The Largest Smartphone Companies in the World: Almost all of us possess this small pocket computer that we use to check important emails and aimlessly browse social media for an hour. Smartphones can provide us with opportunities for socialisation and entertainment, and they are becoming increasingly vital for work, education, and information gathering. In truth, functioning without one is inconceivable.
Given the significance of these devices, it is not surprising that only a handful of multinational corporations produce them. Only in 2020, 1.38 billion smartphones were sold globally. That is more than 300 times the number of babies born in that year!
The Largest Smartphone Companies in the World
1. Apple
2022 Sales: $394.3 billion
Apple, which produces the most popular phones in the United States and the second most popular phones worldwide, has long been a symbol of innovation. The company employs 147,000 individuals in 25 countries, significantly fewer than Samsung.
Apple rose to prominence in the smartphone industry following the 2007 introduction of the iPhone. It was the first touchscreen phone to provide full internet access, which was unprecedented at the time. Since their inception, more than two billion iPhones have been sold.
iOS is the operating system utilised by Apple smartphones, as opposed to Android. iOS was created by Apple exclusively for their devices and utilises their highly developed mobile application system. Apple’s App Store, for instance, comprises more than 2.1 million iOS applications!
Currently, Apple continues to maintain steady growth, particularly when considering customer brand loyalty.
2. Samsung
2022 Sales: $245.7 billion
Samsung entered the South Korean electronic landscape in 1969 and remains the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. The company employs nearly 290,000 individuals worldwide and operates in 74 countries.
Today’s most popular Samsung products include the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, the Galaxy A52, and the Galaxy A32. Overall, the Galaxy is the company’s most prominent and marketed brand, which is manufactured by their affiliate Samsung Electronics and employs its semiconductor processors.
These phones use the Android operating system, a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source applications. If you’ve heard this term before, it’s because iOS vs. Android operating system debates are common in the United States.
Android is used to facilitate functionality in mobile devices with touchscreens, such as smartphones. Android has a strong relationship with Google Mobile Services (GMS), which includes essential applications such as Google Chrome and Google Play.
Despite Samsung’s impressive 18.8% market share, the company’s development has slowed. From 2019 to 2020, Samsung’s growth was -14.6% lower. If this trend persists, a new smartphone manufacturer may surpass them in the future.
3. Huawei
2022 Sales: $92.6 billion
Huawei, founded in 1987, is the largest Chinese phone corporation and the third largest in the world. The fact that Huawei is a private company in China, rather than a public one, is particularly intriguing.
Today, the company operates in 170 countries, excluding the United States, and employs approximately 194,000 individuals.
The Huawei P30 and Huawei Mate 20 are two of Huawei’s most well-known brands. Similar to Samsung, these mobile phones utilise an Android processing system.
Huawei’s smartphones are renowned for their photography innovations. The Huawei P20 Pro, for example, featured the first Leica triple camera. The company’s capacity to innovate in this area has contributed to their current position of dominance. Nonetheless, the company’s 2019-2020 growth rate was a distressing -24.1%, which is a significant decline.
4. Lenovo
2022 Sales: $66.0 billion
Lenovo, which was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Hong Kong, remains relevant in the smartphone industry today. The company has more than 63,000 employees and distributes its products in at least 180 countries.
Today, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2, the Lenovo Legion Pro, and the Lenovo K12 Pro are the company’s most popular smartphones. The corporation is well-known for its Android and Motorola smartphone production. However, the majority of Lenovo’s market is comprised of laptops and other electronic devices.
5. Xiaomi
2022 Sales: $45.35 billion
Xiaomi, one of the more recent companies on this list, introduced its first smartphone in 2011. Xiaomi is the fourth most valuable technology startup despite employing only about 18,000 people worldwide and obtaining $1.1 billion in funding from investors.
Although the company’s products are not prominent in the United States, they are sold in China, Singapore, Japan, India, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, and a number of EU nations.
Popular Xiaomi smartphones include the Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco X3 Pro, and Poco F3. The prevalence of these phones has skyrocketed in recent years, and Xiaomi’s growth rate will increase by 15.7% between 2019 and 2020.
6. Oppo
2021 Sales: $37 billion
Oppo was founded in 2004 and is another prominent Chinese smartphone manufacturer. The company employs roughly 40,000 individuals and operates globally.
The most popular Oppo phones are the Oppo K3, Oppo Reno 2F, and Oppo F17. Oppo also manufactures a vast array of other products, including audio devices, power banks, Blu-ray players, and more.
In recent years, Oppo has remained relatively stable, which is why Xiaomi has surpassed them. For instance, Oppo’s growth decreased by -5.8% between 2019 and 2020. This number is certainly not fatal, but it pales in comparison to Xiaomi’s growth rate.
7. ZTE
2022 Sales: $17.68 billion
ZTE is the final Chinese company on this list and the oldest, having been founded in 1985. It is also a public company, indicating that the Chinese government controls it. The company currently employs over 68,000 individuals and is one of the most prominent phone manufacturers in its home country.
Axon 11, Blade 2020, Axon 30 Ultra, and ZTE Blade A7 are some of the company’s most popular smartphones. These smartphones use the Android operating system and can be purchased for $300 or more.
8. Vivo
2021 Sales: $8.458 billion
Vivo, an additional Chinese company on our list, was founded relatively recently in 2009. It is an autonomous business that develops its products without excessive Chinese government interference.
Today, the company employs only 10,000 people but continues to generate enormous profits on a global scale. This company primarily dominates the Asian, Russian, and Middle Eastern markets, however.
The Vivo Y72 5G: 3G, Dual Sim, 4G, and Octa-Core is one of their most popular products. These are relatively economical phone options, with prices as low as $300.
9. LG
2021 Sales: $5.219 billion
LG, a second South Korean colossus, is the fourth largest family-run business in South Korea. The organisation has more than 222,000 employees and operates in more than 80 countries. As frequently as Samsung and Apple devices, LG phones can also be found in stores in the United States.
The LG V60 ThinQ 5G, the LG G7 ThinQ, and the LG V40 ThinQ are the company’s most popular handsets currently. As the name suggests, these phones are renowned for their slenderness and affordable pricing. Many of LG’s most popular brands are priced between $200 and $400.
LG’s proprietary operating system is called webOS. This Linux kernel-based multitasking operating system has been utilised as a mobile operating system.
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10. Alcatel systems
2022 Sales: $4.27 billion
Despite being the only European smartphone manufacturer to reach the list, this French company’s achievements are noteworthy. Alcatel Lucent was established in 2006, and in 2016 it merged with Nokia Networks. Currently, the company operates on a global scale and distributes an extensive selection of smartphones.
Alcatel Lucent’s most popular phones include the Alcatel 3X, Alcatel 1S, and Alcatel 1C, among others. Compared to the majority of other devices on this list, these are the most affordable.
