Huawei Overtakes Samsung to Become World's Largest Smartphone Maker [Report]

Huawei has overtaken Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone maker, shipping more devices that any other company in Q2 2020, according to Canalys. It's the first quarter in nine years that a company other than Samsung or Apple has held the top spot.

Huawei shipped 55.8 million devices in the second quarter, down 5% year over year. However, Samsung only shipped 53.7 million smartphones, a 30% fall from Q2 2019. Most of Huawei's shipments are in China (70%). Due to U.S. government restrictions its overseas shipments were down 27% in Q2.

“This is a remarkable result that few people would have predicted a year ago,” said Canalys Senior Analyst Ben Stanton. “If it wasn’t for COVID-19, it wouldn’t have happened. Huawei has taken full advantage of the Chinese economic recovery to reignite its smartphone business. Samsung has a very small presence in China, with less than 1% market share, and has seen its core markets, such as Brazil, India, the United States and Europe, ravaged by outbreaks and subsequent lockdowns.”


“Taking first place is very important for Huawei,” said Canalys Analyst Mo Jia. “It is desperate to showcase its brand strength to domestic consumers, component suppliers and developers. It needs to convince them to invest, and will broadcast the message of its success far and wide in the coming months. But it will be hard for Huawei to maintain its lead in the long term. Its major channel partners in key regions, such as Europe, are increasingly wary of ranging Huawei devices, taking on fewer models, and bringing in new brands to reduce risk. Strength in China alone will not be enough to sustain Huawei at the top once the global economy starts to recover.”

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