For the first time, Huawei has shipped more smartphones worldwide in more than a quarter than any other company, according to a new report by analyst firm Canalys. Huawei has long harbored the ambition to surpass Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone seller, and following Canalys’ numbers, that’s exactly what happened during the April to June period of this year.
That doesn’t mean Huawei will remain in the top spot for long, as the results were clearly influenced by the ongoing pandemic. Canalys’ figure of 55.8 million Huawei smartphones shipped is actually down 5 percent on-year, while Samsung is down 30 percent to 53.7 million. More than 70 percent of Huawei’s devices are now sold in China, which has not been as affected by COVID-19 as many of Samsung’s major markets. Samsung, meanwhile, is a small player in China.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20790377/unnamed.jpg)
“Our business has shown exceptional resilience in these difficult times,” Huawei said in a statement to The edge. “In the midst of a period of global economic slowdown and unprecedented challenges, we have continued to grow and expand our leadership position by providing innovative products and expertise to consumers.”
“This is a remarkable result that few people would have predicted a year ago,” says Canalys senior analyst Ben Stanton. “If it weren’t for COVID-19, it wouldn’t have happened. Huawei has taken full advantage of China’s economic recovery to revive its smartphone business. “
Despite the impressive hardware, Huawei phones are now difficult to sell to most consumers outside of China because they cannot use Google services. It’s hard to see the company stay at # 1 once global demand for smartphones picks up; Samsung has just said it expects better sales next quarter due to new flagship phone launches. But Huawei’s continued strength in China shows that external pressures still don’t pose an existential threat to its consumer businesses, at least not at home.
