Samsung continues to still be at the top of its game, at least sales-wise, in the first half of 2016. The top three best-selling Android smartphones are actually all devices from the Korean OEM, with the Galaxy S7 edge taking the top spot, the Galaxy J2 a surprising number two, and the other Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S7 rounding up the third. And the other good news for smartphone makers is that global Android shipments actually increased this year, compared to last year in the same period.
It’s really not that surprising that a lot of people bought the Galaxy S7 edge and the Galaxy S7, given the good reviews that it has gotten ever since it was released in March this year. Samsung has also managed to release a wide spectrum of devices, with entry-level and mid-tier ones aside from its high-end flagship, and so their dominance in the market is almost guaranteed. The 4th and 5th best-selling Android devices are also from them, with the Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J3 respectively.
The good news for the Android industry is that global Android smartphone shipments went up 5% compared to the same time last year. From January – June, they shipped 577.3 million units, up from the 552.2 million units from last year. On the other side of the fence, iOS fell 16% this year with 91.6 million compared to last year’s 108.7 million in the first half.
But of course Samsung should not be complacent, as Chinese smartphone manufacturers are going full-scale in the next few months. Rivals like Huawei P9, Oppo R9 and Vivo X7 are actually breathing down the top Android manufacturers’ necks. But for consumers, this is a healthy competition for their attention and their wallets.
SOURCE: Strategy Analytics
