What you need to know
- Samsung is leading smartphone shipments in North America in the third quarter of 2021.
- Apple is in second place with a 37% market share.
- Despite being behind Samsung, Apple grew its market share by 5% year-over-year.
Apple is still trying to beat out Samsung for the top spot in North America.
According to new data from analytics firm Strategy Analytics, Samsung still grabbed the number one spot when it came to market share in North America in the third quarter of 2021. Apple came in second with a 37% market share, a 5% increase year-over-year.
Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics, said that the company has overtaken Apple who had led the brand over the last three quarters.
"Samsung is the leading smartphone vendor in North America, with annual shipment growth of 5 percent. Samsung has clawed back share following three quarters when it was topped by Apple. Samsung has capitalized on the collapse of LG, which in the year-ago quarter held a 14 percent share in the North American region but has shuttered operations from Q3 2021. The combination of leading technology and a broad product portfolio have made Samsung smartphones, such as its premium Galaxy S21 series and affordable A-series the most popular Android devices in the region."
Linda Sui, Senior Director at Strategy Analytics, said that Apple's growth would have been even higher and potentially outdone Samsung once again if it had not been for component supply issues.
"Apple captured 2nd place in smartphone shipments in the North America region in Q3 2021. Apple's newly introduced iPhone 13 5G smartphones drove a late Q3 2021 surge in shipments, which along with its older iPhone 12 models drove positive annual growth of 9 percent annually in the 3rd quarter of 2021. Apple's growth would have been even stronger were it not for component shortages and manufacturing disruption in Asia that limited its ability to meet demand for its new iPhone 13 series smartphones."
Apple recently announced the iPhone 13 lineup. The latest phones feature a new processor, cameras, and improvements to battery life.
Bottom line: The iPhone 13 is the best iPhone for most people, with impressive new cameras and notable improvements to battery life. Without all the bells and whistles of the Pro line, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are still powerhouses that'll keep owners happy for years to come.
