Samsung was world's biggest smartphone brand in 2022 as Chinese brands suffered

2022 has been an unpleasant year for smartphone brands. Rising component prices, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain issues troubled all smartphone brands. The overall market dropped 17% in Q4 2022. However, two smartphone brands managed to increase their market share: Apple and Samsung.

According to a report from market research firm Canalys, Samsung was the world's biggest smartphone brand in 2022. Its global market share was 22% last year, a 2% points improvement compared to 2021. Apple, too, improved its market share from 17% in 2021 to 19% in 2022. Apple (25%) even managed to beat Samsung (20%) in Q4 2022 as it launched the iPhone 14 series in that quarter while Samsung didn't launch any important new phone.

Chinese smartphone brands suffered, with Xiaomi ranking third with a 13% market share, a 1% point drop compared to 2021. Most of Xiaomi's problems were due to challenges in India where the company is fighting the government in a case related to tax evasion. OPPO and Vivo ranked fourth and fifth, respectively with a 9% market share each in 2022. OPPO's market share was 11% in 2021, while Vivo's market share was 10% in 2021.

The market research firm says that the global smartphone market will stay flat in 2023 due to the economic recession. Brands will reportedly approach this year with caution and a focus on profitability and cutting down costs.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy S23 series in Q1 (February 1) of this year and you can already pre-reserve the device to get up to $100 in-store credit. The company will launch Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in Q3 2023. It remains to be seen how well these high-end smartphones do this year.

Asif Iqbal Shaik - Senior Editor

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First Samsung device: T100

Asif is a computer engineer turned technology journalist. He has been using Samsung phones since 2004, and his current smartphone is the Galaxy S21 Ultra. He loves headphones, mechanical keyboards, and PC hardware. When not writing about technology, he likes watching crime and science fiction movies and TV shows.

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