Two separate reports released today indicate that Samsung has grabbed the lead from Apple as the world's top smartphone maker.
Research firm IDC on Tuesday estimated that Samsung shipped a record 42.2 million smartphone units during the first quarter of 2012, a 267 percent increase from 11.5 million during the same quarter last year. Rival Apple slipped to second place, but also performed well, shipping 35.1 million iPhones, an 88.7 percent year-over-year increase, IDC said.
Mobile analyst firm Juniper Research reported similar numbers, estimating that Samsung shipped 46.9 million smartphones in the first quarter, compared to Apple's 35.1 million. Just last week, two separate reports from IHS iSuppli and Strategy Analytics were at odds over whether Samsung or Apple was the most-popular smartphone maker.
"The race between Apple and Samsung remained tight during the quarter, even as both companies posted growth in key areas," Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program, said in a statement Tuesday. "Apple launched its popular iPhone 4S in additional key markets, most notably in China, and Samsung experienced continued success from its Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet and other Galaxy smartphones."
Overall, the worldwide smartphone market grew 42.5 percent year-over-year in the first quarter of 2012, as vendors shipped an estimated 144.9 million smartphones, compared to 2011's 101.7 million, according to IDC. But the larger mobile phone market declined 1.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012, as vendors shipped an estimated 398.4 million units, compared to 404.3 million in 2011.
IDC also noted that Samsung knocked out the longtime leader Nokia to become the world's top mobile phone vendor — as IHS iSuppli and Strategy Analytics confirmed last week. Samsung shipped 93.8 million mobile phones during the quarter, compared to Nokia's 82.7 million, IDC estimated.