Smartphone shipment data from market analysis firm Canalys suggests a less than rosy picture for Apple. Apple’s shipments to the United States fell by 11% from the same period last year while Samsung’s increased by 38% year on year. That might signal bad news for Apple but we need to temper that data with what’s actually been going on in the smartphone market.
Canalys’ data only looks to the USA but it showed some interesting trends.
Apple’s manufacturing base is diversifying. A year ago, almost two-thirds of the iPhones shipped to the USA came from China. That has dipped to just a quarter of shipments with the rest coming from India and Vietnam. Interesting, 2% of iPhones come from “Other”. Whether the ‘Other’ category becomes larger over time and is named more specifically will give us further insight into how Apple is diversifying its manufacturing base.
While iPhone shipments took a hit, it’s important to note that with new iPhones coming in just a few weeks that buyers are likely holding back. And during this relative lull in Apple’s sales, Samsung has released several new models. So, Samsung customers looking to upgrade have had something new and shiny to buy while iPhone customers are in a holding pattern.
All of this is happening in a market that is more or less saturated. Overall market growth sits at just 1%. No doubt, the economic uncertainty in the USA, with threats, retractions and flux in tariffs is having an impact on spending patterns and where products are being manufactured and imported.
In the mean time, Apple holds about half of the smartphone market in the USA despite its share dripping from 56% to 49%. Samsung has improved to 38% with Motorola emerging as a major challenger.
iOS continues to hold over half the smartphone market in Australia – which is about the same level we saw in the USA before the recent data from Canalys.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.