Xiaomi Rode 80.5% Unit Growth to No. 2 Smartphone Q2 Share: Gartner

Xiaomi leapfrogged Apple for the No. 2 global smartphone share behind Samsung as all vendors sold 328.8 million handsets to end users in the second quarter, up 10.8% from a year earlier, reported Gartner Wednesday. Xiaomi sold 51.07 million units in the quarter for 80.5% year over year growth, giving it 15.5% share to Samsung’s 17.6%, said Gartner. Apple's share grew to 15% from 12.9% a year earlier, but that 28.3% unit growth couldn’t keep pace with Xiaomi’s. Samsung expanded its 5G smartphone lineup at entry and midrange prices to target growth opportunities in 5G segments in the quarter, said Gartner. Samsung maintained top global share, but its year-over-year unit growth slowed to 5.5% “due to supply constraints and production disruptions,” it said. Top Xiaomi executives on a quarterly earnings call last week rejoiced about their brand’s new No. 2 global standing and said their goal is to overtake Samsung for top share within three years (see 2108260003).