The launch of the iPhone 12’s 5G series propelled Apple to No. 1 in the fourth quarter, Gartner said in a statement on Monday. The last time that Apple was the main supplier of smartphones was in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to data from Gartner, which track sales to consumers.
Apple (AAPL), which launched its 5G line in mid-October, sold nearly 80 million smartphones in the last three months of 2020, an increase of 15% over the same period last year.
The company also shipped its largest number of iPhones to distributors in a single quarter, at 81.8 million, according to research published by Singapore’s Canalys at the end of last month. By that measure, Apple surpassed Samsung in fourth quarter sales since 2017.
The last three months of the year are usually the strongest for Apple, because it usually launches new iPhones in September. This was postponed last year until October, as a result of supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Samsung typically updates its Galaxy S phones in February, contributing to much stronger performance in the first quarter. This year, the company announced new models a month earlier.
Apple’s double-digit sales growth has been achieved despite a shrinking market. Global smartphone sales fell 5.4% in the fourth quarter, according to Gartner, amid rising unemployment and reduced consumer spending due to the pandemic. Smartphone sales decreased 12.5% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
“Even with consumers being cautious in their spending and postponing some discretionary purchases, 5G smartphones and professional camera features encouraged some end users to buy new smartphones or update their current smartphones in the quarter,” said Anshul Gupta, senior research director from Gartner.
“The iPhone 12 is a hit,” added Canalys analyst Vincent Thielke in last month’s report. “Apple is better positioned than its competitors in 5G, being strongly targeted at developed markets and the sales channels of mobile operators.”
Samsung remains at the top of the year
Samsung (SSNLF) sold 62 million smartphones in the fourth quarter. The company maintained its position as the largest global smartphone maker throughout the year, despite a 15% drop in sales and competition from Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo, Gartner said.
Huawei, which overtook Samsung in the second quarter of 2020, went on to suffer the biggest drop among the top five smartphone suppliers, causing it to lose its number two position to Apple throughout the year. The brand ranked fourth globally in the last three months of the year, said Gartner.
U.S. government sanctions, which prevented the use of some popular Google apps and services on their smartphones, hampered sales, Gartner said. The company announced that was selling your the budget smartphone business, Honor, in November, which may further hurt smartphone sales in the future.
Gartner sees global smartphone sales rebounding this year. “The growing demand for affordable 5G smartphones outside China will boost smartphone sales in 2021,” said Gupta.
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