The latest report from the International Data Corporation (IDC) shows a modest 1% year-over-year growth for global smartphone shipments during the April-June (Q2) period. This is traditionally one of the tougher periods for smartphone makers, and there were several macroeconomic factors that affected global demand. Economic uncertainty, including tariff volatility, forex instability, unemployment and inflation, combined with weak demand in China, all contributed to flat growth.
Going into the actual breakdown by brand, Samsung led the way with an estimated 58 million shipments and a 19.7% market share. The recently launched new Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56 models were key growth drivers for the brand.
Apple came in second place with an estimated 46.4 million shipments and 15.7% market share. Cupertino saw double-digit growth in emerging markets but also experienced a 1% drop in sales in China, despite being the leading brand in China during the 618 e-commerce festival.
Xiaomi was the third leading brand on the global stage with 42.5 million shipments and a 14.4% market share, which contributed to a net 0.6% year-over-year change. Vivo came in fourth with 27.1 million shipments and 9.2% market share, while Transsion (Infinix, Tecno, itel) occupied the fifth spot with 25.1 million quarterly shipments and an 8.5% market share.
Despite the ongoing economic hardships and uncertainties, the positive growth in global shipments suggests that the global smartphone market is primed for growth in the coming months.