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Samsung to extend smartphone lead over Apple in 2013

A wider product portfolio and solid sales of its low- to mid-range Galaxy-branded smartphones will help keep Samsung ahead of the pack.
Written by Kevin Kwang, Contributor

Samsung Electronics is expected to widen its global lead over Apple in the smartphone arena in the coming year due to its diverse portfolio of products, particularly its low- to mid-range Galaxy mobile handsets.

Yonhap News Agency, citing a report by Korea Investment & Securities, reported Tuesday the South Korean phonemaker will hold a 33.1 percent share of the smartphone market, or 212.9 million units sold, in 2012. Apple was forecasted to have a 19.9 percent share with 128 million units sold during the same time.

Fast forward to 2013, and Samsung was projected to expanding its market share to 37 percent, selling 284 million units of its mobile handsets. By comparison, Cupertino will grow slightly to 20.4 percent, representing 157 million units, it noted.

These predictions were based on Samsung's wider portfolio of products, and its solid sales of low- to mid-range Galaxy handsets as well as its top models such as Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2, the report stated.

Beyond these two smartphone manufacturers, the report also noted Chinese companies ZTE and Huawei Technologies will grow steadily as it benefits from the rapid growth of their domestic market. Huawei's market share will rise from 4.2 percent this year to 4.7 percent in 2013, while ZTE will climb from 3.9 percent to 4.4 percent over the same period.

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