• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechThe Mobile Executive

Threats to Samsung and Apple Phone Dominance Rising Worldwide

By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 13, 2016, 12:18 PM ET
Mobile World Congress - Day 1
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Visitors look at the new Samsung Galaxy S7 on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on February 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The annual Mobile World Congress hosts some of the world's largest communications companies, with many unveiling their latest phones and wearables gadgets. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Photograph by David Ramos — Getty Images

Samsung and Apple remain the two largest smartphone sellers in the world, but threats are rising.

Chinese phone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi are grabbing market share in fast-growing developing markets, while consumers are becoming more reluctant to switch brands in the slower-growing developed markets, according to market research firm Kantar Worldpanel.

“Anyone still focusing on these two giant competitors, however, is missing the bigger picture,” Kantar analyst Lauren Guenveur wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. “With Huawei aiming to overtake Apple as the second-largest smartphone vendor by 2020, and rumors swirling about Google entering the handset market on its own, Apple and Samsung should stop worrying so much about each other and take a look around them.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

In the United States, Samsung (SSNLF) accounted for 37% of smartphones sold from March through May and Apple (AAPL) captured a 29% share. But looking at the flagship models revealed a closer race. Samsung’s various Galaxy S7 variations grabbed 16% of sales versus an almost 15% share for models in Apple’s iPhone 6S line, Kantar said.

Among those planning to update their phone in the next year, 88% of current Apple users in the U.S. say they will buy another iPhone and 86% of Samsung owners want to stick with the brand.

In China, however, Samsung had just a 9% share of sales and Apple had almost 20%, Kantar said. Local manufacturer Huawei beat them both, grabbing almost 26% of the market, while Xiaomi had 19%. Up and coming phone maker Oppo quadrupled its share to 8%.

In India, Samsung is leading followed by Micromax and Xiaomi, Kantar said without giving specific market share figures. Both Apple and Huawei have also targeted the market for growth.

For more about Apple’s upcoming iPhone improvements, watch:

“Apple and Samsung have less to worry about from each other going forward—and much more to worry about from other competitors, and the changing landscape,” Guenveur wrote. “In that landscape, what remains to be seen is how sales in those developing markets in Latin and South America and India buffet the standing of the big three brands.”

About the Author
By Aaron Pressman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

InvestingHealth
Private equity is eying Asia’s healthcare funding gap as countries get wealthier and older
By Angelica AngMarch 29, 2026
6 hours ago
AIRobots
Amazon buys Fauna Robotics, maker of the Sprout humanoid robot that can dance, pick up toys, and go on a stroll
By The Associated PressMarch 29, 2026
7 hours ago
iran
Cybersecuritycyber
‘There are a lot more attacks happening that aren’t being reported’: Iran’s cyber response creeps across the globe
By David Klepper and The Associated PressMarch 29, 2026
11 hours ago
lanzone
AIYahoo
Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on ‘the white whale of turnarounds’ and turning to AI—licensed from Anthropic
By Michael Liedtke and The Associated PressMarch 29, 2026
11 hours ago
sony
PoliticsSony PlayStation
Sony raises PlayStation price another $100, second price hike in under a year
By Matt Ott and The Associated PressMarch 29, 2026
12 hours ago
big tech
EnvironmentData centers
Big tech was embracing clean energy and turning a corner on climate change. Then AI data centers arrived
By Tammy Webber and The Associated PressMarch 29, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

Europe
413,793 KitKat bars stolen: 'Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue'
By Fortune EditorsMarch 28, 2026
1 day ago
Energy
Saudi pipeline to bypass Hormuz hits 7 million barrel goal
By Fortune EditorsMarch 28, 2026
1 day ago
Energy
Elon Musk warns the U.S. could soon be producing more chips than we can turn on. And China doesn’t have the same issue
By Fortune EditorsMarch 29, 2026
13 hours ago
Economy
U.S. debt suddenly draws weaker demand as $10 trillion must be rolled over this year amid Iran war. 'The bond market remains undefeated'
By Fortune EditorsMarch 28, 2026
1 day ago
Success
She left a Silicon Valley VC to solve a problem left untouched for 88 years. Now her bra brand is the fastest-growing at Nordstrom
By Fortune EditorsMarch 29, 2026
17 hours ago
Energy
Russia was expecting a windfall from soaring oil prices, but relentless Ukrainian drone attacks are devastating nearly half its export capacity
By Fortune EditorsMarch 29, 2026
10 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.