IT House reported on February 16 that Counterpoint has released its latest research report. Smartphone shipments in China in the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased 11% year-on-year. Competition among manufacturers is fierce, with Apple ranking first and reaching its highest market share ever.
The data shows that in the fourth quarter of 2021, Apple's performance in the Chinese market is still strong, with a market share of more than 20%; while the glory shipment ranking rose to second for the first time after independence, the Android camp first, and continued to maintain a strong momentum at the beginning of 2022, with a weekly sales share of 17% in January, a record high.
In addition, vivo, OPPO, xiaomi ranked three or four or five, each taking 16% share, while Huawei, Samsung, Meizu and so on are others. Analysts believe that major mobile phone brands continue to increase the competition for high-end smartphones, and the Android camp may regain part of the market share in the high-end market in 2022.
According to the latest data from Counterpoint Research Market Monitor, after the return of Honor, its market share rose to second place for the first time in the Chinese market in the fourth quarter, doubling from the same period last year.
▲ Source: Counterpoint Market Monitor (Xiaomi includes Redmi; OPPO does not include OnePlus; vivo includes iQOO)
It is said that thanks to the lower starting price than before, the iPhone 13 series dominates the high-end market. Since the return of Honor, high-end products such as the Honor 50 series have continued to explode, maintaining the sales champion in the $200-599 price segment for five consecutive months after listing; while Vivo's fourth-quarter shipments fell by 14% year-on-year, with a market share of 16%. Xiaomi ranks fifth, and the share ranking continues to decline.
Counterpoint expects Honor to continue its strong growth in 2022. It is worth mentioning that the weekly sales data shows that Honor's sales in the last two weeks of January increased by 32% compared with the previous two weeks. In the week of January 24-30, its sales market share reached 17%, a record high.
The war on the high-end market escalates
Counterpoint analysts believe that although overall shipments in the Chinese market have declined in 2021, major mobile phone brand manufacturers are still expanding their high-end product portfolios.
In 2022, OEMs including Honor, Vivo, and OPPO will continue to try to expand in the high-end market. In addition to folding products, the Android camp will continue to launch more high-end smartphones this year, which is expected to regain some of the high-end market share from Apple.
The battle for the high-end market will not be limited to the Chinese market. OEMs including Honor, Vivo, OPPO and Xiaomi are accelerating the introduction of their high-end products to the global stage. The Western European market has a large number of high-end smartphone user groups, and the region will become a key overseas market for these manufacturers to lay out high-end products. Success in the Western European market has also helped Chinese mobile phone brand manufacturers to enhance their overseas brand image.
In March, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, was a golden opportunity to debut the European market. Mobile phone brand manufacturers, including Honor, Vivo and OPPO, will also bring their latest high-end products and cutting-edge technology to the MWC.