Smartphone sales data from IDC

[jamezr]

Looks like Huawei and Lenovo sales are way up. Samsung shows good YoY growth while Apple iphones sales are stagnant. That is in line with their earnings call a couple days ago.

http://www.neowin.net/news/idc-huawei-and-lenovo-were-biggest-winners-in-2015-smartphone-shipments

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I can predict the next several posts.

 

[Tig Bitties]

It's very simple why the iPhone sales are flat, the OS does not need super powered spec's to run smoothly, like Android needs, people keeping their phones longer.

I know a lot of non tech people, that are iPhone fans, a ton of them still with iPhone 5 or 5S's, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what ? This phone still works perfectly fine, no problem with it, does everything I need it to do. They all say they will upgrade when the phone breaks, or becomes super bogged down and slow.

All of these people have very good jobs, are professionals, and can easily afford to drop $1,000 on a new phone in a heartbeat if needed. But they just don't think about it like we tech geeks on forums like this. If it aint broke, don't fix it attitude. I see these people keeping their phones on average 3+ years or so.

I think smartphones have gotten so fast the past couple of years, the yearly or even two year upgrade cycle for the average Joe isn't needed. Plus with the economy still being ok, not everyone is a millionaire yet, people will hold onto their $800 phone for longer.

 

[Tsepz]

Wow, 14% increase, nice one Samsung, funny as late last year we had some idiot come down here and claim Samsung sales were decreasing.

It's good to be spoon fed the real results it seems

It's very simple why the iPhone sales are flat, the OS does not need super powered spec's to run smoothly, like Android needs, people keeping their phones longer.

I know a lot of non tech people, that are iPhone fans, a ton of them still with iPhone 5 or 5S's, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what ? This phone still works perfectly fine, no problem with it, does everything I need it to do. They all say they will upgrade when the phone breaks, or becomes super bogged down and slow.

All of these people have very good jobs, are professionals, and can easily afford to drop $1,000 on a new phone in a heartbeat if needed. But they just don't think about it like we tech geeks on forums like this. If it aint broke, don't fix it attitude. I see these people keeping their phones on average 3+ years or so.

I think smartphones have gotten so fast the past couple of years, the yearly or even two year upgrade cycle for the average Joe isn't needed. Plus with the economy still being ok, not everyone is a millionaire yet, people will hold onto their $800 phone for longer.

And I know a lot of non tech people, that are Samsung fans, a ton of them still with Galaxy Note3, S4 or S5s, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what?

I am still using my Note 4 happily, I've actually got a SanDisk Ultra 128GB on the way, thankful I don't have to buy a whole new phone for more local memory.

Many Android users keep their phones longer to, as many of the iPhone fanslike to claim here that most Androids are low end chances are the people who buy them can't afford to be upgrading yearly, surely? So surely they would keep their phones much longer to.

 

[Tig Bitties]

Wow, 14% increase, nice one Samsung, funny as late last year we had some idiot come down here and claim Samsung sales were decreasing.

It's good to be spoon fed the real results it seems



And I know a lot of non tech people, that are Samsung fans, a ton of them still with Galaxy Note3, S4 or S5s, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what?

I am still using my Note 4 happily, I've actually got a SanDisk Ultra 128GB on the way, thankful I don't have to buy a whole new phone for more local memory.

Many Android users keep their phones longer to, as many of the iPhone fanslike to claim here that most Androids are low end chances are the people who buy them can't afford to be upgrading yearly, surely? So surely they would keep their phones much longer to.

I think smartphones have gotten to become like PC's, if you buy a higher end nicer Windows computer, that thing will last a very long time, for typical day to day tasks for the average non geek.

No need to buy or build a new PC every two years no way. Today they'll last a good 5 years or more.

An iPhone 5S or Galaxy Note 3 if kept in a case with a tempered screen protector from day one, are still more than capable phones today. Especially for the average Joe

If you buy a iPhone 6S Plus or Galaxy Note 5 or Nexus 6P today, you can keep that phone for a good three years before needing an upgrade.

