BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Chinese Smartphone Makers Are Catching Up With Apple

This article is more than 6 years old.

Chart via Statista

Of the 3 billion people in the world who actively use smartphones and tablets in the world today, more than a third are using a product made by Apple. That won’t come as a huge surprise to most, but what’s intriguing about the future is how the top five Chinese smartphone vendors by active users are catching up.

In aggregate, they make up 30.2% of actively used mobile devices in the world today, versus Apple’s 34.8%, according to a fourth quarter report on the global mobile industry from market intelligence firm Newzoo.

The China growth story is happening in apps too. China has already overtaken the U.S. (as of 2015) in how much money its consumers spend on apps. In 2016, Chinese consumers spent $11.9 billion on apps, versus $9.4 billion in the U.S. and that number will probably continue to diverge as, Newzoo says.

According to its research, five smartphone makers from China are among the top 10 vendors by active users globally. They include Huawei at number 3 with 5.4% of global market share, Xiaomi with its Mi series of smartphone and tablets, Lenovo, Oppo and Vivo.

Samsung is in second place globally with 23.5% of global active mobile users.

Newzoo’s report, which was released in late 2016 but highlighted by chart-maker Statista on Wednesday, said that by the end of last year some 31% of the globe population would be active smartphone users.

Nearly half of those users, or 49%, are in Asia Pacific. The lowest smartphone penetration is in the Middle East and Africa, where just 19% of the population actively use smartphones.