The numbers just keep pouring in. Research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics just released its latest research on smartphone shipments for the second quarter of 2013 and the figures shouldn’t surprise us anymore. Android-powered smartphones comprised 80 percent of global smartphone shipment of 229.6 million units.
According to the study, the number of smartphones shipped worldwide jumped by a staggering 47 percent, from 156.5 million units in Q2 2012 to 229.6 million units in Q2 2013. And a very large majority of these are composed of Android devices. In comparison, Apple iOS devices dropped from 17% to 14% in the same period, its lowest since 2010. Surprisingly, Microsoft cemented its slot at third, with 4% of the shipments, its highest in three years since it joined the smartphone race.
Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawtson attributes Android’s dominance in the smartphone market to several factors, such as competitive licensing costs, hardware partners, and large app stores. And Android devices are making inroads in all price tiers, not only in developed markets but in developing markets as well. Android is now powering 8 out of 10 smartphones in the entire world!
This reflects a trend in figures that we’ve seen this year. In January, numbers showed that Android comprised 70 percent of global smartphone shipment for Q4 2012, with a total of 68% for the whole year. And it isn’t just with smartphones either. Last week, a study, also done by Strategy Analytics, revealed that Android tablets have 67% of the market share for Q2 2013 as well. With a line up of enticing new models that have already been released or are just about to be announced, the numbers are definitely bound to go up even higher for the next quarter.
SOURCE: Strategy Analytics