 

[Tsepz]

I think smartphones have gotten to become like PC's, if you buy a higher end nicer Windows computer, that thing will last a very long time, for typical day to day tasks for the average non geek.

No need to buy or build a new PC every two years no way. Today they'll last a good 5 years or more.

An iPhone 5S or Galaxy Note 3 if kept in a case with a tempered screen protector from day one, are still more than capable phones today. Especially for the average Joe

Indeed.

A close friend of mine is a lawyer, doing very well for himself, he certainly can afford to buy a new phone multiple times a year, but he has had his white Note 3 since launch, he bought it cash, threw in a 64GB MicroSDXC with all his media from his old BB and has been happily going with it since then, he is now like me waiting for the Note 6.


Once upon a time there was a point where Android was developing far too rapidly, both the hardware and software were taking major leaps every 5months or so, this was between 2010-2013, phones went from 512mb RAM with single core CPU + GPU (Galaxy S, HTC Desire, etc...) to 3GB RAM with Octa Core CPU + Multi core GPU (international Note 3) in a short space of time, that was when if you were a heavy user you had to upgrade yearly, some even took out multiple contracts to upgrade twice a year, but in 2014 things slowed down dramatically and more so in 2015 where it's become more about refinement of existing hardware and optimising both it and the software to work better together.

 

[tbayrgs]

Really not surprising and the previous posts I think hit on multiple contributing points. I think the days of big year over year growth for the iPhone are probably behind us. The iPhone 6/6+ were probably the pinnacle years as the were the larger iPhones 'everyone' were waiting for. I think that, coupled with the longevity of new devices and the increased presence of quality low and mid-range devices and far cheaper prices mean we probably won't see significant iPhone sales increases like we've seen in the past.

Unless Apple follows the trend of the industry as whole towards the middle price-wise, I think we can expect iPhone sales to even stagnate a bit.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Samsung did well. It's good to see a more positive quarter for them as things have been very bleak for them over the past year and a half.

 

[GadgetSN]

Do you folks even understand the statistic?

Yes Samsung are showing increases in phone sales but at the same time delivering consistent decline in profits. They aren't doing better like people think.

Apple have less than 20% market share in the number of handsets sold but have shown increases in profits (they own over 90% market share of all mobile phone profits)

As for the other brands......who cares? They just simple skew the statistic in a non meaningful way.

Sony are not even in the numbers and are the only other manufacturer worth considering in the mobile phone space outside of Apple and Samsung.

I would never buy a Huawei, Lenovo and definitely not a Xioami. Of course these USD 10 phones will sell billions more than a USD 900 premium phone.

 

[jamezr]

There is a bigger thread on the MR front page

Apple expects iPhone sales will likely decline in the March quarter, marking the first year-over-year decline since the smartphone was released over eight years ago. The decline will be realized if Apple sells fewer than 61.2 million iPhones this quarter, ending in late March. iPhone growth in the just-announced first fiscal quarter of 2016 was the slowest since the smartphone's introduction in 2007.

https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/28/samsung-vs-apple-smartphone-sales-2015/

 

[epicrayban]

Windows phone is dead?

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10864034/windows-phone-is-dead

 

[Andres Cantu]

Wow, 14% increase, nice one Samsung, funny as late last year we had some idiot come down here and claim Samsung sales were decreasing.

It's good to be spoon fed the real results it seems



And I know a lot of non tech people, that are Samsung fans, a ton of them still with Galaxy Note3, S4 or S5s, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what?

I am still using my Note 4 happily, I've actually got a SanDisk Ultra 128GB on the way, thankful I don't have to buy a whole new phone for more local memory.

Many Android users keep their phones longer to, as many of the iPhone fanslike to claim here that most Androids are low end chances are the people who buy them can't afford to be upgrading yearly, surely? So surely they would keep their phones much longer to.

