According to a new report, Apple’s smartphone business grew 25% year-over-year in the European market in 2021 and hit a record-high market share in the region by December 2021.
Apple hit its highest-ever market share in Europe by December 2021
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s smartphone market share overtook Samsung twice in 2021. Apple started the year with a market-leading 34% share and took the lead once again in November 2021, a lead which Apple extended to reach its highest ever share in Europe in December 2021.
Apple’s total market share throughout 2021 was 26%, up from 22% the previous year. Samsung’s market share was slightly higher at 32% for 2021. The Cupertino tech giant ended the year with a total market share of 33%.
2021 was a “rollercoaster year” for the European smartphone market, Counterpoint notes. The impact of COVID-19 continued into 2021 and then the region faced challenges of global component shortages in the middle of the year. The entire European smartphone market managed to grow by 8% in 2021. However, this growth was only a partial recovery.
“It is great to see the European smartphone market growing in 2021, but that only tells half the story; COVID-19 impacts resulted in a 14% annual drop in sales in 2020, which means the market is still well-below pre-pandemic levels,” said Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint.
Other smartphone manufacturers saw even higher levels of growth in 2021 than brands like Apple and Samsung. Xiaomi saw 50% year-over-year growth and even became number one in the region for the first time in June 2021. Additionally, OPPO grew 94% year-over-year in 2021, while Realme grew 162%.
Not all Chinese manufacturers saw significant growth. Huawei’s sales dropped by almost 90% annually in Europe in 2021, leaving it with a 1% market share.
Going into 2022, Counterpoint expects the long-rumored iPhone SE with 5G connectivity to give the Cupertino tech giant a boost later this year and help it retain its market share lead.
Read more:
- Apple Services generated $19.5 billion in sales revenue in Q1, 2022
- Apple wearables and home accessories sales revenue hit $14.7 billion in Q1, 2022, an all time record
- Apple Silicon drove Mac sales to an all time high with $10.9 billion in revenue in Q1, 2022
- iPhone sales accounted for $71.6 billion in Q1, 2022, thanks to strong iPhone 13 demand
- Apple reports $123.9 billion in revenue with 11% growth in Q1, 2022, a new all-time high earnings record
