Smartphone Shipments Grew 2.7 Percent Year-Over-Year in Q3, According to IDC

Smartphone OEMs shipped a total of 373.1 million smartphones worldwide in the third quarter of 2017 (3Q17), according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

Third quarter volumes were up 2.7 percent year-over- year, and up 7.4 percent from the second quarter. Despite the annual growth being low, the fact that it is positive leading into the holiday quarter is a sign that the industry still has momentum.

"As much of the focus has been on the wide range of high-profile flagship smartphones launched or announced in Q3, it is also important to look at what is happening with the rest of the industry," said Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers.

"Collectively, the industry continues to grow, but at a much slower pace than past years. What is clear is that the 'Others' outside of the top 5 leading vendors continue to struggle and the industry leaders are quickly forming two camps,” he said. “First, those able to drive significant volumes at the high end, which right now is basically Samsung, Apple, and Huawei -- despite high-profile launches from Google, Essential, LG, and others.  Second, a few other Chinese OEMs that are making tremendous headway outside of the China domestic market."

During the lead-in quarter to the holiday season, the top 5 vendors experienced positive year-over-year growth, with Xiaomi growing the strongest by more than doubling its sales from this quarter a year ago. When all was said and done, the top 5 ranking did not change from the second quarter. Asia/Pacific, excluding China and Japan, performed the best by far. This market grew double digits, likely as a result of the continued slowdown in the China domestic market, which was close to flat year over year in 3Q17.

"Collectively, the industry continues to grow, but at a much slower pace than past years. What is clear is that the 'Others' outside of the top 5 leading vendors continue to struggle and the industry leaders are quickly forming two camps, Reith said. “First, those able to drive significant volumes at the high end, which right now is basically Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, despite high-profile launches from Google, Essential, LG, and others. Second, a few other Chinese OEMs that are making tremendous headway outside of the China domestic market."

(For more information, visit https://www.idc.com).