That "some idiot" actually has the guts to reply to your comment whereas you couldn't even mention me by name. Why, I don't know, since you LOVE name-calling (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...roid-score-ipad-pro-100-higher.1950373/page-7) but not calling me by name. Haha, get it?

But for you, I will reiterate that I believed Galaxy S sales were down, not the shipments for ALL of their smartphones. Sales vs. shipments and Galaxy S vs. all their smartphones are two very different things. Here is a link to the conversation you so clearly remember: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/its-not-a-phone-its-a-galaxy.1915480/

For everyone else, I'm very glad that Apple has reached their peak and will start their downward trend. That will force them give us a better product rather than penny-pinching for every single component.

 

[I7guy]

There is a bigger thread on the MR front page




https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/28/samsung-vs-apple-smartphone-sales-2015/

Until the march earning call, it's all speculation. In the meantime, apple broke records the previous quarter. So it depends on the spin.
[doublepost=1454029592][/doublepost]

That "some idiot" actually has the guts to reply to your comment whereas you couldn't even mention me by name. Why, I don't know, since you LOVE name-calling (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...roid-score-ipad-pro-100-higher.1950373/page-7) but not calling me by name. Haha, get it?

But for you, I will reiterate that I believed Galaxy S sales were down, not the shipments for ALL of their smartphones. Sales vs. shipments and Galaxy S vs. all their smartphones are two very different things. Here is a link to the conversation you so clearly remember: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/its-not-a-phone-its-a-galaxy.1915480/

For everyone else, I'm very glad that Apple has reached their peak and will start their downward trend. That will force them give us a better product rather than penny-pinching for every single component.

I don't see this changing apple's strategy. However, there is this feeling that apple *may* deliver a few surprises with the iphone 7 (or whatever it will be called).

 

[Andres Cantu]

Until the march earning call, it's all speculation. In the meantime, apple broke records the previous quarter. So it depends on the spin.
[doublepost=1454029592][/doublepost]
I don't see this changing apple's strategy. However, there is this feeling that apple *may* deliver a few surprises with the iphone 7 (or whatever it will be called).

For their sake (and more importantly, ours), I sure hope so!

This is their time to step-up and give us "S"-style upgrades on a "regular" iPhone. But I'm not expecting anything revolutionary, to be honest.

 

[jamezr]

Until the march earning call, it's all speculation. In the meantime, apple broke records the previous quarter. So it depends on the spin.
[doublepost=1454029592][/doublepost]
I don't see this changing apple's strategy. However, there is this feeling that apple *may* deliver a few surprises with the iphone 7 (or whatever it will be called).

Didn't they already have the earning call? Then YoY is what counts for growth...that was down. Apple is already warning that sales will disappoint next month going forward.....

 

[I7guy]

Didn't they already have the earning call? Then YoY is what counts for growth...that was down. Apple is already warning that sales will disappoint next month going forward.....

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-for-q1-2016-on-74-8m-iphones.1952928/unread

Got it, it's good news, bad news.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Do you folks even understand the statistic?

Yes Samsung are showing increases in phone sales but at the same time delivering consistent decline in profits. They aren't doing better like people think.

Apple have less than 20% market share in the number of handsets sold but have shown increases in profits (they own over 90% market share of all mobile phone profits)

As for the other brands......who cares? They just simple skew the statistic in a non meaningful way.

Sony are not even in the numbers and are the only other manufacturer worth considering in the mobile phone space outside of Apple and Samsung.

I would never buy a Huawei, Lenovo and definitely not a Xioami. Of course these USD 10 phones will sell billions more than a USD 900 premium phone.

Lenovo makes Motorola phones which are decnet. The Moto X Style is such nice phone with stock Android for 399. Huawei's Mate 8 is so great, I would buy it heartbeat if I can get in Canada.

Which brings me to the second point: iPhone is such an overpriced product. I can buy 2 Moto X Style with one iPhone 6S plus...

