A recent study on Apple’s smartphone sales, carried out by Counterpoint, reveals a surprising level of success in various Asian markets. It turns out that ever since the California tech-giant ushered into the phablet market last September it has been steadily gaining ground in China, Japan and South Korea.
The success of Apple’s latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models was somewhat anticipated in Asia, as traditionally the market has been showing a very high interest in smartphones as a primary means of connectivity, rather than PCs or other tech. The numbers themselves are surprisingly high.
The most dramatic increase, Counterpoint says, comes from Samsung’s own domestic market. The global smartphone leader has naturally kept a tight hold on South Korea, with LG following at second place.
After iPhone 6 hit the market, however Apple has registered a surge in market shares from 15% before the launch to a whopping 33%. This puts the Cupertino-based company firmly in second place and may have even had a detrimental effect on Samsung’s comfortable market position, as the Korean manufacturer experienced a significant drop to around 60%.
The 33% market share is a huge accomplishment on Apple’s side and Tom Kang, research director for mobile devices at Counterpoint, had this to say:
No foreign brand has gone beyond the 20% market share mark in the history of Korea’s smartphone industry. It has always been dominated by the global smartphone leader, Samsung. But iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have made a difference here, denting the competition’s phablet sales.
Apple’s success apparently extends even further into Asia. In Japan, a traditionally strong market for the US company, the latest device lineup brought about a staggering rise to 51% market share from a little below 20%, before the handsets hit stores.
In China, where competition is incredibly tough, Apple has procured a 12% share. This may not sound like much, but it is enough to ensure third place in the market, right behind Xiaomi with 18% and Lenovo with 13%. Furthermore the modest share somewhat shadows the fact that Apple has registered a 45% growth in sales over the same period a year earlier, which again is a huge success story.
Interestingly enough Samsung, currently the global smartphone leader is also having trouble in China. Its position fell drastically and the Korean manufacturer is now forth on the market with 9% of the sales. This is all part of a bigger trend, as Samsung has been fighting with a 37% decline in operating profits for the last three months over the same period a year earlier. Even though this is the fourth consecutive quarter of decline for the Samsung, there is light in the tunnel and analysis states that the free-fall is slowing down.