At the close of 2021, Apple once again stood at the top of the global smartphone market, a position it had lost for three quarters, as the research firm Canalys tallied fourth-quarter shipments. The quiet force behind the shift was the iPhone 13, a release that drew eager buyers across many countries even as a scarcity of chips rationed how many could be made. In a season that usually roars with holiday demand, the industry moved more cautiously, and the rankings bent toward whichever maker could keep its promises to customers. The coming months will tell whether the easing of that chip scarci
Apple Reclaims Top Smartphone Spot in Q4 2021 as iPhone 13 Drives Record Shipments
Apple could not make enough iPhones to meet demand
At the close of 2021, Apple once again stood at the top of the global smartphone market, a position it had lost for three quarters, as the research firm Canalys tallied fourth-quarter shipments. The quiet force behind the shift was the iPhone 13, a release that drew eager buyers across many countries even as a scarcity of chips rationed how many could be made. In a season that usually roars with holiday demand, the industry moved more cautiously, and the rankings bent toward whichever maker could keep its promises to customers. The coming months will tell whether the easing of that chip scarcity allows the crown to be held.
Apple finished 2021 as the world's largest smartphone seller once again, according to new shipment figures from Canalys. In the fourth quarter it took 22% of global shipments, edging past Samsung at 20%. It was the first time in three quarters that Apple had held the top spot, and the reason was the iPhone 13, launched in September to heavy pre-orders and a significant upgrade over its predecessors.
The success came under real strain. Supply chain problems and a chipset shortage forced Apple to cut production and reshuffle its plans, diverting chips away from iPads to keep iPhone 13 output going. The company could not build enough phones to meet demand. Where it had prioritised markets, delivery times stayed reasonable, but elsewhere customers had to wait for the latest models.
China played a large role, with unprecedented iPhone performance there, helped by aggressive pricing on flagship devices. Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia noted that Apple's supply chain was beginning to recover, though key component shortages still forced cuts in the quarter.
The broader market was subdued. Fourth quarter shipments usually peak with the holidays, but this year overall growth was only 1%, as COVID-19 resurgences and supply problems hit manufacturers across the board. Xiaomi felt it most, falling from first to third with 12%, while Oppo and Vivo slipped to 9% and 8%.
Looking ahead, Canalys expects shipments to hold steady through 2022. The chip shortage is expected to ease by mid-year, and that easing is the development to watch for any shift in the rankings.
Apple finished 2021 as the world's largest smartphone seller again, according to new shipment figures from the research firm Canalys. In the fourth quarter, the company took 22% of global smartphone shipments, edging past its longtime rival Samsung, which held 20%. It is the first time in three quarters that Apple has held the top spot.
The driver was the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. It was among Apple's highest-profile releases in some time, a significant upgrade that drew heavy pre-orders around the world. Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia said Apple was back on top after three quarters, thanks to a stellar performance from the new phone.
The result came despite real constraints. Apple was dealing with supply chain problems and a shortage of chipsets, which forced the Cupertino company to reorganise its sales plans. One consequence was that it diverted chipsets away from iPads and toward the iPhone 13 series.
China played a large part. Chaurasia described unprecedented iPhone performance in Mainland China, where aggressive pricing on Apple's flagship devices kept the value proposition strong. He added that Apple's supply chain is starting to recover, but that the company still had to cut production in the quarter because of shortages of key components. It could not build enough iPhones to meet demand. In the markets it prioritised, Apple kept delivery times adequate, but in some others customers had to wait to get the latest models.
The fourth quarter is normally the peak season for device shipments, since the holidays push people to buy or upgrade. This one was muted. Canalys noted that overall shipments grew just 1%, as manufacturers across the industry wrestled with supply problems and a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
Xiaomi appeared to feel those pressures most visibly. The Chinese maker slipped from first place to third, with 12% of shipments. Its domestic rivals Oppo and Vivo also lost ground, finishing with 9% and 8% respectively.
Looking ahead, Canalys expects sales and shipments to hold steady through 2022, with the pandemic and chip shortages still posing challenges. It believes the chip shortage in particular should begin to ease by mid-2022, which is the development to watch for any change in the rankings.
Citations marquantes
Apple is back at the top of the smartphone market after three quarters, driven by a stellar performance from the iPhone 13.— Sanyam Chaurasia, Canalys analyst
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