 

[Lloydbm41]

It's very simple why the iPhone sales are flat, the OS does not need super powered spec's to run smoothly, like Android needs, people keeping their phones longer.

I know a lot of non tech people, that are iPhone fans, a ton of them still with iPhone 5 or 5S's, and I ask why didn't they upgrade yet, and every one of them has the same answer. Upgrade for what ? This phone still works perfectly fine, no problem with it, does everything I need it to do. They all say they will upgrade when the phone breaks, or becomes super bogged down and slow.

All of these people have very good jobs, are professionals, and can easily afford to drop $1,000 on a new phone in a heartbeat if needed. But they just don't think about it like we tech geeks on forums like this. If it aint broke, don't fix it attitude. I see these people keeping their phones on average 3+ years or so.

I think smartphones have gotten so fast the past couple of years, the yearly or even two year upgrade cycle for the average Joe isn't needed. Plus with the economy still being ok, not everyone is a millionaire yet, people will hold onto their $800 phone for longer.

100% agree. All flagship phones from companies like Samsung, Apple and LG are all extremely good for 99.9% of the population. There simply is no need to upgrade for these people.
[doublepost=1454036767][/doublepost]

Windows phone is dead?

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10864034/windows-phone-is-dead

Microsoft should have kiss and made up with Google and made a dual bootable phone. A lot of people would have loved to be able to boot into Android and Windows.

 

[jamezr]

Microsoft should have kiss and made up with Google and made a dual bootable phone. A lot of people would have loved to be able to boot into Android and Windows.

I would buy a double boot phone. Windows and Android....sign me up!

 

[Tsepz]

That "some idiot" actually has the guts to reply to your comment whereas you couldn't even mention me by name. Why, I don't know, since you LOVE name-calling (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...roid-score-ipad-pro-100-higher.1950373/page-7) but not calling me by name. Haha, get it?

But for you, I will reiterate that I believed Galaxy S sales were down, not the shipments for ALL of their smartphones. Sales vs. shipments and Galaxy S vs. all their smartphones are two very different things. Here is a link to the conversation you so clearly remember: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/its-not-a-phone-its-a-galaxy.1915480/

For everyone else, I'm very glad that Apple has reached their peak and will start their downward trend. That will force them give us a better product rather than penny-pinching for every single component.

I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about FRR or whatever his name is.

Guilty conscience got you good huh.

I'll have to take a look at the link as I can't even remember what you said.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about FRR or whatever his name is.

Guilty conscience got you good huh.

I'll have to take a look at the link as I can't even remember what you said.

I find that hard to believe, especially after your replies the last couple of days. But do take a look and tell me what you think about what I said (you even participated in that thread). "Blow my mind", as you would say (the

emoji is getting old, by the way ).

 

[Tsepz]

I find that hard to believe, especially after your replies the last couple of days. But do take a look and tell me what you think about what I said (you even participated in that thread). "Blow my mind", as you would say (the

emoji is getting old, by the way ).

Maybe you find it hard to believe because you think everything is about you. The being spoon fed the data comment I made made it clear who it was about.

Like I said, guilty conscience.

Maybe rather stick to making ludicrous claims...oh wait...
Nevermind, it's too late.

 

[minimo3]

Windows phone is dead?

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10864034/windows-phone-is-dead

Remember when IDC and Gartner predicted that windows phone market share would surpass iOS by 2016?

http://www.wired.com/2012/06/why-idc-predicts-windows-phone-will-surpass-ios-by-2016/

 

[I7guy]

Remember when IDC and Gartner predicted that windows phone market share would surpass iOS by 2016?

http://www.wired.com/2012/06/why-idc-predicts-windows-phone-will-surpass-ios-by-2016/

Which is why this "metric" is nothing more than a fun factoid.

 

[NT1440]

Sales are not flat, sale GROWTH is flat.

That's a VERY important distinction when one company is still making 90% of the profit in the market.