After disappointing sales of the Galaxy S20 series last year, Samsung bounced back with the Galaxy S21. It was reported that Galaxy S21 outsold its predecessor in the US, and sales have been 30% higher in South Korea. Its Q1 2021 earnings also point towards better sales of the Galaxy S21 series. However, the company still seems to have a huge problem in the smartphone segment, especially since the launch of the iPhone 12 series.
According to a new report from market research firm Counterpoint Research, there were only two Galaxy devices in the list of top 10 best-selling smartphones in the world for January 2021. The Galaxy A21s was at the seventh position, while the Galaxy A31 was at the ninth position. Apple grabbed six positions in the list, including the top four positions. The iPhone 12 was the world's best-selling smartphone, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and the iPhone SE 2020 ranked second, third, fourth, eighth, and tenth, respectively.
Apple and Xiaomi are eating into Samsung's market share
Even Xiaomi fared better than Samsung in the global smartphone market. The Redmi 9A and the Redmi 9 were the fifth and sixth best-selling smartphones globally in January 2021. Despite Xiaomi being absent from the North American smartphone market, its phones ranked better than Samsung smartphones. And that shows how serious the problem is for the South Korean smartphone giant. Xiaomi seems to be gradually eating into Samsung's market share in the Middle East and Africa.
In the US, nine out of ten teens reportedly own an iPhone, and 90% of those users prefer upgrading to an iPhone. Hence, Samsung is going out of its way and trying to turn some iPhone users towards Galaxy smartphones. The company recently released a web app called iTest that shows iPhone users a taste of the Galaxy experience. The website allows users to experience One UI, Samsung's stock apps, UI customization, and more.
Samsung has also massively improved its Galaxy A series smartphones this year with newer designs, powerful internals, better cameras, and 5G connectivity. The South Korean firm is looking to attract users of Honor smartphones in markets like Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Hopefully, the company will pull it back together with its improved Galaxy S and Galaxy A series smartphones and upcoming foldable smartphones in the pipeline.
