices give big brands an advantage, and they will remain in place in the short term, as bottlenecks won't ease until the second half of 2022. "

While Apple topped the list of smartphone vendors in the fourth quarter of 2021, these numbers have declined compared to the same period in 2020. Apple's share at the time was 23 percent, while Samsung's was 17 percent.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, Apple and Samsung were followed by Xiaomi, accounting for 12%, OPPO for 9%, and Vivo for 8%.

Apple did not release specific iPhone sales figures. In addition, however, a recent report from Counterpoint Research said that the iPhone 13 is currently the number one best-selling smartphone in China.