Canalys: Apple tops global smartphone market in Q4 2021

Overall shipments increased by just one per cent due to supply chain issues and soaring COVID-19 cases.

Apple has reclaimed the top spot in the global smartphone market after three quarters, thanks to demand for the iPhone 13.

According to Canalys, Apple took 22pc of worldwide smartphone shipments in Q4 2021 and has climbed ahead of Samsung who took first place in the previous quarter.

Samsung now holds second position with a market share of 20pc, followed by Xiaomi who took a 12pc share this quarter.

Oppo and Vivo came fourth and fifth respectively, taking a 9pc and 8pc share.

Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia said: “Apple saw unprecedented iPhone performance in Mainland China, with aggressive pricing for its flagship devices keeping the value proposition strong. 

“Apple’s supply chain is starting to recover, but it was still forced to cut production in Q4 amid shortages of key components and could not make enough iPhones to meet demand.

“In prioritised markets, it maintained adequate delivery times, but in some markets its customers had to wait to get their hands on the latest iPhones.”